Bai Suocheng or Bai Xuoqian (Chinese: 白所成; pinyin: Bái Suǒchéng; Burmese: ပယ်ဆောက်ချိန်; born 1 April 1950) is a Kokang politician from Shan State, Myanmar. He was a former deputy commander of the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army who later became the MP of the Amyotha Hluttaw representing Laukkai and first leader of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. In 2024 he was extradited to China for running online and telephone scam centres.[3]
Bai Suocheng | |
|---|---|
白所成 | |
| Member of the Amyotha Hluttaw | |
| In office 31 January 2011 – 29 January 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Constituency | Laukkai Constituency No.2 |
| Head of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone | |
| In office 20 August 2010 – April 2016 | |
| Deputy | Ming Xuechang |
| Preceded by | position created |
| Succeeded by | Zhao Dechen[1] |
| Head of the Shan State Special region 1 (acting) | |
| In office 24 August 2009 – 20 August 2010 | |
| Deputy | Liu Gaoxi[2] |
| Preceded by | Pheung Kya-shin (chairman) |
| Succeeded by | as the head of KSZ |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 April 1950 Hon Aik, Kokang, Burma |
| Political party | USDP |
| Other political affiliations | |
| Children | 2 sons and 4 daughters (including Bai Yingneng (Khin Maung Lwin), Bai Yingcang (Khin Maung Win), Bai Yingxiang, Bai Yinglan) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | |
| Years of service | 1967–2024 |
Career
editBai Suocheng was a deputy commander of the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) who assisted Pheung Kya-shin in ousting Yang Mao-liang from the leadership in 1992. He later tried to replace Pheung himself with the support of Myanmar's government.[4][5] Bai allied himself with the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) to oust Pheung during the three-day Kokang incident in 2009. Remnants of the MNDAA were reorganized into Border Guard Force #1006 under Bai's supervision afterwards.[6]
Bai was elected as an MP of the Amyotha Hluttaw representing Laukkai Constituency No. 2.[7] during the 2010 general election. Bai's agreement led to the formation of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone on 20 August 2010 where Bai would become its the first head of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone.[8][9]
Under his rule, the region became known for drugs and weapons trafficking.[8] Bai was not very popular and survived an assassination attempt in March 2012.[10] Bai's deputy, Liu Gaoxi, was elected in the same general election in 2010, and was known for his involvement with drugs trafficking.[11] Bai Suocheng, his children and his associates dominated a multi-billion-dollar hotel and casino business empire, including online gambling operations. These businesses extend to Karen State and internationally to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Chinese court records have heard multiple cases involving the Bai and Liu family's companies relating to gambling, smuggling and kidnapping from Kokang hotels and casinos.[12]
On 10 December 2023, China issued a warrant for him.[13][14][15] He was later arrested by Burmese authorities, which transferred him along with other nine people, including his son Bai Yingcang, to China on 30 January 2024.[16][17]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "赵德强担任果敢自治区领导委员会主席" (in Chinese). Kokang News. Archived from the original on 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
- ^ "自治区领导委员会率地区各级机关单位、部门共同吊唁刘国玺老领导". website of Kokang Self-Administered Zone (in Chinese). 2020-01-17. Archived from the original on 2023-11-15.
- ^ Hawkins, Amy (31 January 2024). "Myanmar hands over junta-backed warlords to China in telecoms scam case". The Guardian.
- ^ Strangio, Sebastian (30 October 2023). "Myanmar Ethnic Armies Launch Major Offensive in Shan State". The Diplomat.
- ^ Shanhe, Qiu. "Interview on Kokang". www.shanland.org. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ "Why civil war in northern Myanmar matters to China". wantchinatimes.com/. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ Zin Linn. "Does the junta use drugs as a weapon in Burma's politics?". asiancorrespondent.com/. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Tens of thousands flee war, airstrikes in Kokang region". reliefweb.int/r. Democratic Voice of Burma. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ Tower, Jason; Clapp, Priscilla (26 January 2021). "Myanmar: Army Moves Against Chinese Crime Groups in Autonomous Zones". United States Institute of Peace.
- ^ "Bai Xuoqian, head of the Kokang Self-Administered". www.shanland.org. Shan Herald. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ Skehan, Craig. "Heroin traffickers elected in Burma". flarenetwork.org/. Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ Clapp, Priscilla; Tower, Jason (27 August 2021). "Myanmar Regional Crime Webs Enjoy Post-Coup Resurgence: The Kokang Story". United States Institute of Peace.
- ^ "China issues arrest warrants, offers rewards for 10 leaders of telecom fraud gangs in Myanmar". China Daily. 10 December 2023.
- ^ "公安机关公开通缉白所成、魏怀仁、刘正祥等10名缅北果敢自治区电信网络诈骗犯罪集团重要头目". People's Daily (in Simplified Chinese). 10 December 2023.
- ^ "ကိုးကန့်အုပ်ချုပ်ရေးမှူးဟောင်း အပါအဝင် ဆယ်ဦးကို တရုတ် ဖမ်းဝရမ်းထုတ်" (in Burmese). RFA Burmese. 2023-12-10.
- ^ "Myanmar arrests alleged Chinese scammers, former MP". Radio Free Asia. 31 January 2024.
- ^ "白所成等10名缅北重大犯罪嫌疑人被成功押解回国". China News (in Simplified Chinese). 30 January 2024.
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