A civilian was killed in another landmine blast in the afternoon of March 18th, while fishing along the Kyauk Din Baw and Yin Ye creeks in Ye Chaung Phyar, Mon State.
“In the past, there have been bomb blasts on the side of the road. The person who was killed and his companion went to the area by motorcycle to fish. They decided to walk as the motorcycle could not pass through easily. He [the deceased] stepped on [the landmine, and his companion brought him back. He passed away on the way back,” reported the New Mon State Party’s ( NMSP) Administrative Area Secretary, Nai Ah-Lam Mon.
40-year-old Nai Ah Lawh, was the victim of this landmine blast. He was from Kan-Nee village in the Ye Chaung Phyar region, and he worked as a plantation worker, according to the NMSP’s officer.
This latest landmine incident follows two other explosions resulting in injuries sustained by two plantation workers, Nai Bai and Nai Win Hlaing from Ye Phyu Township in the Tanintharyi region. In two separate locations, on the same day, March 11, the men stepped on landmines. Both had to have each of their legs amputated.
The Deputy Speaker of Mon State Parliament has condemned such incidents which have harmed innocent civilians. To date, no responsibility for the planting of any of these three landmine incidents has been determined.
“No matter how or which group has caused the [landmines explosion], we strongly condemn it, we do not want this unacceptable incident to happen and urge not to do so. If there is a political problem, then try to find a solution through the political system. In the case of the armed group’s issue, armed groups should help to seek a solution. Or it is a territory dispute, we want to urge [respective authorities] to find out an answer. We want it to be resolved peacefully,” said Dr. Aung Naing Oo.
There have been over ten landmine explosions in Ye Phyu Township and Ye Township. Most of the victims are the Mon people who work in plantations in the area.
Signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) include the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU). The NCA obligates parties not to use landmines. Both ethnic armed organizations have military camps in the Ye Phyu Township and Ye Chaung Phyar region.
