development schemes mirroring those used in Rakhine State. This left Karen civilians and KIA members in perpetual economic, social, and political despair. The Tatmadaw’s behavior in Karen State shows that what is happening in Rakhine State with regard to accusations of genocide is not simply a phenomenon of underlying historical social grievances between Buddhist Burmans and Muslim Rohingya. Analogous to the military and State commercial endeavors in Rakhine State and other border areas of Burma, Karen State is also home to important Special Economic Zones (SEZs). After remaining in economic isolation for more than five decades, these SEZs are seen as a way to attract foreign investment (East Asia Pacific, 2019). An example can be seen in the trading town of Myawaddy. Called the Shwe Kokko Project, this construction site is quickly becoming the Chinatown of Karen State since the developers, who are Chinese investors, have extensive plans for the region with rumors of a potential megacity (Han, 2019). The region is controlled by the BGF, which has major implications for the Tatmadaw, and thus has become a good example of the dichotomy between the NLD government and the military institution. Han said: They [Chinese investors and their partners in the BGF] were told that the state government [the NLD] could not approve the project because it involved an investment of more than US$5 million and were advised to apply to the Myanmar Investment Commission. Despite having no permission from the government, work got underway in 2017, according to a BGF representative. On February 14, 2017, Myanmar Yatai International Holding Group registered with the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration and the same month reportedly signed a partnership agreement with Chit Thu [a leading BGF colonel] that was facilitated by the Beijing-based China Federation of Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs. (para. 8 & 9) Illustrating the magnitude of military control in border regions such as Karen State, this example shows the blatant way in which the Tatmadaw and powerful 89