Thousands homeless after demolition in Yangon

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Thousands homeless after demolition in Yangon



YANGON: -- Around 1,500 police demolished more than 500 households in Kon Ta La Paung village in Yangon’s Pyinmabin Industrial Zone on Tuesday morning, alleging that the inhabitants were squatters, The Irrawaddy reported.

The demolition left more than 2,000 people in Mingaladon Township homeless, local residents said.

Uniformed police and people wearing blue hard hats—who appeared to be civilians—destroyed houses, fences and farms with sticks, swords and bulldozers, while some residents reportedly dismantled their own homes to salvage materials.

The ownership of the land was not immediately clear, but local residents say they have been living there for at least 15 years. According to a Wednesday article in the Myanmar Times, Myanmar Economic Holdings Company Ltd claims to have a long-term lease on the area.

Locals told The Irrawaddy that on Jan 25 they met with members of the military, representatives from Myanmar Economic Holdings Company Ltd. and the township’s general administration department.

According to those who attended the meeting, Yangon Division Chief Minister Myint Swe instructed police to remove Kon Ta La Paung’s houses if the residents failed to move that day.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/148484


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-28