"Development without us: Village Agency and Land Confiscations in Southeast Myanmar", 29 August 2018

Executive Summary

Land confiscations, the acquisition of lands that are already occupied or used by indigenous communities, are on the upswing throughout  Myanmar. Current development practices in the country present a series of risks for the human rights of rural communities. 

...Mining, hydropower, road construction and agribusiness are the predominant corporate development projects in Southeast Myanmar. ...[S]takeholders in these industries...believe that the supposed benefits of corporate development projects cancel out the rights of local populations. In contrast to the principles and standards enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Populations and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, stakeholders fail to obtain the consent of local populations prior to confiscating land. Companies and local authorities prioritise corporate development projects with little regard for the long-term social and environmental impact on local communities. Villagers in Southeast Myanmar struggle to secure their land rights, with little recourse to justice or compensation.

...This report also highlights the factors that can empower or disempower villagers from acting, including access to information, access to decision makers, an understanding of the legal framework, and the ability to project their voices as a community.