Myanmar at the HLP Crossroads: - Displacement Solutions

Myanmar at the HLP Crossroads 164.2 THE NEW GOVERNMENT IS INTERESTED IN ADVANCING HLP RIGHTSSince taking power in early 2011, the new Government has undertaken a number of measures indicating agrowing interest and concern with HLP issues. These actions include the dramatic decision to cancel theChinese-backed Myitsone dam on the Irrawaddy River, (a project of seven dams that would have resulted inconsiderable displacement and land losses by dwellers in the flood zone), (9) to the adoption of new laws affectingthe HLP reality of significant sectors of society and the establishment of new governmental committeesentrusted with various HLP mandates.In July 2012, the Government gave new responsibilities within the HLP policy sector to the Ministry of EnvironmentalConservation and Forestry (MECF), focusing in particular on land administration, land tenure and landmanagement. The new entity will be chaired by the Minister of MECF, and the Director General of the ForestDepartment will act as General Secretary. The responsibilities of the new body will include land use policy, landuse and management planning, investment planning and others. In addition, Presidential Advisors have alsoexplored how best to address the joint scourges of land grabbing and land speculation. Furthermore, the Presidentially-appointedNational Human Rights Commission has indicated that the vast majority of the 30 or morecomplaints they receive every day, deal with land disputes and other related HLP concerns and that they areconcerned with and interested in addressing HLP issues.In December 2011, a mission by UN Habitat to Myanmar examined a range of land governance issues, signifyingthe first time the UN has ever been requested to provide assistance on land issues to the Government. (10)A UN Habitat project providing homes to 431 internally displaced persons who were displaced by Cyclone Nargismay have paved the way for this new cooperation. This is highly symbolic, and augers well for further constructiveengagement by the international community in assisting the Government to improve its approach to this vital sector.In Yangon, two encouraging developments within the HLP sector include the plan to establish an Urban PlanningUnit within the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) and the recent launch of an independent YangonHeritage Trust which aims to preserve and then restore many of Yangon’s historical buildings constructed duringthe pre-1948 colonial period. The Trust, the brainchild of Dr. Thant Myint-U, has secured considerable politicalsupport as well as the commitment from the YCDC to impose a demolition moratorium within a section of thehistorical town centre, which has been designated as a heritage zone.Government officials and advisors have been grappling with how best to address the many HLP challenges facingthem, both legacies from the former regime and newer problems associated with the opening of the economy,and appear to welcome international advice and expertise on these matters. There is, therefore, a reasonably solidbasis on which to construct an improved HLP reality and legislative framework in the coming months and years.At the same time, however, there is all too little evidence that Myanmar has learned the extremely painful lessonsof many of its immediate neighbours and from countries in other regions which have sought quick fixes to doggedHLP questions, and been unwilling to intervene in HLP questions in a manner beneficial to the population asa whole. There is clearly an awareness amongst some of the more internationally-oriented officials about themistakes made in some countries, in particular Cambodia, but there is not sufficient awareness at present withinthe Government as a whole about just how important it will be for the future of country to address HLP concernsin the best possible manner.There is still time, domestic and international good will, receptivity to constructive suggestions for change andthus a very good opportunity for the people of Myanmar to get it right and to pursue a wholly original, forwardlookingapproach to these issues. But time is passing quickly and space for re-positioning legislative and policyinitiatives on HLP issues is becoming ever smaller as the voracious demand for land from international anddomestic investors continues to accelerate. Any country moving from largely State-owned land resources to more(9) While the protection of HLP rights may not have been the primary motivation for suspending the controversial project, the net result was theprevention of both displacement and land inundation on the country’s most central river.(10) Dr. Clarissa Augustinus (UN Habitat) Mission to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Report, UN Habitat, 15 December 2011.