CNI News

18 August 2022

Every armed organization is accountable for landmines they planted as the people in Rakhine State often lose their lives and limbs in landmine explosions, Rakhine Politician U Pe Than told the CNI.

U Pe Than said, “They must be held responsible for landmines they planted. Landmines are laid not against the people but against their enemies. However, members of the public always fall victim to these landmines. So, it is necessary for all armed organizations to take responsibility for landmines they planted and to be humane. How can the public know the places where landmines were laid. They have never seen landmines. If the Tatmadaw continues to use landmines under such circumstances, the public will be in danger. So, every armed organization is responsible to remove the landmines they laid when they move to another place or after a certain period.”

The Tatmadaw is mainly responsible for landmines as most of them were found in the surrounding areas of the camps and temporary camps of the Tatmadaw, he added.

AA leader Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing and Col Kyaw Han.

Since landmines were not effectively cleared during ceasefire between the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw, local residents have fallen victim to them and the increasing use landmines due to current military tensions between them is worrisome, Writer Wai Hin Aung told the CNI.

He said, “Now that military tensions are escalating between the AA and the Tatmadaw and armed clashes have broken out, it is very difficult to put blame on one side or the other. International non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations have to clear landmines on a self-help basis and launch awareness campaigns for the villagers. However, it is impossible for these organizations to clear and destroy all these landmines. Both the AA and the Tatmadaw are responsible for the problem and will have to beat the responsibility. However, tensions are escalating between them and civil society organizations are put into a very difficult situation.”

The Myanmar Tatmadaw.

Although local residents know that landmines were laid in several places, they have to go into mountains and forests for their living and just launching awareness raising campaigns is not enough to locate landmines on the ground, U Pe Than said.

He said, “What they are doing now is insufficient. No one knows where landmines were laid exactly. Having been hit by landmines, victims will not recover by receiving first aid or taking care of their health because they have lost their limbs, which have to be amputated. Both the AA and the Tatmadaw are responsible for the victims. The government is responsible for everything for victims including medical treatment, removal of landmines, livelihood and artificial limbs. They should be humane.”

In July, there were about seven landmine explosions in Rakhine State and there were two landmine explosions until 18th in August. Most victims lost their limbs, especially legs.