Naypyidaw: A Dusty Work in Progress

Naypyidaw’s Capital Progress

March 2005—An International Labour Organization report alleges the forced conscription of at least 2,800 villagers in Pyinmana used in the construction of army camps that will later provide security for the project.

June 2005—Civil servants of five government ministries, including the Ministry of Information, receive the first official notice that they will have to move to Pyinmana.

November 2005—At 6:37 a.m. o­n November 6, Burma begins relocating government workers from Rangoon to the new capital. Reports circulate that the time was selected by Snr-Gen Than Shwe’s astrologer, while Asean leaders complain they were not informed of the shift north.

February 2006—Burmese leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe moves to his new residence o­n the east side of the new capital, a sprawling structure reportedly built into a hillside. The city is dubbed Naypyidaw, meaning “royal city,” in Burma’s state-run media.

March 2006—Armed Forces Day is held in Naypyidaw for the first time. More than 12,000 troops participate in the de facto inauguration of the new capital. Meanwhile, Air Bagan becomes the first private airline to fly to Naypyidaw.

May 2006—Ibrahim Gambari, the UN under secretary-general for political affairs, becomes the first high-ranking representative of the world body to travel to Naypyidaw during a visit to Burma that also includes a meeting with the National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

August 2006—Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra makes a surprise o­ne-day visit to the new capital accompanied by Thai Army Gen Sonthi Boonyarataglin and Foreign Minister Kantathi Supahmongkhon, the first Asean leader to do so.