Tears flow as Myanmar swears in first president with no army ties in more than 50 years

Myanmar’s new President Htin Kyaw (L) and outgoing president Thein Sein arrive for the handover ceremony at the presidential palace in Naypyitaw March 30, 2016 - REUTERS

Myanmar’s NLD party leader Aung San Suu Kyi smiles with army members during the handover ceremony of outgoing President Thein Sein and new President Htin Kyaw at the presidential palace in Naypyitaw March 30, 2016 - REUTERS 

Reuters: Members of Aung San SuuKyi’s victorious National League for Democracy (NLD) were in tears on Wednesday as Myanmar swore in its first president with no military ties in more than half a century.

HtinKyaw, a close friend and confidant of the Nobel peace prize laureate, was hand-picked by her to run Myanmar’s government because a constitution drafted by the former junta bars the democracy champion from the top office.

In a short address to the chamber, HtinKyaw reiterated SuuKyi’s stance on the importance of changing the 2008 charter, which entrenches the military’s powerful position in politics, and called for national reconciliation.

NLD lawmakers were emotional at the scale of the achievement after decades of struggle, including years when many of them were jailed or, like SuuKyi herself, put under house arrest.

“I couldn’t sleep last night. Our president U HtinKyaw’s speech is something we have never heard before in the country,” NLD lawmaker ThiriYadana, 28, said.

“He promised that he will work for the country with the respect to our leader Aung San SuuKyi. It’s such a big step and this has happened because everybody pushed together forward.” Relations between the armed forces and SuuKyi will define the success of Myanmar’s most significant break from military rule since the army seized power in 1962.

“Our new government will implement national reconciliation, peace in the country, emergence of a constitution that will pave the way to a democratic union, and enhance the living standard of the people,” said HtinKyaw, sporting the NLD’s traditional burnt orange jacket.

“We have the duty to work for the emergence of a constitution that is appropriate for our country and also in accordance with democratic standards.” Tension had simmered in the run-up to the November election and as the NLD prepared to take power. SuuKyi wants to demilitarise Myanmar’s politics but effectively needs the support of the military to do so. The armed forces are guaranteed three ministries and control a quarter of parliamentary seats - enough to give them a veto over constitutional amendments and potentially limit the scope of SuuKyi’s reforms.

SuuKyi is poised to steer the government from within, acting as a super-minister overseeing education, foreign affairs, electric power and energy – andthe president’s office.

Before HtinKyaw addressed the parliament, he and two newly elected vice presidents held the junta-drafted constitution in their hands and took the oath simultaneously, repeating after the parliament speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than: “I will always be loyal to the Union of Myanmar and will always put non-disintegration of the union, national unity and perpetuation of sovereignty at the forefront,” read the first line of the oath.

Myanmar army chief Min AungHlaing attended the ceremony.

HtinKyaw, elected by the NLD-dominated parliament this month, runs a charity founded by SuuKyi and has been a trusted member of her inner circle since the mid-1990s. He is not a lawmaker.

Hundreds of diplomats and representatives of non-governmental organisations attended the ceremony. Events at the presidential palace and an official dinner were planned to celebrate the occasion.