The junta forcibly confiscated land and houses belonging to 15 residents in Tanintharyi Region, citing plans to build a helicopter landing zone, locals said.

Junta troops forcibly seized farmlands, orchards, and houses east of Light Infantry Battalion 561 in Nyaungpinkwin Village, Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region. Locals said the land and houses belonged to 15 villagers.

The junta abruptly began the land seizure process on April 28 without prior notice. It also started demolishing houses with bulldozers and leveling the land.

“The soldiers didn’t let anyone go near the area anymore. They used bulldozers to demolish two houses and dug up the land everywhere. It was really heartbreaking to see—I saw the owners of the houses and land crying,” a 50-year-old Nyaungpinkwin villager said.

The junta has reportedly designated a 3,000-foot-long and 150-foot-wide area for the planned helicopter landing zone construction.

Heavy fighting is currently underway between the junta and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Banlaw and Chaukmaing villages, Tanintharyi Township.

The military situation in the region remained tense, as Light Infantry Battalion 561 fired nine artillery rounds into nearby Thakyet Village on April 29.