| Suu Kyi makes historic debut at Myanmar parliament |
NAYPYIDAW Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi made her historic parliamentary debut on Monday, marking a new phase in her near quarter century struggle to bring democracy to her homeland.
Suu Kyi appeared calm as she arrived to take her seat as an elected politician for the first time in the capital Naypyidaw.
“I will try my best for the country,” she said.
The democracy champion’s first taste of public office comes at an uncertain time for Myanmar after recent communal violence and a series of student arrests cast a shadow over promising changes in the former pariah state.
Suu Kyi will join fellow members of her National League for Democracy (NLD), as both the party and its charismatic leader transform from dissident outsiders to mainstream political players in the wake of landmark April by-elections.
Suu Kyi postponed her debut in the fledgling legislature last week to recover from a gruelling European tour and visit her constituency. Fellow lower house NLD MP May Win Myint said she was “excited” about Suu Kyi’s arrival.
“We are ready to support her,” she said.
“It’s good that she arrived today, we all welcome her,” said Brigadier General Wai Lin. Suu Kyi barely created a stir among legislators in the lower house, but was surrounded by members of the press during a coffee break, telling reporters she had yet to decide on any proposals to submit to the parliament.
Agencies
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