New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar in exile has appointed a well-known Rohingya activist as its deputy human rights minister.News reports have stated that the activist, U Aung Kyaw Moe has accepted the role and said in a Facebook post, “I am proud to have the opportunity to work more for the country and the people.” In mid-2021, months after a military coup toppled the NUG government, Kyaw Moe was appointed the first Rohingya advisor on human rights by the civilian regime and has since been guiding the government on rights issues.Reporting on the unusual development, The Irrawaddy said, “The appointment of a Rohingya to a senior role was welcomed online as a significant move towards equality for religious minorities and the Rohingya in particular.”NUG’s international cooperation minister, Dr Sa Sa, was quoted by the news report saying, the appointment brought him “immense joy”. He said, “Together, we continue to strive for freedom, federal democracy and a brighter future for all people of Myanmar, regardless of race, religion, culture, gender, language, background or ethnicity.”A graduate of the United States Institute of Peace and Dalai Lama fellowship, Kyaw Moe has been working in the rights space for over 15 years and had collaborated with various UN bodies and non-governmental organisations in Myanmar, Thailand, Afghanistan and Liberia. “He was granted the French government’s human rights award and received four other international awards including the Schuman Award from the European Union in 2019 for his peace-building and human rights activities,” the civilian ministry said in a statement. This June 7, the activist was in the news because his elder brother U Than Myint was assassinated by unknown assailants in Yangon close to his house. The activist has posted on Facebook that his brother was killed in Myanmar “after his family connection was revealed”. My only and elder was brother was murdered brutally by a group of unknown people in Yangon on 7th June 2023.He was simple man and had no social or any other issue with anyone.The only crime he committed he happened to be my brother and I am fight against dictatorship. pic.twitter.com/pRZLiGbZ1X— Aung Kyaw Moe (@akmoe2) June 9, 2023Reporting on the killing then, Mizzima had stated that a week before the murder, two pro-Junta nationalists, Tint Lwin and singer Lily Naing Kyaw, were killed in Yangon and that U Aung Kyaw Moe’s brother’s death might have been Junta supporters’ retaliation to it. “Pro-Junta Telegram channels incited the junta supporters to attack anti-Junta activists and family members of celebrities who have shown support for the pro-democracy movement,” the report had said.