In Zeepin Gyi village of Pyin Oo Lwin township, Mandalay Region, the military council has forcibly demolished over three hundred homes and monasteries using bulldozers, leaving hundreds of local residents homeless. The destruction began on July 23, with the military carrying out the demolitions without prior notice to the residents, using force to implement their orders.
The military council issued an order on July 14 claiming that the houses in Zeepin Gyi village were illegally constructed on vacant land and needed to be removed. They subsequently issued a deadline of July 22 for the demolition of the houses, threatening imprisonment for those who failed to comply. According to local residents, Zeepin Gyi village has been home to pioneer farmers and civilians for many years, who had cleared what was once dense forest to establish their community and build their homes.
The military council threatened to impose prison sentences of up to two years and fines of up to five million kyats under the Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Law for those who refused to demolish their homes. A local resident reported that many people have become homeless and no one is able to help them, as the military used force to destroy their houses. Currently, the local residents are facing significant hardships without shelter and struggling with their daily survival needs. The military’s actions have created a humanitarian crisis in the area, with families left without basic necessities and shelter.
