Planning for the 'displaced': evaluating resettlement work plans of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, Yangon, Myanmar

Abstract

This research aims to study the discrepancies in the previous urban resettlement planning project as a case study, and examine how they can be improved through planning and public policies. In doing so, the research evaluates the previous resettlement plans of an urban development project by using different sets of resettlement practices disclosed by different international development organizations. This research answers two research questions: What insufficiencies are observed in urban resettlement planning by evaluating the previous resettlement plans? and How can urban resettlement planning be more effective? by exploring the resettlement plans of Thilawa SEZ as a single case-study using qualitative methods and data using document analysis and content analysis. Two major data sources are used: the international guidelines on resettlement practices, including JICA, the World Bank, ADB and EBRD, and the resettlement plans (or RWPs as named in Thilawa SEZs) of Thilawa SEZ published by YRG.

It is found that “Substantial insufficiencies in several areas of resettlements are observed in urban resettlement planning by evaluating the previous resettlement plans using different international guidelines” in the case of Thilawa SEZ. In the case of physical displacement, the agency failed to provide the relocation site the displaced households desired, finalize the choice of resettlement site when the plan is disclosed, and provide necessary information on the previous conditions of the households, relocation site and the new housing provision. In the case of economic displacement, the agency failed to restore agriculture livelihoods, support alternative and sustainable livelihoods and provide development opportunities from the SEZ to the displaced community. There are also major shortcomings in cut-off date and census data, land compensation, consideration of vulnerable population and gender, public participation and the provision of community infrastructure.