Eviction notices sent to slum dwellers near Ngamoyeik creek in South Dagon Township

09 December 2015
Eviction notices sent to slum dwellers near Ngamoyeik creek in South Dagon Township
The pressure is on to evict the slum dwellers. Photo: Mizzima

A slum dweller and retired school teacher, Aung Htay, who lives near Ngamoyeik creek in No. 41 Extended Ward of North Dagon Township, said the North Dagon City Development Committee has sent out eviction notices with a deadline of December 10.
The responsible officials of the North Dagon municipal committee and a private company came to the area on December 5 and told more than 300 people to leave approximately 60 houses. The officials then tried to erect a boundary fence, but later left the area after giving eviction notices to the people, who then staged a protest against the officials.
The eviction notice says an inspection of land and homes along the bank of Ngamoyeik creek by the municipal committee found that the shops and houses trespassed land owned by government.
Aung Htay said on behalf of his fellow residents that they would vacate their houses if it was for a government project but they would not vacate if it was for a project run by a private company. He said they would send an appeal letter to the President and would stage a protest against this eviction.
Previously the land was used by the government for a castor oil plant plantation and later it was transferred to the municipal government and is currently in the possession of the Township Administrator’s Office as a plantation site.
Thandar Zaw, who has lived in the area for six years, told Mizzima that until 2012, the slum dwellers who lived there were allowed guest registration privileges at the Ward Administrator’s Office.