As many as 300 people were displaced from their villages after the authority relocated several houses in Ann township of Rakhine State, said locals.

Since 20 April, 24 houses of Natsingone village, one charity classroom, many shops at the Taungup-Ma Ei junction and a section of residences near the airport have been relocated by army authority.

These all constructions were allegedly on military land and hence the authority has treated them as encroachers.

“The hillside house owners depended on the mountain for their survival. Their houses are demolished rendering them homeless. In fact, the army and cronies are working together. The land was confiscated by the military on an earlier occasion too,” said a victim.

The Ann township authority has warned the encroachers in other parts also. It indicated that more houses and shops near the western command headquarters would be evicted soon.

More houses located near the airport authority’s residential quarters and on the land of old police station will be relocated by 21 May next.

If the house owners do not shift by the date, they will be charged in accordance with the Government Housing (Eviction) Act 1995. The Ann township police chief has already endorsed the order and put it up on a billboard for public attention.

Over 200 houses near the Ann airport will also be demolished within May, stated a local, adding that on the land after demolition of civilian houses, the military will build their personal apartments.

Htay Aung, the administrator of Ann township, was contacted over telephone by Narinjara News for details, but no comment was made available.