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Aung San Suu Kyi's historic moment: 5 things to know

Once possibly the world's best-known political prisoner, today Aung San Suu Kyi made the historic move to lawmaker, after a swearing-in ceremony at Myanmar's parliament in the capital of Naypyidaw. Here are five things about her.

4. What reforms has she championed?

  • By Simon Roughneen Correspondent

A long-time advocate of Gandhi-style nonviolence and believer in parliamentary democracy, her immediate aim is to revamp Myanmar's constitution. 

Adopted in 2008, the constitution gives overwhelming powers to the country's military and overshadows the recently-begun reform process The reforms have seen the government come under nominal civilian control. Since then, hundreds of political prisoners have been freed and the country's damaging currency exchange rate has been reformed. Analysts say that amending will be a huge task, given that 25 percent of the parliament are army appointees and 75 percent is minimum vote needed to change the constitution. 

Previously she advocated for Myanmar to become a multiparty democracy, underpinned by free and fair elections. She has called for the release of political prisoners, a free media and for ethical investment in Myanmar by foreign companies, now eyeing-up the resource-rich country after the European Union suspended sanctions for one year, in response to recent reforms. The US has relaxed or removed some sanctions, but others remain in place, pending more changes by the Myanmar government.

Aung San Suu Kyi supported sanctions on Myanmar in the past as a means of pressuring the former junta into its eventual reform, and Western governments appeared to take their cue largely from her. Now, with reforms taking place, Aung San Suu Kyi has dropped her opposition to sanctions and to her long-held view that tourists shun Myanmar so not to put money into government-run hotels and airlines.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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