Kyaukphyu sees increase in civilian landmine fatalities

By Admin 18 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
18 September 2024, Kyaukphyu

The number of people killed in landmine blasts is on the rise in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, where several significant Chinese investment projects are located and military tensions between the Myanmar regime and Arakkha Army (AA) are running high.

A local woman from Kyaukphyu was killed by a landmine on September 17 while collecting vegetables near Aung Zedi Village on the outskirts of the island town of Kyaukphyu.

The 26-year-old victim, identified as Ma Hmae Hswe, died at Kyaukphyu Hospital while receiving medical treatment.

“The landmine victim, her mother and her nephew went there to collect edible wild mushrooms. Of them, two were unharmed, but Ma Hmae Hswe lost her right leg in the landmine blast. She died of excessive bleeding at Kyaukphyu Hospital,” said a source close to her family.

A junta camp is located on Mt. Taungshae, about two furlongs from the scene of the landmine explosion, and locals have accused the military of planting the device.

Junta troops affixed a notice on a roadside tree near Aungcedi Village, which read: “Warning: Danger of Mines. Passage Prohibited.” Locals are often killed or injured in landmine blasts while collecting vegetables or fishing, said a resident.

Three local men were severely injured in separate landmine explosions near Aung Zedi Village in February, March and July of this year.

A landmine victim from Saichone Village in Kyaukphyu Township is reportedly in need of financial assistance to treat his severe injuries. U Maung Tun Shwe, 58, stepped on a landmine while herding cows near a hill northeast of the village on September 8.

The military’s Danyawadi naval base and a junta battalion are located near the scene of that landmine blast, and locals have accused the military of planting landmines along the hills nearby.

“There is no fierce fighting in Kyaukphyu Township, but local people are worried about the risk of landmines. The regime has planted several landmines in Kyaukphyu Township to defend against an AA attack. The number of locals killed or injured in the landmine blasts is on the rise,” said a social activist in Kyaukphyu.

Residents have accused the military of planting landmines near about 20 villages in Kyaukphyu Township.

According to a DMG tally, six people have been killed and 13 others were injured in landmine blasts in Kalarbar, Pyaingsayke, Hnanphetaung, Ohn Taw, Malakyun and Aung Zedi villages since renewed fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and the AA began in November.

The AA has surrounded Kyaukphyu and the junta battalions based there, but local residents are hoping that there are limits to any military action by either side due to the existence of the Chinese projects, in which investments amount to billions of dollars.