Removal of illegal settlements in Mrauk-U proving easier said than done

By DMG 13 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
13 June 2022, Mrauk-U 

The Department of Archaeology and National Museum in Mrauk-U has not yet been able to begin removing illegal settlements from the ancient city, ahead of the expected visit of experts evaluating the former Arakanese royal capital’s bid for UNESCO World Heritage status. 

A delegation from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is scheduled to visit Mrauk-U in September to conduct field surveys, with the Department of Archaeology and National Museum having previously articulated plans to clear the unauthorised structures before their visit. 

“We only have just over two months to remove the squatters,” said U Nyo Myint Tun, assistant director of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum. “But there have been delays as we can’t find land plots to compensate them.”  

The department has been compiling a list of squatters and is still searching for compensatory land plots for evictees who meet certain eligibility criteria. 

“The process can be finished within one month if we can find land plots to relocate them,” U Nyo Myint Tun added. “Even if we can’t in the next two months, we will tell the UNESCO experts that we have plans to remove illegal settlements from the ancient zone. They will understand.” 

A resident who asked for anonymity said he doubted the department would be able to remove the illegal settlements within two months. 

“Almost four months have been wasted, and the department has done nothing about those illegal settlements. So, I doubt if they can remove them at all,” he said. 

Illegal settlements have increased year after year in Mrauk-U, according to residents, some of whom blame the proliferation of squats on government inaction and a lack of rule of law. 

Arakan State Administration Council spokesman U Hla Thein told DMG that the council will cooperate with the Ministry of Culture as needed to facilitate Mrauk-U’s UNESCO World Heritage bid. 

“The entire process is being led by the Culture Ministry, and we will take part if necessary. We don’t know details about it,” he said. 

The ICOMOS is one of the formal advisory bodies to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. The Committee is expected to make a decision on Mrauk-U in mid-2023.