Myanmar Opens Its Parliament

Opposition leaders in Myanmar are cautiously cheering the opening of their country’s parliament for the first time in over two decades. The Asian nation has been under tight control of the military since a 1962 coup, and even this historic step was monitored by heavy security and army oversight. Despite the democratic overture, the military still holds 80 percent of the parliament’s seats, ensuring complete control over government. Late last year, in a move that catalyzed democracy advocates, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest after being kept under wraps for 15 of the last 21 years.