News NLD Legal Advisor U Ko Ni Assassinated

NLD legal advisor U Ko Ni was murdered Sunday at Rangoon International Airport. / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON — Prominent NLD legal advisor U Ko Ni was gunned down in the car parking area at Rangoon International Airport as he returned Sunday afternoon from Indonesia. The shooter has been arrested, according to President’s Office spokesperson U Zaw Htay.

The Information Ministry’s Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung told The Irrawaddy that U Ko Ni was part of a 21-member government delegation that had just completed a one-week study tour of Indonesia. Other officials in the travel group included Information Minister U Pe Myint, the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, and the Home Affairs Minister for Arakan State.

U Ko Ni was a Muslim lawyer and an expert on the controversial 2008 Constitution. He was one of the key figures working within the NLD to prepare constitutional amendments long before the party came to power in 2016.

The gunman was identified as 53-year-old Kyi Lin from Mandalay, according to the police report. The assailant also shot a taxi driver with his 9mm pistol while attempting to escape, police said.