Ko Ni

Ko Ni
ကိုနီ
U Ko Ni during a VOA interview in 2015
Born(1953-02-11)11 February 1953
Katha, Sagaing Division, Burma (now Myanmar)
Died29 January 2017(2017-01-29) (aged 63)
Cause of deathAssassination (gunshot by an alleged assassin)
Resting placeYayway Cemetery
CitizenshipBurmese
EducationBachelor of Arts (1975), Bachelor of Laws (1976)
Alma materRangoon Arts and Science University
Occupation(s)Lawyer
Legal advisor
Activist
Advocate
Years active1976–2017
Known forHuman rights lawyer, writer, legal advisor to the National League for Democracy
Political partyNational League for Democracy (NLD)
SpouseTin Tin Aye
ChildrenMultiple, including:
Yin Nwe Khaing
Aye Thi Khaing
Thant Zin Oo
Parents
  • Sultan Mohamed (father)
  • Halima Khin Hla (mother)

Ko Ni (Burmese: ကိုနီ; pronounced [ ], often known as U Ko Ni (Burmese: ဦးကိုနီ; pronounced [ʔú ]; 11 February 1953 – 29 January 2017) was a prominent Burmese lawyer, constitutional law expert, and advocate for democratic reforms and interfaith dialogue in Myanmar. Renowned for his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and pluralism, Ko Ni emerged as a vital figure in Myanmar’s turbulent political landscape. As a legal advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD), he played a pivotal role in crafting constitutional strategies to navigate the military-dominated political landscape, seeking to curb the military's entrenched control over governance. His dedication to human rights, minority rights, and democratic principles made him a target of hostility, culminating in his assassination on 29 January 2017, in Yangon, Myanmar. His death was mourned nationally and internationally as a profound loss for Myanmar's democratic transition and interfaith harmony, underscoring the risks faced by the reformists in a nation under military rule.