NLD to Tighten Security Following Lawyer’s Assassination

By Htet Naing Zaw 30 January 2017

NAYPYIDAW—A leading member of Burma’s ruling party the National League for Democracy (NLD) said security measures—including for the party’s leadership—would be beefed up and described the assassination of the party’s legal advisor on Sunday as a “threat.”

Legal advisor for the NLD U Ko Ni was killed at Yangon International Airport by a lone gunman at close range on Sunday afternoon.

Although assassinations are rare in Burma, the event has prompted security concerns for the country’s State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

NLD spokesperson and the person responsible for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s security U Win Htein told The Irrawaddy on Sunday that the current security measures for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were good. “But [given to U Ko Ni’s assassination] I will have to make them stricter,” he said.

“The assassination is a security threat. I will advise to tighten the security for the current leadership,” he added.

“We will take this matter seriously and will increase security during [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s] local and international tours,” he said.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s name was found on an ISIS target list  sent to Malaysia’s Negri Sembilan police station in August last year, along with the Malaysian prime minister, his deputy, as well as the attorney-general, the inspector-general of police, and three ministers of Malaysia.

In response to the ISIS threats, President Office’s Spokesperson U Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy last year that they didn’t need to worry too much but they also can’t underestimate it.

On Sunday, the NLD released a statement condemning the killing as an act of “terrorism” and urging members not to react strongly to the assassination.

Kyaw Phyo Tha in Rangoon contributed to this report