More than 400 people in Sittwe who were evicted earlier this month by Myanmar’s military regime for allegedly squatting on government-owned lands are being moved to a village in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, with the help of a local charitable organisation.

They were evicted from Sittwe Railway Station and a cemetery in the Arakan State capital on March 9 and 10, respectively. They will be sheltered near Ponnagyun Township’s Tan Swe village for six months, and supplied with food, said Ko Rider of the eponymous Rider Foundation.

“We have bought wood, bamboo and so on to build shelters for them with the money contributed by donors from both inside and outside the country. But we still need more donors,” he said.  

The foundation also plans to feed the evictees by soliciting donations.

Ma Than Than Htay, who was evicted from the Sittwe cemetery, said she is happy that she has a new home, but is concerned that it might be difficult to find a job in the new location.

“We have done odd jobs in Sittwe to make a living, but I am afraid we won’t get a job here,” echoed another evictee, U Khin Maung. “I don’t see any prospects for a job here. It would be better if we could get a shelter near Sittwe. I would be more than happy if we could get a shelter in a place where we can do something to make a living.”

U Khin Maung said he feels uncertain about the future because the evictees have been told that they are only being allowed to live in the new Ponnagyun Township location for six months. The Rider Foundation said it would make further arrangements depending on the situation.

“No one knows what will happen in the next six months in Arakan State,” said Ko Rider. “We will make them work hard during that six-month period. We will allow them to stay longer there if they can’t still stand on their own feet after six months. They can’t rely on others for the rest of their life.”

As their eventual shelters are still under construction, the evictees are currently staying in makeshift tents.