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Landmine explosions occur frequently in Thanbyuzayat:  Military tension persists

HURFOM: Since July, 2024, the military junta has been reinforcing their troop presence in villages alongside the Thanbyuzayat-Ye Highway Road, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State and they have frequently battled with the local resistance forces.

Along with this ongoing military tension, landmine explosions occur constantly in Ye Ta Gon, Aye Thar Yar and Ah Twin Sa Khan Gyi villages of the township.

According to data collected by HURFOM, from July 11^th to September 10^th, 2024, at least six local residents were injured by the landmine explosion.

Three residents from Ye Ta Gon village, two workers of the rubber factory in Aye Thar Yar village and a local villager from Pa Nga who was enroute to his rubber plantation in Ah Twin Sa Kha Gyi villages were injured by these explosions.

“Most of the victims stepped on landmines while they went to search for “Elephant Foot Yam” near Ye Ta Gon, Sa Khan Gyi and Aye Thar Yar villages. Two victims stepped on landmines on the way to their plantation. At the moment, landmines are a big threat to us,” said a Thanbyuzayat resident.

Local villagers have no choice but to make their livelihood by collecting firewood, plucking mushrooms and harvesting “Elephant Foot Yam” in nearby forests and plantations.

The resistance forces have gained more control in the Thanbyuzayat-Ye Highway Road and the military junta has planted landmines near and around their battalion, local sources told HURFOM.

However, both sides have remained silent as to who planted landmines.

The 315th artillery regiment based in Well Ka Lee, Thanbyuzayat Township and the 317^th artillery regiment based in Maw Ka Nin, Ye Township are both operating along the Thanbyuzayat-Ye Highway Road.

Resistance forces such as the Dawna Column, the Ye Air Force (YAF), the Ye Guerrilla Force – YGF, the Ye Defense Force – YDF, Brigade #1 of the All Burma Students Democratic Front – ABSDF, the Mon State Revolutionary Organization – MSRO and the Mon State Revolutionary Force MSRF are also active along this roadway. 

Besides landmine explosions, junta forces have launched artillery and drone attacks that have injured at least seven residents this year.

“I haven’t cleaned the bushes in my plantation for the next season. There have been too many armed clashes, artillery attacks and landmine explosions (near my plantation). The junta has also launched drone attacks, so no one wants to go outside,” said a rubber plantation owner from Ah Twin Sa Khan Gyi village.

In 2020, frequent landmine explosions also took place in Kyaung Shar Kwin area, Yebyu Township, Tenasserim which was jointly controlled by the New Mon State Party – NMSP and the Karen National Union – KNU. The explosions injured at least ten local villagers.

Both parties had a discussion regarding the landmine explosion but did not reach a concrete agreement about their ongoing use.

According to the data collected by the HURFOM, there have been 19 landmine explosions in Mon State in 2023, with explosions killing four residents and at least 24 villagers sustaining injuries.

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