A local Rakhine State organization wants the government to suspend a controversial development project that has been dogged with concerns over land rights and compensation gripes.
In a new report, the Kyaukphyu Rural Development Association (KRDA) noted the economic opportunities presented by the special economic zone (SEZ) planned for Rakhine State’s Kyaukphyu township, but also criticized the government's handling residents' grievances, claiming both regional and Union-level officials failed to protect local residents from abuse.
“Our main focus is the opportunities and challenges concerning the Special Economic Zone project that will be built in our area. We pointed out the advantages and weaknesses,” said Ko Tun Kyi, KRDA coordinator. He emphasized the need to resolve violations of human and land rights associated with the project. “We have also pointed out the weakness of the laws and by-laws and the violation of local residents’ rights.”
In December 2015, the U Thein Sein-led Union administration granted a Chinese consortium, led by the China International Trust and Investment Company (CITIC) a 4,289-acre concession in Kyaukphyu township to develop a mixed-used SEZ, which CITIC says will provide jobs for local residents in garment manufacturing, food processing, petrochemicals and assembly plants.
But according to the report, government officials have focused on the immediate implementation of the SEZ project to the detriment of resolving disputes that arose from the township’s previous Chinese-led development projects, which include oil and natural gas pipelines as well as two planned deep sea ports.
Some local residents claim that they did not receive adequate compensation for the loss of land or destruction of fields and livelihoods in the construction of the Shwe Gas pipeline, which runs from Kyaukphyu to China’s Yunnan Province and was completed in July 2013.
The residents insist that there is still no definite plan to address environmental damage that results from the development projects and no accountability mechanism to prevent future abuses of their land rights.
The KRDA suggested that the government outline definite plans for land reclamation and resident resettlement to protect the local residents from losing their livelihoods before carrying out any further large-scale development projects.
At the report launch ceremony in Kyaukphyu township, participants said local residents have expressed concerns about the implementation of the Kyaukphyu SEZ as well, specifically over lack of official recognition for local land ownership, threats to the local environment, and the disintegration of longstanding communities and traditions when villages are divided and relocated.
The report also raised questions about the ultimate benefits to Kyaukphyu residents and Rakhine State and the lack of adequate implementation of laws to protect residents’ land and environmental rights.
