Myanmar junta orders quake-damaged capital rebuilt by original contractors

Myanmar’s junta defense minister has ordered construction companies to repair and rebuild government office buildings in the capital that were damaged by last month’s powerful earthquake, state media reported Tuesday. The directive came during a meeting on April 29 at the Ministry of Defense, the first to address plans for repairing the damaged buildings and assigning responsibility for the reconstruction effort. Junta's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Maung Maung Aye, added that companies currently carrying out construction in relevant ministries and others certified by engineering associations will also be assigned responsibility for repairing and rebuilding structures damaged by the powerful earthquake. At the meeting, officials said original construction companies would be held responsible for repairs and outlined a three-tier color-coded system to assess damage severity. Blue-level buildings with minor damage will be repaired first, while red and orange levels indicate structures needing demolition or major repairs. Temporary offices will be built for each ministry ahead of the rainy season.The junta defense minister added that new construction and repairs must be built to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 8.0 on the Richter scale. The junta has blamed poor construction quality for the collapse of many buildings, claiming that the original contractors should be responsible for rebuilding the capital. (Photo: Myanmar Now) In Naypyitaw, many buildings were damaged by the March 28 earthquake, including parliament buildings and structures housing key administrative mechanisms of the junta such as the Foreign Affairs, Defense, Information, Industry, Energy, and Labor ministries. Press releases from the junta also highlighted damage to their military headquarters, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Myanmar Railways, Central Bank, National Cyber Security Center, and e-Government Data Center.Amid the rush to carry out urgent repairs, the junta has blamed poor construction quality for the collapse of many buildings. A staff member from a Naypyitaw quality assurance office said the earthquake exposed widespread substandard work by the companies originally contracted to build ministry offices and staff housing, many of which failed to meet basic safety standards. "If they're going to take action for the collapses and deaths in Naypyitaw, they can't leave out the military engineering unit from the Naypyitaw Special Development Project—they must also be held accountable," the staff member, who requested anonymity, told Myanmar Now. The military junta is also facing a financial crisis for repairing and rebuilding structures in Naypyitaw, according to a businessman with close ties to officials in Naypyitaw.An engineer involved in construction in Naypyitaw, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Myanmar Now that the move to utilise the original builders is likely aimed at securing reconstruction work, not pursuing punitive action. "These are their people,” the engineer said. “They're not being called back for punishment, but to rebuild.”Naypyitaw, built by former dictator Than Shwe, was primarily constructed by his cronies who were business partners with military generals at that period of time. The powerful earthquake caused extensive damage in the Naypyitaw Council Territory, an area where many military generals are headquartered. (Photo: Myanmar Now) Than Shwe ruled Myanmar with an iron grip from 1992 to 2011, leading a repressive military junta that silenced dissent and isolated the country. His regime was marked by censorship, human rights abuses, and the brutal suppression of opposition movements. His inner circle included major crony conglomerates such as Tay Za’s Htoo Trading Group, Zaw Zaw's Max Myanmar, Htun Myint Naing's Asia World Company, Chit Khine’s Eden Group, Kyaw Win's Shwe Thanlwin, and ACE Construction, owned by former Sports Minister Tint Hsan. ACE was responsible for constructing the parliament buildings that were damaged or destroyed in Naypyitaw, its website states. In addition, ACE also built the Ministry of Construction, and the Office Of The Auditor General Of The Union, among others.With many of the buildings they constructed collapsing in the earthquake—disrupting the junta’s administrative operations—the regime has ordered those same contractors to carry out the reconstruction. According to unconfirmed reports, the powerful earthquake destroyed approximately 610 staff housing units in Naypyitaw, as stated in a report leaked on social media. On April 26, an announcement was made requesting companies involved in the Naypyitaw Special Development Project, including those who built offices, departments, staff housing, administrative and other structures, to contact the Naypyitaw City Development Committee. The powerful earthquake caused extensive damage in the Naypyitaw Council Territory, an area where many military generals are headquartered. Even a month after the earthquake, staff and locals say they still face various difficulties with housing and security. The junta has yet to clear or demolish the hundreds of collapsed staff housing units, leaving many displaced workers to shelter in departmental buildings, tents, or makeshift structures.Another engineer, who has over 15 years of experience in building staff housing, told Myanmar Now that rebuilding a collapsed four-story building with 24 rooms could take between six months and a year and cost several billion kyat (US $475,000 - $1.5 million). “That's how it will go,” one of the engineer sources said. “With so many buildings needing demolition, only large companies can handle it. The large companies have complete machinery. Only these companies will be able to handle both demolition and reconstruction.” Numerous buildings that were used for housing junta officials have collapsed in the quake, leaving many junta officials to live in tents and makeshift housing. (Photo: Myanmar Now)

Myanmar junta orders quake-damaged capital rebuilt by original contractors

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