The body of a local man killed in a landmine explosion was found on February 10 near Thalu Chaung village in Minbya Township, where the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) previously fought during their 2018-20 conflict.
The victim was identified as U Maung Than Tun, a 55-year-old man from Thalu Chaung village. He is believed to have been on his way to Minphu Hill to collect firewood on February 7 when he encountered the landmine. Three explosions were heard that day, and local villagers went to Minphu Hill in the evening to search for U Maung Than Tun, but could not find him.
U Maung Hla, the administrator of Thalu Chaung village, told DMG that the villagers found his body at noon on Thursday.
“The body of the victim was found at the scene of a landmine explosion where fierce clashes broke out between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army,” a local woman said.
Many residents of Thalu Chaung village, including U Maung Than Tun, depend on the surrounding forest to earn a living, collecting firewood and foraging for vegetables.
Heavy fighting broke out between the Burmese Army and the Arakan Army on the hills near the village in 2019 and 2020. As a result, most locals are afraid to go to their farmlands and the forest out of concern for landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs).
But avoidance of these areas is increasingly a luxury that many cannot afford, with livelihoods at stake. U Maung Hla, the administrator of Thalu Chaung village, said for months locals sought to limit their gathering to areas where military camps had not been previously set up, but they were now moving into territory such as the site of this week’s landmine explosion.
“Thalu Chaung villagers rely on the forest to make a living, and are poor. There are also landmines in the forest, so it is difficult for us to work. The residents of Thalu Chaung village are now afraid of going to the forest due to the risks of landmines and ERWs,” he added.
Three youths going to their local forest to collect firewood were severely injured in an ERW blast near Kyaung Taung village in Mrauk-U Township on February 1.
Two children were also seriously wounded in an ERW explosion in Paung Toke Ywar Thit village, also in Mrauk-U Township, on January 17.
