The attempted assassination of Bai Yingneng was the first attack by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on Tatmadaw-aligned Kokang Border Guard Forces in Kokang, Myanmar. On February 5, 2021, MNDAA fighters ambushed a convoy transporting ousted governor Bai Yingmeng , the son of former Kokang leader Bai Suocheng, killing nine civilians and three of Bai's bodyguards.
| Attempted assassination of Bai Yingneng | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Myanmar civil war (2021–present) | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 MNDAA |
 Kokang Border Guard Forces Tatmadaw | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 20 | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 3 police officers killed, 5 injured[1] | ||||||
| 9 civilians killed, 7 injured | |||||||
Background
editIn 2009, the Myanmar Army (known as the Tatmadaw) launched an offensive on the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a rebel group based in Kokang, an ethnic Chinese area of northern Myanmar. The offensive severely weakened the MNDAA and northern Myanmar ethnic armed groups and led to the rise of Min Aung Hlaing. The Myanmar government created a government in Kokang that was sympathetic to the Tatmadaw, along with the Kokang Border Guard Forces, a paramilitary group that helps legitimize the Tatmadaw in the region and secure trade routes from Myanmar to the Chinese border in Kokang. [2]
On February 1, 2021, Min Aung Hlaing and the Tatmadaw overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, breaking all ceasefires and peace agreements with Myanmar rebel groups.[3] Bai Yingmeng, the head of Kokang and son of former Kokang leader Bai Suocheng, was ousted from his position by the Tatmadaw in the coup.[3] On the weekend of February 5, the Tatmadaw and Kokang BGF began preparations to attack MNDAA forces.[3]
Assassination attempt
editAs Bai's convoy was travelling between Hsenwi and Kunlong townships, MNDAA forces ambushed it near the town of Nadi between 2:30 and 3pm on February 5.[4][5] Bai received surgery in Lashio and was returning to Laukkai.[5] Around 20 MNDAA fighters were positioned on a nearby hillside known as Yasapo when they opened fire, killing nine civilians and three of Bai's teenage bodyguards.[3] Five police officers and seven civilians were injured in the attack as well.[5] Bai himself was unhurt.[3][2] The civilian deaths happened when the MNDAA fired at a passenger car following Bai's convoy.[5]
Kokang BGF began shooting back at the MNDAA and called in reinforcements from Tatmadaw. The MNDAA fighters fled the area, and Tatmadaw and Kokang BGF launched a cleanup operation. [5] Twenty minutes after the attack began, the Tatmadaw released a statement accusing the MNDAA of perpetrating the attack. [5]
Aftermath
editThe assassination attempt was the first attack by the MNDAA since the coup began and heightened tension across Kokang and Shan State.[2] Myanmar state media outlet Myawady Daily reported extensively on the ambush in the days there after, which The Irrawaddy stated was an example of the close ties between the Tatmadaw and Bai Yingneng.[6]
References
edit- ^ Armed attack on convoy in Myanmar kills 12. The Sentinel. February 7, 2021 Archived July 11, 2024, at Ghost Archive
- ^ a b c "Myanmar Regional Crime Webs Enjoy Post-Coup Resurgence: The Kokang Story". United States Institute of Peace. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ a b c d e "Myanmar's army pledges stability, but coup could worsen ethnic conflicts". Los Angeles Times. 2021-02-09. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "Myanmar: Increased security likely in northern Shan State, through mid-February". Myanmar: Increased security likely in northern Shan State, through mid-February | Crisis24. Archived from the original on 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ a b c d e f 网易 (2021-02-06). "突发！缅甸军方发布：载有白应能的果敢警队车队遭伏击，12人死亡！". www.163.com. Archived from the original on 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ "Myanmar Military 'Provided Protection For US$ 14 Billion a Year Scam Hub' on China Border". The Irrawaddy. January 5, 2024. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.