Land seizure ‘may deter progress of Thilawa’

Mya Hlaing, leader of the Thilawa Social Development Group (TSDG), a community-based organisation, said yesterday that the government must protect residents’ rights to make the project successful.
“Now it has been over one month since the latest aggressive land grab in Thilawa village. 
“We have sent letters of request to the authorities concerned including the Yangon Region government and the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC). But nobody cares,” he said.
“We strongly demand justice to claim for our rights. We call for remedies in all cases of wrongdoing against our communities. 
“We believe the government has a responsibility to protect us from harms stemming from this project.”
Last month, a wall was constructed around the homes of 39 families, cutting them off from surrounding areas and threatening their land rights and livelihoods. 
More than 100 people from the households are now suffering from the land confiscation, he said. 
“We repeatedly tried to meet Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein on the day of the incident and on the following Monday at his office, but he refused to receive us,” he said. 
On July 3, the families sent a letter to MNHRC requesting an investigation into the land confiscation. They also informed parliamentarians of the confiscation. 
But they have yet to see any positive action in response to their claims. 

‘Ignoring our rights’ 
“We feel like they are ignoring our rights. Instead of protecting us, the government is perpetuating the problem,” he said. 
“Under the presidential decree announced on May 5, 2016, there is supposed to be no land confiscation until land disputes are settled. But they dare to neglect even the president’s order. 
“We are really very worried about that.”
The residents plan to sue the intruders at the Yangon Region High Court, if they do not hear anything from the regional authorities and MNHRC. 
“If we are neglected again, we have no other choice but to fight for justice at the court,” he said. 
Phyo Wai, another Thilawa resident, said land grabs are frequently carried out in the name of “development” in Myanmar. 
He is concerned that the confiscation would reflect a broader disregard for land rights in the Thilawa area as well as across Myanmar.
“Front-line communities usually push through large-scale industrial development projects in Myanmar. 
“We warmly welcome the project if it can guarantee ‘real’ development. But, developers need to respect our land rights,” he said.