In Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region, the military council has ordered the demolition of 54 shops that were previously sold to civilians through a chain of transactions originating from military officers. These shops were initially constructed on Myanmar Railways land around 1995, when the military built and allocated them to military officers and their associates. Over time, these military officers and their associates resold the shops through various transactions, eventually transferring ownership to members of the public.
Currently, Myanmar Railways, under the control of the military council, has issued an order for the immediate demolition of these shops by the end of June. The demolition order is being enforced by a team led by Arkar Min Thu from Myanmar Railways Division 3, who has instructed shop owners to vacate without any compensation. The shop owners, who have been operating under a land lease system for over 35 years, are now facing significant concerns due to this sudden eviction notice. The situation has created considerable anxiety among the affected business owners and their families who depend on these shops for their livelihoods.
The military council has been consistently carrying out forced evictions in Pyin Oo Lwin, claiming unauthorized occupation of land and citing government ownership as justification for removing shops and residential buildings. This pattern of evictions has intensified, particularly due to frequent visits to Pyin Oo Lwin by military council leader Min Aung Hlaing. Local residents report that these clearance operations are being conducted under the pretext of security measures, resulting in the systematic removal of civilian homes and businesses. These demolitions have created significant impacts on the local population’s livelihoods and living conditions, disrupting established communities and business operations that have existed for decades. The situation reflects a broader pattern of civilian displacement and economic disruption under the military council’s administration.
