AA warns civilians of growing landmine threat

By Admin 13 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
13 July 2024, Maungdaw

Junta landmines have been planted in locations leading to Maungdaw and Thandwe, as well as near bridges and camps where regime troops were previously stationed, the Arakkha Army (AA) warned in a statement on Saturday.

The regime on July 12 planted landmines at the Nanchaung Bridge in Thandwe Township to destroy the bridge, the statement said.

According to the statement, many landmines were found in areas where junta troops retreated, and around their camps.

The AA has issued a notice to civilians to avoid traveling to junta camps and surrounding areas, and to educate themselves about landmine hazards.

A man from Alel Ywar Village in Arakan State’s Thandwe Township died on June 17 after stepping on a landmine while going to croplands near the village.

At and around junta bases, military headquarters, camps, police outposts, forests, roads, schools, and grazing lands in some townships held by the AA, civilians are experiencing death and loss of limbs due to landmines.

Ko Aung Thar Chay, 22, from Aungthayar Ward in Minbya, was injured in a landmine blast after he stepped on a landmine while passing through the compound of the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 379 on his way to the jungle to collect bamboo shoots on July 11.

“I want the armed groups to clear the landmines as soon as possible. Many locals make a living as daily wage workers. Despite landmine threats, we have to go to the jungle to collect vegetables and cut down firewood,” said a local resident in Minbya.

The AA has launched ongoing offensives to capture Maungdaw and Thandwe, with the regime responding to the AA’s attacks with aerial and artillery support.