Tahan market reconstruction controversy

Naypidaw intervenes in Tahan market reconstruction controversy

Khonumthung News
May 8, 2007

Officials of the Burmese military regime have summoned six members of the construction committee of Tahan market in Kale Myo, Sagain Division to Naypidaw the new capital of Myanmar. The committee is having problems with the local authorities regarding the reconstruction of the burnt out market.

"We don't know whether the reconstruction will continue or be stopped. At the moment the work has stopped. Now the committee members have gone to Naypidaw and we have to see what happens," said a local in Tahan.

Although the head administrator of Tahan, U Soe Win had allowed the reconstruction of the building with two floors, local people wanted to construct three floors and put in a request with Major General Ta Aye, Northwest commander. But he demanded Kyat 70 lakhs from the market construction committee for the additional floor.

When U Soe Win got wind of this, he got angry and cancelled the permission for even two floors. Then he ordered construction of a building with only one floor.

Shop owners those who had already given money for two floors took back their money from the committee. But when the central government heard about it they immediately called the market construction committee in the third week of April. Discussions are on about the construction of the Tahan market.

"Customers are increasing by the day. The people will face problems if the building has only one floor. The people also want to know the result of the discussions. A building with three floors is better. It is not being constructed with government funds and therefore not really related to the authorities, " said a dissatisfied local.

The construction committee was set up with the permission of the authorities after Tahan market was gutted. Though people in Tahan tried to construct their own market some problems among the authorities crept in stalling construction work.

The market caught fire in August 2006 and was reduced to ashes. Shop owners have been selling their wares from the road side near the market.