Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has released a list of disgraced ASEAN tycoons who are supporting the Myanmar military junta’s violent operations on May 12. The list includes Shi Jiquan, owner of the Shwe Kokko New City project on the Thai-Myanmar border in Myawaddy Township, Myanmar crony businessman Aung Myo Min Din, owner of Amazing Group, and Tran Ba Duong, founder and chairman of THACO Group from Vietnam.
Shi Jiquan, also known as Chuan Qingxuan, Shi Longqing, and Dai Lan, is a gambling tycoon from Shwe Kokko and is involved in criminal enterprise activities including human trafficking and various illegal businesses. He has developed the Shwe Kokko New City in collaboration with the Karen Border Guard Force and profits from transnational criminal activities including cyber scam operations, online gambling, and money laundering. He is currently detained in Thailand, sanctioned by the UK, and awaiting extradition to China for illegal gambling operations.
Aung Myo Min Din is the founder of Adventure Myanmar Group and Amazing Group of Companies and is a major corrupt crony. As a former student of Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of Min Aung Hlaing, he maintains close ties with the military junta leader’s family. Due to his connections with the military regime, he has been able to expand his hotel business to at least five properties on military-owned land, including the Amazing Ngapali Resort. His business partner Pannarong Khunpituck is currently wanted by Thai police and is in hiding due to connections with drug trafficking and money laundering operations.
Vietnamese national Tran Ba Duong, through THACO Group, is implementing the Myanmar Center project in Myanmar. The project includes Myanmar Plaza shopping center, Melia Hotel, and office tower buildings constructed on land leased from military-controlled ministries. JFM states that tax payments from these ASEAN tycoons’ businesses in Myanmar serve as a significant source of funding for the military junta’s continued violent operations against Myanmar civilians.
