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Voice of a landmine victim who lost his leg

HURFOM: Since the attempted coup in 2021, the threat of landmines has emerged again in Burma. In 2023, when there was high military tension, both the military junta and the armed resistance groups used landmines in conflict zones as well as in residential areas. The landmine explosions have occurred frequently, and there have been casualties, loss of body parts, severe threats to livelihood, and living in fear due to insecurity.

The HURFOM has interviewed a 61-year-old landmine victim from Mon State who lost his leg in a landmine explosion.

“I was living on the plantation. At about 8 am on March 13^th, 2024, I left my plantation to go shopping at the Kyoe Da Dar (the suspended bridge) near Maw Ka Nin village, Ye Township. I had to pass through the bushes. On the way back from shopping, I felt I stepped on something, and then, I didn’t know what happened. The landmine explosion burst my leg and I shouted for help. A nearby Karen armed group came out to help me. In reality, the landmine might be planted by them. They said, “Don’t you know the landmine was planted here? Don’t shout out. You can use a prosthetic leg”. Then, they sent me to the main road and called an ambulance.

“I didn’t have money. I was admitted to the Lamine General Hospital to reduce my treatment cost, but the hospital transferred me to the Mawlamyine Hospital as my injury was severe. The explosion burst all my toes. The flesh of my hand was also burst, and I had to remove my skin from my thigh and grafted it onto my hand. I think I had the most severe injury among landmine victims.

“I had to receive treatment at the Mawlamyine Hospital for nearly a month. My wife had heart disease, and she could not take care of me at the hospital.

“When I was in Mawlamyine, one of my acquaintances in the village told me that an organization from Hpa-An, Karen State, had made contact. They would offer a prosthetic leg for free. Then, I went to Hpa-An to get a prosthetic leg. The “Hpa-An Health Assistance Organization” gave me 600,000 MMK for the transportation fee, and I returned to my village.

“When I arrived at my village, my leg was still had pain. I couldn’t sleep well at night. I couldn’t walk well either. I had to request that my mother-in-law stay at her house. I didn’t have any plantation or house. I had to work on others’ plantations. I couldn’t work now and have to depend on my sons and daughters. They weren’t okay to take care of me. My daughter had to borrow money from others to pay my medical fee. I was feeling upset about that.

“After being attacked by a landmine, the junta’s troops reached my house and asked me, “Where and how were you attacked by a landmine? Speak the truth. Don’t lie to us”. As of today, none of the organizations has taken any responsibility for the attack. When our country is politically stable, I don’t want to ask for too much. I just want stability and peace. I have no power to make those who planted landmines accountable. I comfort myself that I had bad luck.”

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