Displacement, Encroachment and Settlement: Interrogating Kyu in Peri‐Urban Yangon

Abstract

This article interrogates the meaning of kyukyaw, often shortened as kyu, a Burmese word that is used as both a verb—to occupy or encroach—and a noun—squatter or slum. This deployment of language demands attention because kyu evokes strong negative sentiments, despite its ambiguity. The rapid pace of change in post‐junta Myanmar has compelled both the elite and the marginalized to seek rightness through the notion of rule of law, even though customary practices have not adhered to the strictures of manmade law. Through the personal narratives of residents in Hlaingthaya Township in Yangon, this article raises questions about rightful settlement in unclear legal frameworks.

The secular/religious construction of neighbourhoods in Mandalay, Myanmar: Dhamma‐youns and wards

“…Modern secularism which presumes a rational socio‐political structure free of personal and religious entanglements has not materialised in Mandalay or Myanmar more broadly. Rather, Myanmar people rely on a situated politics of merit and self‐governance (Hsu, 2019; Roberts, 2020; Roberts and Rhoads, 2021; Sanchez and Myat, 2021) which is evident in the everyday life of neighbourhoods.…”

“…During the 50 years of military rule (1962–2011), municipal governance and urban planning were at best inconsistent and at worst non‐existent (Kraas et al ., 2006). In place of formal planning and development structures, marginalised people occupied interstitial spaces and elites seized real estate opportunities through special connections (Kyed, 2019; Roberts, 2020).…”