Three Pagodas Pass residents living in fear of relocation

May 13, 2013

HURFOM: Residents of the lower part of quarter No. 3 in the Thai-Burma border township of Three Pagodas Pass are living in fear of being relocated from their homes, pending orders from senior military authorities that may come at any point.

In July 2012 HURFOM reported that residents living in this area of disused Burmese military land had been given until November 2012 to leave their homes and relocate elsewhere. Plots of land were granted in 2005 by the military to people displaced by armed conflict in Southern Karen State, with an upfront fee of 1,500 Baht levied for permission to live in this disused military space. However, plans for military base expansion led to the decision in July by military authorities to reclaim the land.

6 months on from the November relocation deadline, residents remain in their homes. After appeals made to authorities and the payment of fees by residents, individual families have been granted temporary permissions to remain on the land. Yet despite this, the threat of relocation remains; residents have been made aware that they must relocate immediately should orders come through from more senior levels of military authority.

Amongst people living in the settlement, there is an ongoing fear of such an announcement, with forced relocation a disruptive and potentially disastrous eventuality.

“If we have to relocate, it will be hard to rent an apartment with such a big family,” said U Aung Naing Tun, 48, who lives in the settlement with his family of twelve. “We can’t afford to buy a plot of land because nowadays land costs thousands.”

U Aung Ko, 31, expressed similar concerns for his family’s future. “It will be difficult for us to move to another place because we do not own any land. It will be really difficult if we are forced to relocate, because renting a house costs at least 1,500 B per month and other payments such as water and electricity will cost a lot too.”

A lack of clear information from senior authorities about plans for the relocation has exacerbated residents’ fears and concerns. Since the initial announcement in July 2012, people living the settlement have been faced with a silence from senior figures about the relocation, broken by intermittent mixed signals.

On a visit to the settlement, Aung Sat, minister from Karen State, told residents that they could continue to live on the land. However, according to KIC (Karen Information Center), residents of the area were told by Southeast Tactical Command on March 17, 2013 that they were required to move.

U Win, 45, detailed the confusion felt about the military’s plans for the settlement. “Relocation depends on the senior authorities. If they order us to move, we have to move. We have appealed to the chairman to be allowed to stay here longer. When the minister [Aung Sat] visited us here he told us one thing. When the tactical commander came, he told us another. We don’t know who we should listen to. Every commander here tells us a different thing.”

Residents suspect that senior authorities have not articulated clear intentions about the relocation because they are unable to decide amongst themselves about when, if at all, these people must be forced to leave their homes.

Whilst most residents have generally resisted the prospect of relocation, they have also indicated themselves to be willing to move should a suitable alternative be provided. However, thus far no such alternative has been offered.

U Win elaborated, “We heard about an offer of a plot of land in Zee Hnapin in the Chaung Zone hill side. However, the place they offered is not convenient for us because our jobs are here. If they give us land around the city, then we can move.”

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News