Ko Ni

Ko Ni was born on 11 February 1953 in a village near Katha, Sagaing Division, Burma (now Myanmar), to a family of farmers and shopkeepers. His father, Sultan Mohamed, was an Indian Muslim who had moved to Burma in the early 20th century as part of the British Indian Army. His mother, Khin Hla (also known as Halima), This diverse background influenced Ko Ni's lifelong commitment to promoting interfaith understanding. Growing up in poverty, Ko Ni worked as a day laborer to fund his education. Despite these challenges, he execelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1976 from Rangoon Arts and Science University. His resilience and dedication to education became a cornerstone of his later advocacy for justice and equality. == Legal career ==

Ko Ni founded the Laurel Law Firm, establishing himself as a leading voice in constitutional law. He authored six books on topics such as democratic elections, constitutional reform, and human rights, which became essential reading for aspiring lawyers and activists. His contributions to legal literature and advocacy for the rule of law were widely respected, even among his adversaries. Ko Ni's work extended beyond individual cases to systemic reforms. He critiqued the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar for its entrenchment of military power and advocated for its replacement, not just amendment. His meticulous legal strategies were instrumental in creating the office of State Counsellor, enabling Aung San Suu Kyi to assume a leadership role despite constitutional barriers. == Political career ==

Ko Ni officially joined the National League for Democracy (NLD) on 8 October 2013, after years of serving as a legal advisor to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the NLD party. Beyond constitutional reforms, Ko Ni was active in the interfaith movement, working to bridge divides between Myanmar's Buddhist majority and religious minorities. His commitment to pluralism and dialogue was seen as a unifying force in a fractured society. ==Assassination==

Ko Ni was assassinated on 29 January 2017 at Yangon International Airport upon returning from Jakarta, Indonesia, where he had attended a senior leadership program on democracy and conflict resolution. Allegations emerged in social media that Kyaw Swe, the Minister of Home Affairs and former Commander of South-west Command in Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region had orchestrated the killing. Reactions The assassination of Ko Ni elicited strong reactions from various sectors, both inside Myanmar and internationally. Senior leaders from the National League for Democracy expressed their shock and sorrow, with Tin Oo, a senior party leader, describing the killing as "a great loss for the country, and for democratic forces. His death was seen as not just a personal loss but also a blow to Myanmar's transition to democracy, which had already been fraught with challenges. Internationally, the assassination was met with widespread condemnation. US Ambassador to Myanmar, Scot Marciel, who knew Ko Ni personally, expressed his sadness, stating, "All I want to say is, of course, we are all shocked and really sad. I knew Ko Ni and his commitment to his country and democracy." Zeyar Phyo received five years in prison for destroying trial evidence, after the initial charge against him for financing the assassination was suddenly dropped before the verdict. In September 2020, prosecutors submitted a special appeal to the Supreme Court of Myanmar to mete out harsher sentences to those involved in Ko Ni's murder. == Personal life ==

Ko Ni was married to Tin Tin Aye, with whom he had three children. His daughter, Yin Nwe Khaing, is a medical doctor. Known for his humility and dedication, Ko Ni's family often spoke of his unwavering commitment to justice, even at great personal risk. ==References==