Friday, August 3, 2012

Myanma Railways demolishes more squatter houses

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Friday, 03 August 2012 13:35 Lin Ko Ko Htet

Rangoon (Mizzima) – Myanma Railways has ordered more squatters to destroy their shops and living quarters on railroad property in Mayangon Township in Rangoon.

Railroad authorities sent notices to 10 squatters on Lower Baho Road in Quarter No. 2, ordering them to demolish the structures by August 1.

Illegal squatter homes and shops in Rangoon demolished on the order of the Myanma Railways. Photo: Mizzima

Railroad official Thein Naing said the railroad would demolish other illegal homes and shops along the Rangoon intra-city railroad in order to build restrooms for passengers and other buildings related to Myanma Railways.

Tensions were high on the day of the destruction.

Kyaw Moe, who ran a small shop in which he also lived, said there was not enough notice given before the deadline.

“I lived there for more than 50 years,” he said. “We requested them to give us more time for our children’s education, elderly people’s health situation and our business situations, but they turned down our request.”

Another resident said, “They told us to demolish our structures by ourselves, otherwise they would tear them down. If they demolished them, the wood and zinc would be totally lost. So we had to tear down the property ourselves.”

Railroad official Thein Naing told Mizzima: “We told them to move. Myanma Railways did not destroy the property. We ordered them to move via their own plan.”

On July 30, the railroad demolished 13 squatter homes near Pazundaung railway station in Rangoon.

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