By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

Myanmar’s new freely elected parliament opened this week, signifying an official end to almost fifty years of military rule in the country.

In November 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy Party (NLD), led her party to win a majority of the parliamentary seats against the leader of the then-ruling military party, Thein Sein. Mr. Thein Sein, who during his presidency worked to move toward a civilian run government, gave a speech last week promoting Myanmar’s democratic transition.

The military’s influence in Myanmar’s government is not completely eliminated, however, as military members retain one-quarter of the parliamentary seats. Members of the new parliament have also chosen U Ti Khun Myat as deputy speaker, despite his belonging to the military-backed Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP). Lawyer U Win Myint, part of the NLD, will serve as speaker.

At least 110 out of the 390 NLD members in the new parliament are prior political prisoners. Ms. Suu Kyi herself was placed under house arrest after her party won Myanmar’s national election in 1990, with the military annulling the results and refusing to hand over power. She remained under house arrest for almost two decades.

Mr. Thein Sein’s duties as president will end in March, but Ms. Suu Kyi is unable to take his place due to a constitutional provision prohibiting those with foreign family members from becoming the president. Both of Ms. Suu Kyi’s sons have British citizenship, as did her husband before his death in 1999. Ms. Suu Kyi has, however, been elected as the chairman of the upper house of the new parliament

There are several other individuals being considered for the presidency, including lawmaker Daw Su Su Lwin and former military commander U Tin Oo. The new parliament will select the next president among three official vice president nominees later this month.

Among the challenges that the new parliament will face are highly prevalent poverty rates, environmental and economic troubles, and continuing violence against the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic group often persecuted by Myanmar’s Buddhist majority.

 

For more information, please see:

Bloomberg – Myanmar Parliament Elects Suu Kyi Ally as Upper House Chairman – 3 February 2016

The New York Times – First Freely Elected Parliament After Decades of Military Rule Opens in Myanmar – 1 February 2016

NPR – Aung San Suu Kyi’s Party Takes Control of Myanmar’s Parliament – 1 February 2016

Voice of America – Myanmar Parliament Sworn In; Next President Unknown – 1 February 2016