Following the destruction caused by artillery strikes from the military junta, the Thiri Mingalar Market (Southern Market) in Loikaw is being rebuilt. However, shop owners have expressed difficulties as the administration under the junta demands 2.7 million kyats per steel rolling door for each shop unit.

The demand is coming from the junta-controlled municipal department. Retailers say the high price has become a significant challenge for them.

“We’ve been given back the shops, but the cost of one door for 2.7 million kyats is way too much. We’ve lost everything. Even after discussions with the authorities, nothing has changed. Without paying 2.7 million kyats, we cannot reclaim our shops. For corner units, there are two doors which cost 5.4 million kyats in total. How can we afford that?” a shop owner said.

According to a local metalwork business owner, the actual market cost for such a door, including labor, is only around 1.5 million kyats. The current demand is unreasonably inflated.

“We are not to allow to construct the doors for the market. But even if we did, the usual cost for such a door is never more than 1.5 million kyats,” the metalwork business owner stated.

The newly reconstructed Thiri Mingalar (Southern Market) has over 1,000 shop units, each measuring 9 feet by 9 feet. Previously, the units were larger, measuring 9 feet by 15 feet, but the rebuilding effort has reduced the size of the shops.

The new layout also includes a two-story building for external shop rows, with 192 rooms on the upper floor allocated to ThinDar company. The pricing for these rooms has not yet been disclosed, according to local sources.

On December 10, 2023, the Thiri Mingalar (Southern Market) was completely destroyed in a fire caused by artillery shelling by the military junta. Reconstruction began in May 2024, under the military-controlled administrative council. Currently, the market primarily sells food, household items, and clothing.