Business circles in Mawlamyine report that the Mon State Chief Minister and Security Minister are hastily selling land plots from the Hlaing Ratana New Town Project, which was implemented after forcibly removing over 600 civilian homes, due to possible government changes following the upcoming election. The military forcibly cleared approximately 600 houses on 11.239 acres of land in Hlaing and Thayar Aye wards of Mawlamyine city, declaring them illegal settlements, to implement the new town project.
With the military council planning to hold elections in December and potential governmental changes looming, Mon State Chief Minister Aung Kyaw Thein and Security Minister Colonel Kyaw Swa Myint are personally supervising and pushing for accelerated sales of the plots. Each plot measures 40 x 60 feet and is being sold for 150 million kyats with full land grant rights. Additionally, plots are being auctioned off in lots. The project is primarily led by Mawlamyine-based crony businessman Moe Kyaw (of Ngwe Moe Hospital and Hotel), with shareholding split between Moe Kyaw at 40 percent and the Mon State military council at 60 percent. During the previous NLD government, attempts by Moe Kyaw and the military to clear and sell the land failed, but the project was forcibly implemented after the military coup.
The project area originally consisted of farmland owned by local farmers. The state government and cronies proceeded with the new town project without providing compensation or conducting negotiations with the affected farmers. Although farmers can prove their land ownership with documentation, military authorities have ignored their claims. The project represents a clear case of land grabbing, with both Mon State Chief Minister Aung Kyaw Thein and Security Minister Colonel Kyaw Swa Myint holding shares in the development.
The rushed sale of plots comes as military authorities anticipate potential changes following their planned December elections. The Chief Minister has specifically ordered that all plots must be sold by the end of the year, personally pressuring business people to purchase plots immediately with promises of land grants. This urban development project, which displaced hundreds of families and appropriated agricultural land, exemplifies how military authorities and their business allies are attempting to quickly profit from seized properties before any potential political transition.
