Ref: 01_Jan_17
Date: 29 January 2017
Joint ARU-AIPAD -ARYA-BRANA- ERC Statement on the assassination of U Ko Ni
We, the following signatories, strongly condemn the tragic assassination of U Ko Ni, an expert in constitutional law and a legal advisor for Myanmar’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), outside Yangon airport today (29th Jan 2017). U Ko Ni was assassinated upon his arrival from the official visit to Jakarta, led by Information Minister Pe Myint, to study peaceful and interfaith life in Indonesia.
U Ko Ni is the only Muslim, holding advisory position to NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi. In addition, he is the one who has expertise on the critical analysis of successive Myanmar government’s discriminatory laws against Rohingya and Myanmar Muslim minority. Furthermore, U Ko Ni was widely considered in Myanmar as main legal advisor who managed to penetrate the military drafted constitutions which bar Aung San Suu Kyi from being the President of Myanmar to be Aung San Suu Kyi the head of the state as State Counsellor. Therefore, we strongly believe that the assassination of U Ko Ni is a calculated political killing. We also believe this is the threat to the democracy and peaceful co-existence of multi-faith and multi-ethnic community in Myanmar.
We are deeply saddened and shocked. We believe that the loss of such a prominent human rights champion is shocking for all peace loving people across Myanmar in general, for Muslims in particular. We offer our heart-felt condolences to the family of U Ko Ni and his friends. We assure you that we will be mourning with you during these sad days, and will pray for the healing of this deep loss. There can never be any justification for political violence and terrorism.
We consider U Ko Ni as the champion and hero of human rights for ethnic minorities in Myanmar.
We urge the government of Myanmar, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, to hold a “state funeral ceremony” for U Ko Ni. We also urge Aung San Suu Kyi to form an independent investigation commission to transparently investigate the bottom of the assassination immediately. All those responsible for this assassination must be investigated and brought into justice as soon as possible. We also request Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the government of Myanmar to provide safety and security to all people in Myanmar irrespective of race and religion.
For more information,
Dr. Wakar Uddin (ARU), + 1 8147 774498
MP U Shwe Maung (AiPAD), + 1 3307856603
Dr. Anita Schug (ERC), + 4915750685496
Dr. Hla Kyaw (ERC), +31652358202
Signatories:
Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU)
Arakan Institute for Peace and Development (AiPAD)
Arakan Rohingya Youth Association (ARYA)
Burmese Rohingya Association of North America (BRANA)
The European Rohingya Council (ERC)
http://www.theerc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Joint-Statement-on-the-assassination-of-U-Ko-Ni-1.pdf
