The return of Suu Kyi
Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi talks during the press conference on the anniversary of her release at the National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters in Yangon, Myanmar.
More than two decades after her election to the prime minister's seat was voided by military generals, Aung San Suu Kyi will finally be allowed to run for office in Burma.
Despite the rapid pace of reforms in Burma (officially called Myanmar), this is the development many have awaited.
Suu Kyi, 66, will be recognized as the country's "opposition leader," according to AFP. Confined for most of the last 21 years since her annulled 1990 election, Suu Kyi will also be allowed to register her now-banned party, the National League for Democracy.
Most Western heads of state consider Suu Kyi to be the rightful leader of Burma. Generals, who continue to back the ruling party in Burma, are notoriously wary of her political power.
It's safe to assume that, provided the government doesn't meddle, Suu Kyi will win an upcoming by-election at the year's end. It will be interesting to see how much real power the men who've long helped oppress her will allow the Nobel Laureate.
Check out "Burma Rebooted," our new three-part series reported from inside the isolated pariah state.
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