Landmine Explosions Remain A Constant Fear for Local Villagers

April 2, 2014

Although ceasefire agreements have officially ended fighting between the Burmese army and many ethnic armed groups, casualties persist. Landmines have been left throughout villages, leaving innocent civilians’ lives in danger. On February 15, 2014, local Loh Tine villager, Saw Lar Say, stepped on one such landmine buried in a cart road, and lost his leg.

Early in the morning of February 15^th, Saw Lar Say, joined by seven of his colleagues, went to work on their farms. Around 11 am, as the group was returning to their homes, they travelled along a cart road located between the 71 and 72 milestones of Dawei- Mawlamine Road; five miles from the road that connects the old Log Tine and Kyauk Ka Din villages of Yebyu Township. As the group was walking, Saw Lar Say stepped on a landmine, resulting in serious injury to his leg. The others in the group were not injured, but Saw Lar Say was admitted to the Dawei Public Hospital where his left shin was amputated.

Saw Lar Say, 23 years old, is the son of U Nyunt Khin, husband to Ma Mon, and father to three young children; Naw My Har, the eldest daughter, is in grade 3 at Log Tine Basic Education Primary School, Saw Chan Thar is the middle son, and the couple also has a three-month-old baby girl. Saw Lar Say must farm his land to provide for his family. With the explosion of the landmine and the amputation of his leg, Saw Lar Say, an innocent civilian, has lost his livelihood and the ability to feed his family, leaving his family’s future in jeopardy.

Saw Thar, who had served as a member of the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade No. 4 for fifteen years, explains how landmines threaten the daily lives of the locals:

“In the past, the east side of Loh Tine – Yar Pu Motor Road – was where armed clashes between Burma Army No. 271 and 282 and KNU armed groups occurred most frequently; both parties are responsible for those landmines.

“Hand-made mines”, Saw Thar continues, “are less likely to explode as time passes, but mines made in the US are still active for several years. Now, the landmine that exploded in Log Tine Village was a type of landmine used by the Burmese military, whereas the [ethnic] armed groups use mostly hand-made mines. In this region, most of the villagers are farmers, who must be cautious when the travel to their workplace; they don’t have any equipment that can test the mine. Now, we have moved beyond the ceasefire era, and I want the ruling political groups, the [ethnic] armed groups, and the government army to remove the mines. The villagers will only be able to travel to their farms safely once the landmines have been removed. I want [the ethnic armed groups and the Burmese army] to have sympathy for family members who must rely on the innocent civilian who has been a victim of a landmine explosion”.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News