Some shops which were constructed on land plots owned by the government in some townships in Arakan State were forcibly removed by respective departments in June and July this year.

 

Over 70 shops around No.1 Police Station and 6 stalls in front of the office of Information and Public Relations Department in Sittwe have been abolished. In addition, more than 50 shops on the land of the former police station in Ponnagyun Township were removed.

 

The stall owners repaired the demolished shops at their own expenses. They want the government’s help for their setbacks.

The local government should be accountable for the problem, said U Aung Than Tin, Arakan State Lawmaker for Ponnagyun Constituency.

“Local authorities should take grievances of the shop owners into consideration. Only when local authorities offer locations for shop owners, will they be reliable for the public,” he said.

Governmental departments notified shop owners three times to remove stalls and the shops were abolished in accordance with the law, the Arakan State government said.

The local government doesn’t have detailed plans yet for resettlement of the shop owners in a new location, said Arakan State Minister for Municipal Affairs U Win Myint.

The shop owners are still anticipating a substitute location from the local government.