Myanmar police blame grudge, not army, for lawyer’s murder
YANGON, Myanmar — The assassination of a prominent legal adviser to Myanmar’s government was the result of a personal political grudge and not part of a bigger conspiracy by the military, senior security officials said Saturday.
Police and Home Ministry officials said at a news conference that they have arrested three men for the Jan. 29 shooting of lawyer Ko Ni and are seeking a fourth.
Ko Ni had advised Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on constitutional law, including how to wrest power from the army and put it in the hands of her elected civilian government. His actions raised suspicion of vengeful military involvement in his killing.
Military or military-dominated governments ruled Myanmar from 1962 until Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party took power in 2016 after an overwhelming election victory. But a constitution passed during army rule ensures that the military retains great power in government, including a virtual veto over constitutional change.