Ethnic Mro and Muslim men injured in separate northern Arakan State landmine encounters

By DMG 03 Dec 2022

DMG Newsroom
3 December 2022, Maungdaw 

Two landmine casualties were reported over the span of two days in a pair of northern Arakan State townships as the remnants of war continue to affect civilian lives despite a recently reached ceasefire between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA).  

An ethnic Mro man from Maungdaw Township’s Wetkyein Village lost his left leg in a landmine blast at about 12 noon on Saturday, according to residents, one week after the warring parties reached their informal truce on November 26. 

The victim, identified as 19-year-old Maung Kein Paw, stepped on the landmine at a location south of Wetkyein village while on his way to a hill to cut down bamboo for fishing poles, said Ko Maung Sein Nyo, a local villager. 

Maung Kein Paw was reportedly transferred to Maungdaw District Hospital for treatment. 

Locals said the Myanmar military and Arakan Army had fought in the village’s vicinity in the past, and that both sides had been stationed nearby. 

Residents of Wetkyein Village, who mainly rely on farming for their livelihoods, say they remain concerned about their own safety when venturing out into the fields they rely upon for income. 

“Residents in the village make a living by farming. I want the military to clear explosive ordnance near the village. We are worried that similar incidents will occur near the village,” said Ko Kyaw Hein, a Wetkyein villager. 

Meanwhile, a Muslim man from Taungywa Village in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township was injured after stepping on a landmine at around 3 p.m. Friday, and is also being treated at Maungdaw District Hospital. 

The 35-year-old victim Ko Arbawnul’s right leg was wounded after stepping on a landmine as he made his way toward the Mayu mountain range, about one mile west of Taungywa Village in the Gutarpyin Village-tract, to collect firewood, said village-tract administrator U Aye Kyaw Hla. 

Previous military-AA clashes were reported near the village, and junta soldiers have been stationed near Taungywa for several months, villagers said. 

Six children were injured in a landmine explosion near the village on April 8 of last year. 

Three people were killed and 23 others were injured in landmine blasts in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township in September, according to DMG reports. At least 11 civilians were killed and 31 others were injured by landmine explosions, stray gunfire and artillery strikes in Arakan State and Paletwa Township the following month, a DMG tally indicated.