Residents of Dawei District, Taninthayi Region, staged a protest against the Dawei Development Public Co (DDPC) for occupying a vast area of vacant land for hotel and development projects.
A 300-strong column marched from the Maungmakan Middle School to the DDPC’s compound. The protest started at 8am and lasted 75 minutes.
“They only have 148 acres to do the project on but they have occupied almost all the land at the north beach. We’ve heard the company is now applying for another 254 acres. We’ve asked them to show the official permits but they could not,” said Naing Naing Win, the leader of the protest.
Although the company acquired the land for a hotel project, it was now selling an 80 square foot plot for Ks60 million (US$46,000) under the housing project, he added.
“We’ve been protesting against the company for quite some time and have a plan to keep protesting until it stops.”
The DDPC obtained a permit for a hotel project in 2012 and cleared land being used for pasture. But it rented plots to other companies after building some bungalows.
Protesters denied any knowledge of the agreement between the company and the regional government over the project.
They claimed chairperson of the DDPC Khin Soe, who is also the owner of the Annawa Hlwan Company, failed to contribute considerably to the region as he promised.
Protesters say they are waiting for the authorities to compensate residents for their houses. They say the company blocks the route to the seashore, making it hard for fishermen to make their living.
