The funeral, led by Shwenyawa Sayar Daw, was held in Burmese Buddhist tradition, while the Sayardaw and other monks performed funeral rites. Hundreds of people were present to attend the ceremony and pay respects to Ko Par Gyi, including National League for Democracy member Tin Oo, prominent leaders of the 88 Generations Peace and Open Society (88 GPOS) Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi.
“Freelance [reporter] Ko Par Gyi, who was a member of the Tri-Color Group, disappeared even though he was a citizen of this country. Now, we get to know [the facts surrounding his disappearance], and we can bring his corpse to this place [the Yay Way Cemetery]. So, we believe that beyond our rights as citizens, we will soon be able to have the rights of democracy, federalism, and justice, which we have been [in] thirst of,” said Ko Jemi, leading member of the 88 GPOS.
NLD chairwoman Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 88 GPOS, All Burma’s Student Democratic Front (ABSDF), various political forces and civil society organizations sent bouquets of flowers and wreaths to the funeral.
At the funeral, a group of democracy activists protested in demand for the investigation into the murder of Ko Par Gyi, and arrest of those responsible. The group also demanded that the President and chief of military defense apologize to the civilians and admit the case, as they hold ultimate responsibility for the reporter’s death.
“We have nothing to say because his [Ko Par Gyi’s] funeral was held as his wife wished and has satisfied the majority [of] people [as demanded]. But, what we have to say is that [according] to the rule of law and justice, this case [must] continue to be carried out,” said U Win Cho, an activist present at the funeral, demanding for the investigation and apology from the President and chief of Defense.
Ko Par Gyi was a member of the Tri-Color student group and served as opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s bodyguard, and in 2010, he began working as a freelance journalist, focusing on news concerning peace in Burma.
Respective government authorities have reported that Ko Par Gyi was shot dead in response to having allegedly attempted to rob a gun from the soldier guarding him while he was detained by government troops in late September 2014. However, authorities were unable to corroborate their statement with the facts uncovered by the investigation commission tasked with investigating the reporters death, as the commission found Ko Par Gyi was shot five times.
After Ko Par Gyi’s body was analyzed, the Moulmein Township Civil Development Committee released a statement on November 6, 2014 ordering the burial of Ko Par Gyi’s body within 24 hours, whereupon his corpse was taken to Rangoon and laid to rest in Yay Way Cemetery.
