Yangon (dpa) – The following is a chronology of the important political developments in Myanmar after the November 7, 2010 general election brought the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party to power, ending two decades of junta rule: November 13, 2010: Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi freed after seven years under house detention. February 4, 2011: Parliament selects ex-general Thein Sein, a moderate, to be the next president, paving the way for reforms. March 30, 2011: Thein Sein is sworn in as Myanmar's new president, marking the launch of a new administration, and officially ending the 22-year rule of the military junta – the State Peace and Development Council. April 1, 2011: Government assumes office. May 16, 2011: Thein Sein announces sentence reductions for political prisoners and other inmates, following a visit by UN special envoy Vijay Nambiar. August 14, 2011: Suu Kyi tours the district of Bago, 80 kilometers north-east of Yangon, despite warnings of possible arrest. August 19, 2011: The president invites Suu Kyi to the capital of Naypyitaw for breakthrough talks. September 30, 2011: The president shelves construction on a controversial hydroelectric dam in the northern Kachin State, “in keeping with the wishes of the people.” October 13, 2011: Myanmar releases about 150 political prisoners. November 17, 2011: Leaders of the Association of the South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) endorse Myanmar as the group's chair for 2014, after previously withholding the rotating chairmanship in protest at Myanmar's human rights record. November 18, 2011: Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party announces its decision to re-register as a political party and contest the April by-elections. November 21, 2011: Suu Kyi says she will run for office. Nov 30-December 2, 2011: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visits Myanmar to assess political developments and promises to match reforms with diplomatic rewards. December 3, 2011: Government signs ceasefire agreement with Shan ethnic minority insurgency. December 31, 2011: April 1 is set for by-election for 48 seats left vacant when the cabinet members took office. January 12, 2012: Government signs a ceasefire with the Karen ethnic minority insurgency. January 13, 2012: Government releases several hundred political prisoners. January 19, 2012: Talks with the Kachin ethnic minority insurgency break down and fail to produce a ceasefire. February 11, 2012: Suu Kyi kicks off by-election campaign. February 17, 2012: European Union announces easing of sanctions on Myanmar, lifting travel ban on 87 leading officials, including President Thein Sein. March 12, 2012: Myanmar government fails again to sign ceasefire agreement with Kachin. April 1, 2012: By-election scheduled with Aung San Suu Kyi in the race. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/55nm6 Tags: Elections, Myanmar, Reform, Timeline Section: Latest News, Southeast Asia
