KHRG: landmines injuries raise suspicions mines recently planted
Two people were injured in two separate landmine incidents, in February and June 2013 in Mone Township, Nyaunglebin District, leading to fears that land mine areas have recently been laid.
On February 2nd 2013, a 22-year-old man was walking home after collecting firewood in Maw Lay Forest when he stepped on a landmine, sustaining injuries to his leg.
On June 1st, a 45-year-old man stepped on a landmine at Chauck Kway. The landmine shrapnel caused major damage to his left leg, resulting in amputatation.
In both incidents, the landmines were detonated on frequently used paths, and according to the KHRG this indicates that the mines were “likely to have been planted recently.”
The Karen National Liberation Army and Burma’s Army and militia are active in the area, it is not proven which group planted the mines involved in either incident.
In a report conducted by the humanitarian organisation Geneva Call, it is estimated that 5.2 million people live in areas contaminated by landmines in Burma.
In 2011 there were 381 documented casualties from land mines, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), the majority of those maimed were civilians.
