08 March 2017•Update: 08 March 2017
By Kyaw Ye Lynn
YANGON, Myanmar
A defamation case has been opened against a prominent Myanmar journalist for an online post about a monk leading an anti-Muslim group.
Swe Win, chief reporter of news outlet Myanmar NOW, had posted on Facebook, “Wirathu is no longer a monk as he transgressed the Parazika rules [or cardinal sins]” -- referring to the monk’s expressed appreciation for suspects in the assassination of a prominent Muslim lawyer.
An aide to Wirathu and member of his ultra-nationalist organization -- better known as Ma Ba Tha in its Myanmar acronym -- filed the suit under section 66 (d) of the Telecommunications Law in Myanmar’s second largest city Mandalay, local media reported Wednesday citing police.
Swe Win posted a clarification saying he had yet to be officially contacted by the police, but was aware that a case had been opened.
“We all know that U Wirathu has been publicly thanking U Ko Ni’s murderers,” he wrote using a local honorific. “We also know that the concerned authorities haven’t taken any action against someone who’s supporting such a horrific crime.”
Ko Ni, 65, was shot in the head at Yangon International Airport on Jan. 29 as he returned from a visit to Indonesia as part of a Myanmar delegation of Muslim leaders and government officials. A taxi driver was also shot dead in the attack.
A gunman, Kyi Lin, was arrested by a group of taxi drivers shortly after the shooting.
He reportedly confessed to being hired by three ex-military officers for almost $60,000 to assassinate Ko Ni -- a legal advisor to the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD).
Police have arrested two more suspects, Aung Win Zaw and Zayar Phyo, but said the main suspect, Aung Win Khaing, remains at large.
Wirathu had hailed the four men accused of orchestrating the murder Ko Ni for “defending race and religion”.
On Jan. 30, government officials, public figures, religious leaders and Buddhist monks gathered at a Muslim ceremony in Yangon to see Ko Ni’s coffin, which was draped with a green flag of Islam, interred.
In late February, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi led the tribute to Ko Ni at a memorial service held in front of some 10,000 mourners.
On Wednesday, Swe Win described the lawsuit as a test for the country’s efforts in rule of law.
“If legal action is taken against myself without any real cause, but not against people who publicly support a criminal act, then it’ll become obvious how this country’s authorities cannot implement the proper rules and regulations,” he said.
Under the charge, he faces up to three years in prison.
Though once self-isolated Myanmar is now ruled by a civilian government led by Suu Kyi, rights groups have warned of an escalation in the suppression of opposition critics by state authorities.
According to a campaign led by a group of civil society activists, at least 43 cases have been filed under section 66(d) during the current government, which took office in March 2016.
