A mother of three children killed herself taking poison on 3 March in Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine state before her house was demolished by the authorities.

The victim has been identified as Ma Aye Htwe Yin (34), whotook shelter along with her familyin a squatter house near the Sittwe trainstation in front of the university campus.

She arrived in Sittwe from Alay Su village under Mrauk Utownship and started living withher husband and  three children in the squatter settlement. She migrated from the village for a better life and living.

Her husband  admitted that she often stated that she would commit suicide if the house is demolished asthey would have no place to live.

“But I did not take her call seriously. I thought she wasjust joking. Now I feel very badas we lost her forever,” added Tun Kyaw Oo.

She took the harsh step soon after her house was evacuatedon 3 March.

The lady  was taken to Sittwe hospital where she diedon 5 March, informed her husband.

It’s the first case of suicide after demolishing around 300 squatters'houses near the railway line and cemeteryinside Sittwe.

By now over 1000 people have been displaced after the eviction drive carried out by the military, police andimmigration personnel during 9-10 March.

U Sakkainda, a monk at Wibitsawadi monastery in Sittwe,criticised the move saying that itshould have  been avoided as the country is passing through a difficult phase and the price of essential commodities is increasing day by day.

He commented that the authority should arrange lands for rehabilitation before evicting the poorfamilies from their squatter houses.

The authority may also allot affordable housing arrangements for the evicted families, said the monkadding the Rakhine State governmentshould adopt appropriate policies for the homeless people in the capital city.

(Photo: The woman in the middle of the photo died of poisoning.)