The military council has forcibly demolished more than 80 houses along the Mandalay-Mattaya road in Kwa Ni Kan village, Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region, using excavators and bulldozers under the pretext of road expansion. According to a representative from MDY Revolution, the demolition was carried out by over 50 military personnel over three days from March 4 to March 6, systematically destroying homes on both the eastern and western sides of the main road. The operation was conducted without any prior notice to the residents, who were caught completely off guard by the sudden destruction of their homes.
The military council troops prevented residents from salvaging their belongings during the demolition, resulting in significant losses for the affected families. These households, who had lived in their homes for many years, were suddenly forced to abandon their properties and become homeless. Additionally, the military personnel arrested some civilians who attempted to document the demolition through photographs, while armed Pyu Saw Htee members threatened others to prevent them from recording the destruction. The military’s actions have left many families in dire circumstances, struggling to find new accommodation and facing severe economic hardships.
This unlawful demolition has created significant challenges for local residents who are now facing difficulties with basic necessities and struggling to resettle in new locations. Local residents point out that these actions by the military council represent another form of oppression against civilians and constitute ongoing human rights violations. Civil society organizations are currently providing whatever assistance they can to the displaced families. The demolition has highlighted the military council’s continued disregard for civilian property rights and their use of force against their own people, causing significant displacement and hardship for the affected communities.
