Ann Twsp residents urge Tatmadaw to clear landmines from forested hills rather than along roads and walkways

By DMG 09 Mar 2021

DMG Newsroom
9 March 2021, Ann 

The Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) has reportedly begun clearing landmines in Arakan State, with those activities starting last month. 

No landmines had been found so far, Lt-Col Nay Tun Hlaing, spokesperson of the Tatmadaw’s Western Command, told the media.  

In recent days, there have been calls for more demining in the forested hills rather than on the roads, as more and more people have been injured by blasts of explosive remnants of war (ERWs) in Arakan State.

“The Tatmadaw is clearing landmines but has not found any. There have never been any landmines on this sidewalk. Landmines have exploded on mountains and in plantations in the past,” said Ko Myo Lwin, a resident of Ann Township. “The search for landmines on a road raises questions about whether this is effective demining.” 

Six locals from Sahnyin village in Myebon Township were cutting down trees to build a boat on Phayagyi Hill near the village at around 2 p.m. on March 8 when 27-year old U Nyi Pu Chay lost his right leg in an explosive remnant of war (ERW) blast, a colleague of the victim told DMG. 

“The victim stepped on a landmine when we climbed to the hill to cut down a tree,” he said. “The tree cutter went in front of the victim and four people followed him [U Nyi Pu Chay]. We don’t know if the victim stepped on a landmine there, but there was a landmine [that exploded]. The rest are safe.” 

A woodcutter in Ann Township lost one of his legs in a landmine explosion on February 17, and two children under the age of 10 were injured in a landmine explosion in Rathedaung Township on March 4. 

Most locals in Arakan State depend on farming for their livelihoods, and civil society groups say they are concerned about the dangers of landmines. 

At least 33 people were killed and 66 others were injured in explosions of landmines and ERWs during roughly two years of fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State, according to figures provided by the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC) last year.