In Mawlamyine, Mon State, the military council is forcibly implementing the Hlaing Ratana New Urban Project after ordering the demolition of over 600 civilian homes. According to business circles in Mawlamyine, Mon State Chief Minister Aung Kyaw Thein and Security Minister Colonel Kyaw Swa Myint have acquired shares in the project. The military has labeled homes in Hlaing and Thayar Aye wards as illegal settlements to justify their removal. The affected residents have been living in the area for 30-40 years before being forced to evacuate for the new urban development project.
On April 26, the military council removed electricity meters from approximately 600 homes and issued an ultimatum requiring residents to demolish their own homes by April 30, threatening consequences for non-compliance. This marks the third such threatening notice, with two previous warnings issued earlier. A similar development project was attempted during the previous National League for Democracy government but failed to materialize. The current forced evictions and development are being carried out under military rule without proper legal process or consideration for residents’ rights.
The Hlaing Ratana New Urban Project is primarily led by Mawlamyine-based businessman Moe Kyaw (owner of Ngwe Moe Hospital and Hotel), with a 40% share, while the Mon State military council holds 60% of the project shares. The development is being constructed on farmland without consultation or compensation to the farmers who own the land. Despite farmers possessing documentation proving their land ownership, the military council and its associated cronies have dismissed their claims. Land rights activists report that the project represents a clear case of land grabbing, with authorities exploiting the current absence of rule of law to benefit military-affiliated businesses and individuals at the expense of local residents.
