Myanmar police announced [NYT report] on Wednesday that they have arrested four people in connection with the killing [JURIST report] of prominent Muslim human rights lawyer, U Ko Ni. The lawyer was shot in the head at Yangon International Airport on Sunday while holding his grandchild. U Myint Swe was among those arrested and is accused of being the mastermind of the killing. U Kyi Lin was arrested and is accused of being the gunman. A motive was not yet officially disclosed, but the president’s office stated on Monday that the killing was done to “undermine the country’s stability.” Ko Ni was a leading force in the transition of Myanmar to democracy and a conflict-free nation.

Reports of human rights violations in Myanmar has prompted international concern. In November a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern [JURIST report] about possible crimes against humanity committed against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority. The Myanmar military’s “campaign of violence” against Rohingya people constitutes crimes against humanity [JURIST report], according to an Amnesty International report in December.