Woman kills self, eviction drive to continue in Sittwe squatter houses

Thinzar Nwe, 12 March 2022

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), who took shelter along with her family in a squatter house near the Sittwe train station in front of the university campus.

She arrived in Sittwe from Alay Su village under Mrauk U township and started living with her 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 as they would have no place to live.

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

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

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

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

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

U Sakkainda, a monk at Wibitsawadi monastery in Sittwe, criticised the move saying that it should 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 poor families from their squatter houses.

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

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