Residents call for talks on resettlement

Residents of the 2,400-hectare Thilawa Special Economic Zone near Yangon have appealed for more constructive discussions with the Yangon Regional Government and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), according to Thilawa Social Development Group.

 Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the residents explained that there has been some noticeable progress since filing a complaint under JICA’s Objection Procedures. But they pointed out that more productive negotiations are needed to rectify the problems with the relocation of villagers in from the 400 ha area of Phase I of the project, as well as those slated to be relocated in future phases of the project.

 Three representatives of the residents of Thilawa filed the objection in Tokyo on June 2, which outlined damages incurred by villagers from Phase I of the project and those likely to be incurred by the residents in subsequent phases. 

These damages include the loss of farmland and access to farmland, loss of livelihood opportunities, impoverishment, loss of educational opportunities for the villagers’ children, substandard housing and basic infrastructure, and loss of access to clean water in the Myaing Thar Yar resettlement site.

In response to the filing, Sachihiko Harashina, JICA’s examiner responsible for investigating the objection, went on a trip to the Thilawa area last week. During his trip which was concluded on last Saturday, he met with the Thilawa residents, civil society organisations, and representatives of the Yangon Regional Government and the Thilawa SEZ Management Committee.

“We were very happy to have the examiner visit us and see our living conditions for himself,” said Aye Khine Win, a resident of the 400 ha area and one of the complainants who delivered the objection to JICA in Tokyo. “We were able to have frank conversations with him about how we have been affected by the project. We look forward to the recommendations he will make to the JICA President after his investigation.”

After the complaint was filed, JICA organised a meeting on July 8 with the Yangon Regional Government, the Thilawa SEZ Management Committee, and the Thilawa residents. “During the meeting, we told the government representatives how people are still suffering in the relocation site. They made some promises to us, so we will see if they fulfill these promises by our next meeting. But there are still some points that we need to negotiate more,” said Kyaw Kyaw, a resident from the 2,000 ha Phase II area of the project.

Mya Hlaing, chairman of Thilawa Social Development Group, said that it is very important to address the problems with the relocation of the villagers in the 400 ha area, because the villagers in the 2,000 ha area will have the same problems.

“Thilawa can also set a precedent for all over Myanmar. If the government ensures that our relocation includes adequate housing, replacement land, livelihood restoration and compensation, this will be good for us and set an example for other projects in our country,” said Mya Hlaing who led the team which went to Japan for filing the objection last month.