ON 29 January 2017, U Ko Ni, a prominent sixty-five-year-old Muslim-Myanmar lawyer who was also a legal advisor of the ruling NLD party was shot dead at Yangon International Airport shortly after returning from a fact-finding trip to Indonesia.
A long-time activist, former detainee and constitutional specialist, Ko Ni was reported to have been instrumental in crafting Aung San Suu Kyi's current position as “State Counsellor.” He had also been a staunch advocate for overhauling Myanmar’s much-derided 2008 Constitution – setting himself against more conservative forces, especially the military.
As thousands attended his emotional funeral in the North Okkalapa township, observers pondered whether the contract-style killing by a lone gun man was because of his work with NLD (i.e. “political”) or because of his Muslim identity (and hence, more ominously, “religious”)?
Certainly, the killing could not have come at a worse time for Myanmar. The treatment of the Rohingya people in the Rakhine province is drawing global condemnation. This unprecedented assassination could destroy what little intra-religious trust remains between the Union’s Buddhist majority and Muslim minority.
Just a few days before the murder, I had been in Yangon, spending time with a Muslim-Burmese subject. I was seeking to learn more about what Is fast emerging as one of Southeast Asia’s most intractable fault-lines: the Buddhist/Muslim divide.
My subject was a tall, bearded driver called U Tin Win. Aged 71, he was born in Mandalay but he had long settled in Yangon with his wife, his eight children and eighteen grandchildren. With an Indian-Muslim father who worked on the railways and a Burmese mother who died when he was still an infant, Tin Win (his Muslim name is “Mohamad Esa”) had grown up monolingual. He spoke only Burmese and was desperately unhappy when he was briefly enrolled in an English language school: "I lived in despair. But at least I had my grandmother."
His one interest in life was a fascination with lorries, which eventually became his livelihood after serving for four years in the army as a radio-operator in the Chin State. As he tells it, his grandmother showed up at his base driving a lorry in order to take him back home.
“Back then, joining up and leaving the army was much more straightforward" he tells me with a smile.
He starts chortling as he recounts his years as a lorry-driver, having relished the freedom of being on-the-road. For the next thirty-five years or so, he was to criss-cross the country from north to south and east to west, visiting every province in the Union save Kachin to the far north.
Adventures were not scarce: "After Ne Win took over in 1962, things became much more difficult for everyone. I remember this one time when I had to cross the border into Imphal on foot. I had onions, potatoes and garlic which I exchanged for clothes and spices. Returning was a headache. There were lots of checkpoints and bribes to be paid. I vowed never to do it again."
Leaning over a large map I spread out before him, he pointed out the various towns and provinces he had driven through over the decades - reciting their names one by one. For me the sounds were magical: Monywa, Sittwe, Dawei, Mawlmyine, Lashio and Taunggyi. And as
I listened, I became aware of his intense pride in his country: "There have been Muslims in Burma for centuries. We served the Kings and we were accepted as citizens." But there is also a deep sadness about him as the realities of present day Myanmar came screeching back into plain-sight.
"I feel so sorry for the Rohingya…but there are some differences between us. While many speak Burmese, others can't. Some have also definitely come from Bangladesh."
Even the size of the Muslim Burmese community is hotly-disputed. Government sources state that they make up no more than 4% of the population whilst independent NGO's have claimed this figure is closer to 12%.
Muslims have also found it tougher to deal with the government as discrimination has become institutionalized. Tin Win, for instance has run into difficulties securing identity cards for his many grandchildren. This is a crucial handicap. Without one (preferably the pink-coloured type), it’s almost impossible to open a bank account, secure travel documents or buy property. But when I ask him about “The Lady” (Aung San Suu Kyi), he answers unequivocally: "I am a supporter".
This may surprise her many detractors ground the globe. But perhaps it’s understandable given the community's vulnerability not to mention the fundamental weaknesses of the NLD government in their dealings with the military.
Tin Win has practically grown up with an independent Myanmar. The possibility that his beloved country - whose roads he has wandered - may turn on him and indeed his family is too horrible and depressing to comprehend. For his sake and the country’s, Myanmar’s dangerous descent into sectarianism must be arrested.
The death of Ko Ni - something Tin Win insisted was 'political' and not 'religious' constitutes a major tragedy. However, it's important that the broader lessons from Indonesia - including the need for political reform, cultural diversity, civilian supremacy vis-a-vis the military and decentralization - are not lost on Myanmar’s leaders.
At the same time, it's imperative that ASEAN nations themselves acknowledge the scale of the challenges facing Myanmar with its fledgling democracy and impoverished people. While the bloodshed in Rakhine must be curbed, our actions must not imperil the many millions of Muslim Burmese living across the Union. They could well become hostages to the Rohingya issue if cooler heads don't prevail. ◦
Karim Raslan
Thu Feb 02 2017
Tin Win has practically grown up with an independent Myanmar. - Photo by Karim Raslan
Menteri Kabinet zahir penghargaan kepada warga pekerja
Hari Pekerja disambut pada 1 Mei setiap tahun bagi meraikan sumbangan warga pekerja dengan sambutan tahun ini yang bertemakan 'Pekerja Kesuma Bangsa'.
Bayi maut disyaki akibat didera, polis tahan empat individu
Polis menahan empat individu di sekitar sini yang disyaki terlibat dalam kes kematian seorang bayi perempuan berumur sembilan bulan di Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), dipercayai akibat didera, minggu lalu.
Rasuah RM3.3 juta: CEO syarikat air, pemilik syarikat ditahan
Ketua pegawai eksekutif syarikat pembekalan air dan seorang pemilik syarikat ditahan semalam berkaitan kes rasuah dan tuntutan palsu RM3.3 juta.
Sumbang lebih RM16 juta kepada asnaf sempena Aidilfitri
Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP) menyumbang lebih RM16 juta kepada asnaf di Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Labuan sempena perayaan Aidilfitri tahun ini.
Maklum Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (hal ehwal agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, bantuan itu diagih sejak sebelum syawal berjumlah RM16.1 juta kepada 32,250 asnaf di ketiga-tiga wilayah yang mana RM500 diberikan kepada setiap seorang.
Maklum Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (hal ehwal agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, bantuan itu diagih sejak sebelum syawal berjumlah RM16.1 juta kepada 32,250 asnaf di ketiga-tiga wilayah yang mana RM500 diberikan kepada setiap seorang.
Keputusan rayuan Siti Bainun sabitan salah abai, aniaya Bella esok
Keputusan itu akan diputuskan Hakim, Datuk Noorin Badaruddin pada jam 10 pagi.
Sabah, Sarawak setuju pinda Ordinan Buruh
Kerajaan Sabah dan Sarawak kerana bersetuju untuk membuat pindaan ke atas Ordinan Buruh Sabah (Ordinan Cap.67) dan Sarawak (Ordinan Bab 76) bagi diselaraskan dengan Akta Kerja 1955 yang terpakai di Semenanjung Malaysia.
Laporan Bank Dunia: Sistem pendidikan didakwa ketinggalan, MASA gesa tindakan segera
Azril mencadangkan agar penelitian tuntas dan telus terhadap sistem pendidikan dilakukan segera terhadap beberapa perkara.
Apple dijangka tambah ciri AI pada Safari melalui iOS 18
Ciri kecerdasan buatan pada Safari kelak akan memudahkan beberapa proses pelayaran.
'Tiada kartel dalam Lembaga Maktab Mahmud'
Video yang ditularkan semula itu sudah disunting dan diubah suai daripada video sebenar serta tiada kakitangan yang diturunkan pangkat seperti yang dinyatakan.
KESUMA ikrar laksana latihan kemahiran bernilai tinggi kepada rakyat Malaysia
Kementerian Sumber Manusia (KESUMA) berikrar akan berusaha sebaik mungkin untuk pelaksanaan latihan kemahiran bernilai tinggi kepada rakyat Malaysia.
Ceritalah: Sejarah berulang dengan gunung berapi Taal
Pemandangan ketika Taal meletup dan imej-imej semarak debu yang besar dan menakutkan naik ke arah langit diiringi dengan kilatan guruh dan petir yang disebarkan ke seluruh dunia oleh media sosial.
Ceritalah: Tuntutan China atas Laut China Selatan - ASEAN harus bersatu
Pada tahun 2016, pemimpin-pemimpin dunia memandang Beijing dan beliau sebagai suatu hab alternatif - bagi suatu pendekatan terhadap ekonomi dan politik global yang berprinsip dan seimbang.
Ceritalah ASEAN - Joko Anwar: Cemerlang atas usaha sendiri
Tarikannya dan citra jenakanya menyembunyikan suatu minda yang amat bekerja keras dan berfokus.
Ceritalah - Perang dadah Duterte: Rakyat suram sambut Krismas
Kerana enggan kekal diam dan menerima takdir berdarah anaknya, Normita terpaksa meninggalkan rumahnya dan sekarang tinggal bersama seorang sanak saudaranya di bahagian lain bandar itu.
Ceritalah ASEAN - Aung San Suu Kyi: Lannister atau Stark?
Aung San Suu Kyi dari Myanmar - anak seorang jeneral, mengetuai sebuah negara amat rapuh telah menjadi musuh Tatmadaw (tentera) untuk menjadi apologis atau, lebih teruk lagi, pemudah mereka.
Ceritalah ASEAN - Plastik: Patut dikekalkan atau dihapuskan?
Gabungan pendapatan dari 50 firma petrokimia teratas dalam tahun 2018 adalah ASD926.8 bilion, jauh melebihi industri penapisan berjumlah ASD400 bilion.
Ceritalah Indonesia - Jawa: Mengenai bahasa dan perpaduan
Secara berasingan, kesemua tujuh presiden Indonesia mempunyai darah Jawa - termasuk BJ Habibie kelahiran Sulawesi yang baru meninggal. BJ Habibie adalah separuh Jawa.
Ceritalah - Enam hari di laut: Suatu pelayaran di atas Nggapulu
Dari saat para penumpang menaiki feri lapan tingkat itu, Nggapulu menjadi suatu mikrokosmo republik itu sendiri.
Ceritalah Indonesia - Anak muda memberontak: Apa mereka mahu?
Antara 23 dan 30 September, Hamzah adalah salah seorang daripada ribuan pelajar yang membuat bantahan di luar Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) menghidupkan semula ingatan pada waktu Reformasi.
Ceritalah: Gelombang kemasukan pelancong India ke Asia Tenggara
Sementara ekonomi India mungkin menghadapi kemerosotannya sendiri, pelancong dari gergasi Asia Selatan itu menjadi kuasa yang semakin perlu diiktiraf di rantau Asia Tenggara.