Model Villages Are Not a Model

This short report by Mungchying Rawt Jat (MRJ) documents cases of farmers who have been forcibly relocated to make way for “development” projects in Kachin State, and are now staying in Sanpya camp in Hugawng Valley, and Aung Myin Thar and Maliyang camps near the Irrawaddy Myitsone.

First Village Ordered Out for Construction of Dawei Deep Sea Port

A seaside fishing village of over 15 houses was ordered to move out last week to make way for the planned Dawei Deep Sea Port.

Residents of Charkhin Beach village, which has been declared an “illegal” settlement, received an official order on March 20 to move out within three days or face prosecution. However, most of the villagers are refusing to move, as they rely on fishing in the sea as their main livelihood […]

Ordered Out: The Costs of Building Burma’s Upper Paunglaung Dam

A group of European and Chinese investors is currently building a dam to power Burma’s military capital which will force 8,000 mostly indigenous people from their homes by October this year. The forced relocation will leave villagers destitute: each household must tear down their home and abandon their farm fields […]

8,000 People to be Displaced by European-Chinese Dam Project in Burma

Military authorities in Burma have ordered 8,000 people to move from their homes in preparation for a hydroelectric dam being constructed by European and Chinese companies that will power the country’s new capital of Nay Pyi Taw […]

Three More Villages Being Shifted from Myitsone Dam Site

The Burmese military junta in its relentless effort to continue with the Irrawaddy Myitsone dam project in Northern Burma, Kachin State is forcing three more villages to relocate from the site […]

Salween Rally Calls on Burma’s Neighbors to Halt Dam Plans

Hundreds of villagers from both Burma and Thailand joined affected peoples from around the world in marking International Day of Action for Rivers yesterday as plans by China, Thailand and India steam ahead to dam all of Burma’s major rivers.

Five hundred farmers and fisher-folk gathered on the Salween River and shared their concerns about the impending construction of five massive dams planned on the river with performances and prayers to protect the Salween. […]

Junta Forcibly Acquires Relocation Consent for Myitsone Dam

Villagers in Tan Hte village near the hydropower project site at the confluence (Myitsone) of May Kha and May Likha, tributaries of Irrawaddy River, the main waterway and lifeline of Burma, have been forced to give their consent to relocate by signing on a consent paper by Myitkyina township officials, a Kachin social group said. […]

Relocation, land confiscation on Madae Island for gas pipeline

Households in two villages on Madae Island in Kyaukpru Township were forcibly relocated and land was confiscated for construction of a gas pipeline and jetty on the island, said a villager.

“Fifteen households each from Prin Village and Wrama Village on the island were forced to relocate and 15 acres of farmlands were confiscated from villagers for the gas pipeline and jetty. The abuse was perpetrated by Asia World Company […]

Sixty Villages to be Relocated for Hydropower Project

The Burmese military junta authorities are gearing up to relocate about 60 villages from the site of hydropower projects at the confluence of May Kha and May Likha Rivers, an environment group said.

The Kachin Development Networking Group (KDNG) said that the Asia World Company is constructing houses for villagers to be relocated from the project sites. Villagers have been told to move to this new place soon […]