Brief Updates: Myanmar Land Law Reform
In September 2018, Myanmar’s Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management Law was amended with the goal of reducing the unregistered use of vacant land and subsequent land grabbing. The amendment has important implications for permit-requests of potential (foreign) investors, and those currently making use of agricultural lands.
Next, the application of this amendment in conflict (-adjacent) areas can be problematic, negatively impacting citizen’s rights. Through these laws, it has become easier for foreign investors to renounce communal land rights, and seize plots previously used to sustain the livelihood of local people. With this brief, we aim to inform you regarding the wider context, the amended law, and its implications for (potential) foreign investors.