Close to 150 houses owned by Shan migrants living in Chiang Mai, Thailand, face the threat of demolition by the authorities.

According to locals, Thai authorities have ordered that the houses have to be demolished within 30 days in Naung Phaint Mai village, Mae Tang. The order was released on April 18.

Thai authorities informed the villagers about demolition of the houses. The houses and farms, which are to be destroyed, have been officially bought from Thai owners.

"We have no place to go to. How do we move the houses and villagers? Some villagers have built new houses. We do not know how the authorities will decide about it. We did not hear any word about compensation. We are still waiting for some kind of compensation," a local said.

The village has 167 houses and villagers live have been living there continually. The village headmen have discussed the issue relentlessly with Thai authorities, added the locals.

Thai authorities informed the villagers regarding investigations on April 1 and 2. However, seven vehicles filled with villagers travelled to Mae Tang municipal office and requested them to allow the villagers to live peacefully. The administrator told the villagers to return to their village and not to worry.

However, 200 Thai authorities came into the village on April 3 and suddenly arrested some villagers. They released the villagers who had official identity cards but still detained the villagers who did not have ID cards.

Thai authorities said that those houses are located on the government's forest area. Therefore, the land can be only used for cultivation and not for building houses.

Mae Tang is one hour away by car from Chiang Mai. Earlier, Shan migrants bought land and built their houses. According to a Thai newspaper, an unidentified plot of land (before preparation) costs 20,000-30,000 baht but after identification (prepared), the plot with the house costs 200,000 baht.