2​ BACKGROUND & CONTEXT 2.1​ SHWE KOKKO’S RISE Shwe Kokko has developed quickly over a few years, and is now widely connected with organised crime, online scam activities as well as human trafficking. In December 2016, Chinese businessman She Zhijiang signed an agreement with the then leader of the Karen Border Guard Force (KBGF), officially rebranded as the Karen National Army (KNA), Saw Chit Thu (also known as San Myint), to develop what was presented as a new special economic zone (SEZ). She Zhijiang would provide the funding and Chinese infrastructure, and the KBGF would provide security. The project later became known as ‘Yatai New City’. In 2017, new companies were formed between She Zhijiang and KBGF leaders. With this, the Myanmar government reportedly provided 68 acres of land to the KBGF for commercial development, including the Shwe Kokko Myaing town area. Myanmar Yatai International Holding Group Company Limited (Myanmar Yatai) was one of the main businesses running this operation (figure 1). In 2018, Myanmar Yatai received a special investment commission permit from the Myanmar government to build high-end villas in Shwe Kokko, approving $22.5 million in investment. www.info-res.org​ ​ ​ www.myanmarwitness.org ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 3