Mawlamyine, March (19)
The junta’s Myanmar Railway Department has instructed to dismantle and remove the shops in front of the Myaynigon bus terminal in Mawlamyine, Mon State within two weeks, the renters told Than Lwin Times.
On March 13, the Myanmar Railways Department sent a notice asking them to dismantle the shops built on the land reportedly owned by their department within two weeks.
According to the notice, the renters who fail to leave the shop premises within two weeks would be subject to one month in jail.
A shop tenant said, “About 2 days ago, the office issued an instruction that the shops must be removed within 14 days. Officials came to us and forced us to sign that we knew the instructions. They told us that if we do not vacate the shops by the specified date, we will be jailed for 30 days. Everyone, whether they rent or buy the shop, must sign this instruction”.
In addition, officials from the Myanmar Railway Department have threatened to destroy the shops with a large number of people and bulldozers if the shops are not demolished within the specified date.
These stalls were leased to vendors with the cooperation of railroad employees and some people close to them. A renter said that because they were forced to remove the shop suddenly, it became difficult for them to make a living.
These shops opened around six years ago, and some of the rooms are no more than two years old.
The railway employees have set the shop rent at between 100,000 and 200,000 kyats per month.
It is said that there are more than 30 shops on the land owned by Myanmar Railways, including restaurants, tea shops, grocery stores, a motorcycle repair shop, and car repairs and services.
News-Than Lwin Times
Photo – TLT