[Pataacculakp]

Aung San Suu Kyi began a difficult transition from pro-democracy icon and political prisoner to the humdrum world of parliamentary politics Wednesday, taking public office for the first time after nearly a quarter-century of struggling against the country's powerful military elites.

By taking her seat in Myanmar's parliament, analysts say the former Nobel Peace Prize winner is wagering on being able to prod the nominally civilian administration of President Thein Sein to continue a series of political and economic reforms after the country's military government rulers formally stepped down last year.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the development as an important moment for the future of Myanmar, which is also known as Burma. "A genuine transition toward multiparty democracy leading to general elections in 2015 will help build a more prosperous society," Mrs. Clinton said in a statement.

It's a gamble that might not pay off, though. Some commentators worry that Myanmar's armed forces are still quietly in command, and that Ms. Suu Kyi's presence in parliament confers legitimacy on the government that it hasn't yet earned despite a year of steady reforms. Critics point out that political prisoners remain behind bars, and that fighting persist with ethnic insurgent groups along Myanmar's long borders.

"Aung San Suu Kyi's parliamentary debut is neither a game-changer nor a sign that Burma has reached the tipping point of democratic transition," said Maung Zarni, visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and long-term exile activist. Instead, he said it represents a victory for Myanmar's shadowy generals, and could "accelerate the world's acceptance of the military rule in a more sophisticated carnation."

Underscoring the continuing problems, Ms. Suu Kyi, 66 years old, delayed taking her seat in parliament for several days despite her National League for Democracy winning 43 of 45 open seats in by-elections on April 1. She and her colleagues complained that the oath of office required them to swear to safeguard a military-drafted constitution which reserves a quarter of parliamentary seats for the armed forces.

In addition, changing the constitution requires at least 75% of the votes in parliament, effectively providing the army with a veto over any constitutional changes.

Ms. Suu Kyi and her colleagues wanted to instead swear to "respect" the constitution, but on Monday backed down in a conciliatory move welcomed by, among others, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ms. Suu Kyi is unlikely to have much of a voice in the legislature, at least for the time being. She and her fellow legislators from the National League for Democracy comprise around 8% of the total number of seats in the parliament. Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony and wearing white flowers in her hair, she said "we have to now work within the parliament as well as outside the parliament as we have been doing."

Many observers are now looking forward to the next national elections due in 2015. Two key questions are whether Ms. Suu Kyi's party will dominate the vote after boycotting the last year's polls, and whether Myanmar's military will be willing to let the opposition take over parliament.

In the meantime, the sight of Ms. Suu Kyi simply taking a seat in parliament shows the extent of changes in this former military state, which have resulted in the European Union, United States and Australia dropping or suspending some of their sanctions.

As Mrs. Clinton noted, just 18 months ago Ms. Suu Kyi was still under house arrest. Today, business travelers are flocking to the country to assess potential of one Asia's most resource-rich nations.