According to multiple reports, a request was made via the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok for the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to cut the power supply from Tak province to two specific locations in Kayin State, namely Lay Kay Kaw and Shwe Kokko.
Local news media, such as The Irrawaddy, report that the decision likely came after China’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Chen Hai, met with the current Myanmar Home Affairs Minister Soe Htut on the May 31st, during which the latter was urged to step up efforts to combat cross-border crime.
Of the two locations, Shwe Kokko is infamous for its gambling activities, including physical casinos, the hosting of online casinos, scam operations and human trafficking.
The location is widely known to be under the control of the Border Guard Force (BGF), led by its Colonel Saw Chit Thu, an organisation which splintered off from its parent Karen National Union (KNU) in the past, to cooperate with Myanmar’s military, and has been pro-military ever since.
Lay Kay Kaw is a territory that sees heavy influence from the KNU.
Local news media report that the targeted power blackouts were meant for KK Park, a similar hub to Shwe Kokko for illegal activities. Many believe, however, that this area is directly backed by the KNU.
Since news of the power-cut request went public, there have been rumours that the BGF will be shutting down routes, such as bridges going into or around Shwe Koko.
The final day of power supply from the PEA to the region was June 6th but, as of June 7th, on the ground sources report that there have been no signs of escalating tensions in either Lay Kay Kaw or Shwe Kokko.
Netizens speculate that China’s influence in Myanmar is getting stronger, as seen by the urging of the Myanmar government to make a move that will hurt their ally in the region, the BGF.
Karen State has been a hotbed for combat and other political intrigue, as the parallel National Unity Government (NUG)’s forces, the PDF, are known to have been allied with powerful ethnic armed forces, such as the KNU or the Kachin Independence Army.
Neither the BGF nor the KNU have yet made an official statement or any sort of comment regarding this chain of events.
