Col Min Than, Arakan, State Minister for Security and Border Affairs announced the Tatmadaw will carry out mine clearance after the Tatmadaw and the AA signed an  agreement on the deployment of troops in Arakan State.

The State Minister added “The deployment of troops will materialize, after both sides withdraw their troops. This is the part of the NCA. The Tatmadaw can carry out mine clearance at any time after the agreement has been signed. But it is difficult to clear mines planted in the forests by the other side.”

U Oo Than Naing MP submitted a proposal urging the Arakan State government to provide more effective help for the safe return of IDPs to their regions. That proposal was discussed by six MPs in Arakan State parliament on January 12. The proposal was unanimously  approved  at the session of Arakan State Parliament.

As the fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA have stopped for over two months, more than 80,000 IDPs went home. More than 180,000 IDPs are still taking shelter at the IDP camps, according to the MPs. MP U Oo Than Naing said it needs to carry out the clearance of mines with special care for the return and resettlement of IDPs safely and peacefully.

MP Kyaw Lwin from Kyaukphyu Township who seconded the proposal said: “The areas with IDPs are littered with landmines. Landmines have caused great danger to locals in every township. The IDPs can only go home after experts and relevant organizations can carry out the clearance of landmines.”

The explosions of landmines and remnants of war in Arakan State resulted in 41 deaths and 77 injuries, according to the Arakan State MPs. MP U Tun Aung Thein from Buthedaung Township said: “The bodies of the dead people were buried in the compound of the houses in some villages during the war. We need to carry out the clearance of buried bodies along with the mine clearance. Only then can the IDPs go home smoothly. It needs to provide necessary assistance to the IDPs.”

The MPs pointed out that the relevant organizations and government organizations need to make necessary preparations in order that they get ready for ploughing in the coming rainy season.