The HLP [Housing, Land and Property]choices the nation makes in the coming months will largely determine
whether this unbelievably beautiful land, and its proud and wonderful people, will
face the tumult, inequities and tragic HLP outcomes of so many other nations of
transition; or whether Myanmar can chart an entirely new HLP path, which ushers in
a truly new HLP dawn, whereby every one of the country’s 55 million citizens can –
as rapidly as possible – enjoy growing security of tenure, improving housing and

Pyithu Hluttaw Act 1, 1987

Land grabbing and speculation, which can both manifest in a multitude of forms, are
unfortunate, often-inter-twined, yet common practices in countries undergoing structural
political transition. If unchecked, unregulated, or unintentionally encouraged by the very
governments that replace formerly authoritarian regimes, these two land realities can serve to
undermine democratic reforms, entrench economic and political privilege and seriously harm
the human rights prospects of those affected, in particular internationally recognised housing,

Renting Land for Cultivation Law...
The Union of Burma Revolutionary Council Law 8, 1963

(THE UNION OF BURMA REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL LAW NO. 2 OF 1965)

The State Law and Order Restoration Council...
The Myanmar Mines Law...
(The State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No 8/94)...
The 2nd Waxing Day of Tawthalin, 1356 M.E.
(6th September, 1994)

"The objectives of this Law are as follows:

a.to implement the Mineral Resources Policy of the Government;

b.to fulfil the domestic requirements and to increase export by producing more mineral products;

c.to promote development of local and foreign investment in respect of mineral resources;

This Photo Set shows development projects including road and bridge construction in Win Yay Township, Dooplaya District between December 2014 and January 2015. These development projects destroyed villagers’ fruit and rubber plantations. Villagers report having not yet received any compensation for their destroyed lands.

agrarian

Official Burmese and English versions; unofficial English version (Habitat)

1. Introduction 1;
2. Historical Context and Current Implications of the State Taking Control
of People, Land and Livelihood 2;
2.1. Under the Democratically Elected Government 2;
2.1.1. The Land Nationalization Act 1953 2;
2.1.2. The Agricultural Lands Act 1953 2;
3. Under the Revolutionary Council (1962-1974) 2;
3.1. The Tenancy Act 1963 3;
3.2. The Protection of the Right of Cultivation Act, 1963 3;
4. The State Gains Further Control over the Livelihoods of Households 3;

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS:-
(1) TO MYANMAR LAWYERS:
"a. Lawyers need to form strong networks and associations to support farmers, ethnic groups and community organizations...
b. Lawyers need to develop new skills to participate in policy advocacy, including collecting data about current practices, and engage in a national debate about land rights...
c. Lawyers working on land rights cases need to use all available tools to strengthen their case work (see annex 2 for a list of practical actions lawyers can take).....
(2) TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS:

...Through research on Myanmar, we argue that in authoritarian settings where legality has drastically declined, the starting point for cause lawyering lies in advocacy for law itself, in advocating for the regular application of law’s rules.