Squatters at Thilawa economic zone to be examined before compensation

Squatters at Thilawa economic zone to be examined before compensation

Published on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 23:41

Alwansoot village which is included in the area of Thilawa Special Economic Zone (Photo - EMG)

Myanmar authorities will offer compensation to only those squatters who have been living at Thilawa Special Economic Zone's area for a certain period of time, said Sett Aung, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development.

The methodology to decide as to how much the squatters should get has yet to be decided.

Thilawa Special Economic Zone is a joint project between Myanmar and Japan, and is located in suburban Yangon.

He said, "In developing Thilawa Special Economic Zone, the issue of squatters is quite difficult to solve. There are those who have lived here for a long time. They deserve the compensation. But some have arrived here when the zone project started. Some who had sold out their land came back again and set up tents. These issues are difficult to handle. I say 'difficult' because we don't want those who really deserve the compensation to suffer,"

Yangon regional government is mainly responsible for the issue of squatters in Thilawa. However, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Thilawa Economic Zone Committee have offered advice and technical assistance to sort out the current issues.

"Now we are taking records. There are several problems. Just as those who are entitled for compensation asked for it, those who set up tents also came and asked for compensation. Some hotel businessmen had bought some lands there. JICA is also getting a headache. As the land prices rise, some people without land ownership came here," Sett Aung said.

Besides the squatters, there are two villages namely Ayemyathida and Shwepyitharyar which had been relocated there by the government. The villagers are entitled the compensation but have not received it yet. These different issues will be handled differently, he said.

Normally, any country will not give compensation for confiscated land at market price. They calculate it on the basis average price in three previous consecutive years, he added.

He then gave the example of India where land compensation was offered at three year average price which is added by 10 percent on it.

He said, "Some who are not entitled to land want to make millions of money. They should look at both sides. Those who deserve the compensation should get it."

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/05/02/squatters-at-thilawa-economic-zone-to-be-examined-before-compensation/