Huge crowds lined the streets to greet Myanmar opposition leader Aung San

Huge crowds lined the streets to greet Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she hit the campaign trail Sunday ahead of by-elections seen as a key test of the government’s commitment to reform.

Thousands flocked to hear the Nobel Peace Prize winner speak in the coastal district of Dawei, as she made her first political trip outside Yangon since declaring she would stand for office in the April 1 polls.

Suu Kyi’s decision to stand for a seat in parliament is the latest sign of dramatic change sweeping through the country formerly known as Burma after the end of decades of outright military rule.

A new government dominated by former generals has surprised observers with a series of reforms since taking office last year, including dialogue with the opposition and the release of hundreds of political prisoners.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party was recently welcomed back into the political mainstream, further raising hopes of an end to decades of isolation and poverty as Western nations consider easing sanctions.

The party is running for all 48 seats up for grabs in the by-elections and Suu Kyi is standing in a rural constituency near Yangon. Sunday’s one-day visit was in support of NLD candidate Aung Soe, who is standing in a local township.

Traffic clogged the roads in Dawei as local people thronged to get a glimpse of the NLD leader, who spent much of the past two decades in detention.

The April polls are to fill places vacated by those elected in 2010 who have since become ministers and deputy ministers in the government.

Although the seats available are not enough to threaten the resounding majority held by the army-backed ruling party, Suu Kyi’s participation, if the polls are free and fair, will be a boost to the legislature’s credibility.

You know she’s going to win!

Source AFP