Burmese billionaire Tay Za wants 600,000 acres in Putao for gold project

Tay Za

A firm owned by Burmese billionaire tycoon Tay Za has requested government officials, grant 600,000 acres (240,000 hectare) of land in northern Kachin's state Putao (also Putau) region for a gold mining project, the Kachin News Group has learned. Tay Za, who owns Htoo Trading and many related firms, has extensive business interests across Burma and is well known for having close ties to General Than Shwe.

A source based in Putao told the Kachin News Group that he had personally seen detailed documents submitted to a local government office by Tay Za's firm asking acquire the title to a large swathe of land spread over three townships Putao, Machyangbaw and Nawng Mun. The document which included detailed exploration maps was submitted some time last year, according to the source who requested that he not be identified.

In late August a combined group of Burma army troops and their allies from a pro-government militia group attacked a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) battalion 7 outpost near Nhka Ga village in Machyangbaw township. The fighting in Nhka Ga was concentrated on the east bank of the Mali Hka river an area that is included in Tay Za application.

According to Machyangbaw residents, the local Burma military command based in Putao has continued a military campaign which began in August to drive KIA forces from Nhka Ga and give the territory to the pro-government Ahdang militia. The militia is named after a Rawang business man who heads the group. Over the past few years Ahdang, a former senior member in the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K), tried several times to establish a base for his militia in Nhka Ga but these attempts reportedly failed because local villagers strongly opposed him and his group.

Tay Za already has extensive business interests in the Putao region, a mountainous area known to be rich in natural resources including timber, gold and other minerals. The Irrawaddy magazine reported on Sept. 2 that Tay Za was recently granted a 100,000 acre (40,000 hectare) logging concession in the Putao district by government by authorities. The new logging concession enables Tay Za access to a long stretch of pristine teak forest.

In January, representatives of two firms owned by Tay Za, Air Bagan and Asia Green Development Bank Limited, made a joint 70 Million Kyat (US $82,000) donation to support Burma army troops taking part in offensives against KIA forces. A giant prop cheque was presented to military officials at a ceremony held in the capital Naypyidaw.

A Kachin businessman tell KNG that Tay Za's firm has also been granted territory and road construction permits in the Kachin Triangle of central Kachin state. An area located between the Mali Hka and N’Mai Hka rivers, which is partially controlled by the KIA’s 1st brigade.

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