Lawless Land

International human rights lawyer Scott Leckie said that land control in Myanmar is a key mechanism perpetuating abuse of power and inequality, and that for a meaningful democratic transition, actionable rights and accountability in land management need to be restored. Jose Arraiza, an expert on citizenship and land ownership in conflict-affected areas, also participated in the discussion. "Housing, Land and Property Rights (HLP Rights) is a very broad and complex field. The laws also differ from country to country," Leckie said. "However, at the international level, these rights are recognized as fundamental human rights in human rights treaties and many other international agreements, and are rights that everyone in the world, including everyone living in Myanmar, is entitled to," he added. According to them, HLP rights include not only formal owners but also customary users, tenants, and those without formal ownership documents. They explained that the protection of rights does not depend on the existence of documents, but on whether individuals can continue to live on their homes or land without being unjustly evicted. This is a factor that determines the stability of daily life. According to them, the roots of Myanmar's current land system lie in colonial-era policies. At that time, the British authorities designated occupied and used land as "unoccupied land" and opened it up for seizure and use. This definition ignored existing land use systems and redefined land as a resource to be exploited for economic gain. They analyzed that subsequent military governments continued to use these colonial-era concepts and considered themselves entitled to act as they pleased regarding land. Even today, due to this centralized power system, the government continues to be in a position to seize land whenever it wishes. "It's very simple. You just tell someone 'get out of here' and take the land. The situation is that bad," Leckie said. He stated that when there are no protections such as consultation processes, the right to legally challenge, or compensation systems, the public has very limited means to protect their rights. Therefore, decisions are made based on power and force, rather than legal adjudication. To listen to the PODCAST, you can continue to read and listen on the Insight Myanmar Podcast. The post Lawless Land appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.