Medical and Hospital News
ENERGY NEWS
Thailand cuts power to Chinese-backed casino complex in Myanmar
Thailand cuts power to Chinese-backed casino complex in Myanmar
by AFP Staff Writers
Bangkok (AFP) June 7, 2023

Thailand has cut electricity supplies to a Myanmar border township home to a billion-dollar Chinese-backed development that analysts say is a front for illegal gambling and online scam operations.

Thai authorities halted the power to Shwe Kokko in Myanmar's Karen state from midnight Monday-Tuesday, police chief of Maesod district Monsak Kaew-on told AFP.

The electricity was cut after a contract for the Thai side to supply the town ended without the Myanmar junta renewing it, he added.

Many areas along Myanmar's lawless eastern border are awash with Chinese investment, including in casinos, mines and logging.

The sprawling Shwe Kokko complex houses hotels and casinos targeting Chinese customers and is run by the Border Guard Force (BGF), a military-aligned ethnic militia.

A spokesman for the BGF could not be reached for comment by AFP.

Shwe Kokko's main backer is a Chinese national named She Zhijiang, according to a 2020 report by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

His Hong Kong-registered company Yatai has portrayed the $15 billion project as part of Beijing's "Belt and Road" infrastructure initiative, but the Chinese government has denied any link.

The project was characterised by land-grabbing and an influx of Chinese nationals fleeing a crackdown on organised crime in Cambodia, according to the USIP report. These groups later set up casinos and money-laundering institutions, it said.

In August last year Thai authorities detained She for allegedly running an illegal online casino.

He had been on the run from Chinese authorities since 2012, according to Chinese media.

Myanmar's junta has not commented on the cutting of electricity to the town.

Power outages are common in Myanmar due to a creaky and outdated electricity grid, with demand regularly outstripping supply during the sweltering summer months.

On May 31 the junta-appointed home minister met China's ambassador to Myanmar, state media reported.

They discussed "online fraud and gambling on the Myanmar-China and Myanmar-Thailand borders", and "enhancement of cooperation in the fight against transnational crimes", according to the Global New Light of Myanmar.

Karen state has been riven by conflict since Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948, with ethnic rebels fighting the military and each other.

Related Links

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ENERGY NEWS
Energy efficiency investments need to triple: IEA
Paris (AFP) June 7, 2023
Investments in improving energy efficiency must triple this decade if the world is to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) within reach, the IEA said Wednesday. The investments would allow a doubling of annual gains in energy efficiency to four percent, resulting in a drop in energy demand and fuel consumption that would benefit consumers and provide greater energy security to nations. The efficiency gains would "deliver vital reductions in greenhouse ... read more

ENERGY NEWS
Ukraine PM calls dam destruction 'environmental catastrophe'

Austin rebukes China on lack of 'serious' crisis management measures

Syrian top diplomat discusses aid on visit to key ally Iraq

Children in quake-hit Syria learn in buses turned classrooms

ENERGY NEWS
Galileo Second Generation enters full development phase

Royal navy tests quantum sensor for future navigation systems

GPS tracking reveals how a female baboon stopped using urban space after giving birth

Value of Chinese satellite navigation system increases as service expands

ENERGY NEWS
Iraq's Christians fight to save threatened ancient language

Serotonin's impact across molecular and whole-brain levels in a simple animal

Oldest architectural plans detail mysterious desert mega structures

Evidence of Ice Age human migrations from China to the Americas and Japan

ENERGY NEWS
The university making quantum science more accessible

Weather anomalies are keeping insects active longer

How evolution impacts the environment

Divers fish deadly 'ghost nets' from Santorini's depths

ENERGY NEWS
13 dead from Congo haemorrhagic fever in Iraq this year

Study: Covid-19 has reduced diverse urban interactions

Vaccine printer could help vaccines reach more people

Mozambique cholera cases surge tenfold after cyclone

ENERGY NEWS
Hong Kong, China step up security on Tiananmen crackdown anniversary

Hong Kong performance artists detained on Tiananmen anniversary eve

Singapore and China to establish secure defense telephone link

China blames India for journalist visa spat

ENERGY NEWS
US sanctions Chinese, Mexican entities over drug equipment

Malaysia searches Chinese ship suspected of looting WWII wrecks

People smugglers use TikTok to promote their services

Colombia's Petro accuses Gulf Clan cartel of breaking ceasefire

ENERGY NEWS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.