In Aunglan city of Magway Region, military forces, police, and municipal authorities are forcibly demolishing residential buildings and shops located at a former bus terminal compound. On the morning of April 6, they arrived fully armed at the former bus terminal between 18th and 19th Streets in San Chaung Ward to demolish the residential buildings and shops. Out of a total of 42 units comprising both shops and residences, they have begun demolishing 4 currently unoccupied shop units, according to local residents.
These shop units had been purchased and owned by residents for approximately thirty years, with regular monthly payments being made throughout this period. However, they are now being forcibly demolished without any compensation. The military, police, and municipal forces arrived with bulldozers and excavators, blocking off the streets around the area. Despite local residents pleading and crying in protest, the authorities refused to halt the demolition, citing ‘orders from above’ as their justification for refusing any possibility of relocation.
The military council has been systematically destroying residential areas and homes in Aunglan since their 2021 coup, often labeling legitimate residences as ‘encroachments’ or claiming the land belongs to government departments. Furthermore, to prevent media coverage of this incident, the military is forcibly confiscating mobile phones from residents in the surrounding area. Local residents have expressed that this is an additional burden on people who are already suffering from recent earthquake damage in the region. The military’s actions represent a continued pattern of oppression against civilians, with authorities showing no consideration for the welfare or property rights of long-term residents.
