Housing rights and evictions

The Yangon Region government is in the process of arranging low-cost housing for “real squatters” in the commercial capital, Yangon’s security and border affairs minister told the regional legislature on November 16.  He was responding to a question from lawmaker U Kyaw Zeya (NLD; Dagon ...

Many people’s hearts sink every time they see news photos about treeless mountains in once-verdant Nan province or mask-wearing people in frequently hazy Chiang Mai. “We used to have our own land plots and earned a living as farmers – but not anymore,” lamented a middle-aged ...

Authorities on 20 April demolished 36 shops illegally occupying parts of popular Surin beach as part of a campaign to regulate businesses on 50 beaches in this island province. Most proprietors had cooperated before officers moved in, but not all.  Keep reading ...

Hlaing Tharyar residents who were considered unlawful squatters by the former government are appealing to the new administration to end the policy of violent evictions. Union Minister for Commerce U Than Myint said the government has no plan to evict squatters and illegal residents are citizens and ...

With the threat of eviction hanging over businesses on Sihanoukville’s O’Chheuteal and O’Tres beaches, land rights advocates congregated in Phnom Penh this week to give voice to thousands of families locked in land disputes with powerful firms turning swaths of coastline into tourism destinations. Keep reading   ...

A coalition of villagers in long-running land disputes with development companies along Cambodia’s coastline from Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot and Kep provinces held a press conference in Phnom Penh on 21 March calling for authorities to resolve their cases. Keep reading ...

The eviction of businesses along Sihanoukville’s popular O’Chheuteal Beach will begin as early as Monday, after the provincial governor returns from a trip abroad, an official said on 17 March. Last month, the owners of bars, restaurant and guesthouses along O’Chheuteal and O’Tres beaches were informed ...

Thailand’s Finance Ministry plans to offer 70 billion baht in pre- and post-financing loans for its affordable housing scheme under the Pracha Rat (People’s State) initiative, finance permanent secretary Somchai Sujjapongse said. Of the total, 40 billion baht will be for post-financing and the remaining 30 billion ...

A reporter for local television station MSJ TV was briefly de­tained and questioned by police on 20 February for allegedly inciting residents who are facing eviction from their riverside homes in Kom­pong Chhnang City, a journalist and officials said on 21 February. Ngunly Theara, a news reader ...

Over 200 residents of Shwelinban ward on the industrial outer ring of Yangon fear they will imminently be swept from their homes and driven from the area. They believe eviction is inevitable, after a similar neighbourhood in Mingalardon township was forcibly dismantled on 26 January. Last month, ...