Ye Township in the far south of Mon State and Yebyu Township in the Tanintharyi region is home to the Karen, Mon, Dawei, and Bamar ethnic nationalities. The majority of Mon peoples earn a living through plantations growing rubber, betel nut, durian, and other types of fruits.
Ethnic armed organizations such as New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Karen National Union (KNU) have been active in these areas for many years. Not coincidentally, these are also the areas that are not accessible to the government.
Since 2017-18, there have been at least ten landmine explosions that have left people with serious injuries. This includes an NMSP member and six civilians. All of the landmine victims had their legs amputated. No individual or group has taken responsibility for planting these landmines.
There are rumours at the village level, that a group of people, or organizations have been laying landmines and threatening local people not to go to their plantations during the fruiting season.
In the wake of this terror, MNA interviewed the Administrator from Ah-lay-Sa-Kan village ( this position is locally referred to as the Chairman) to get his perspective.
Question: How many landmines have exploded in the vicinity of your village? Can you share any incident details?
Answer: During the time I have been serving as a Village Administrator, there has been a series of landmine explosions around Ah-Lay-Sa-Kan village and nearby areas in Yebyu Township. It started in 2017.
Sometimes, there were two or three explosions a day. We have been living and growing in these plantations in the region for a long time. There had been no landmine explosions before, but in 2017, landmines began to explode.
After the first explosion, we visited the Karen National Union (KNU) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) in this area to report the incident and ask for assistance in providing security to prevent further landmine explosions and to find out who is responsible.
Then, another landmine exploded, — there have been more than ten explosions now. As far as I can remember, six local plantation owners have been injured, which includes having legs cut off.
Question: How has the government been dealing with the landmine explosions?
Answer: We informed and reported the incidents to the local Tatmadaw army. I went there to tell them to fix this. We also informed the media based in the Tanintharyi region and JMC (Joint Monitoring Committee) in Myeik.
However, nothing happened. There was no reply to us. Initially we made a report, it was quiet for a while, but then the explosions began again. No organization has taken responsibility. We have frequently explained the issue to the Chief Minister of Tanintharyi region, as well as to those in authority from the Tatmadaw army.
Our civilian villagers are the ones who are suffering, and they are local Mon people. We are helpless. We asked the government for help. Although we suspect who may have laid the landmines, we do not want to accuse any organizations.
We do not want to throw the blame on anybody. We are appealing for and end to this while telling the truth of what is happening. I appeal to all, to help us stop the terror of landmines in our area.
Question: What is the situation of people going to plantations?
Answer: No one dares to go near the area where the landmines have exploded, so those plantations have been abandoned. During the betel nut harvest, some people go to their plantations but with fear, while others have left their plantations.
We have asked organizations for assistance many times. We are upset as no one does anything to help us resolve this situation.
The Mon rubber plantation and farm owners make up the majority of the population living in the vicinity of Kyaun-Shar, where landmines have been exploded. There are a total of 400 plantations in the area. Because some people have been injured by landmine explosions, local people are terrified. They find it difficult to survive in a situation where they are afraid to go out and work. As plantation owners are afraid to visit their plantation, people just take their crops away.
Question: What does the area look like? Can you explain it a bit?
Answer: I have been to the place when I was 14 years old. There are mountains and forests. As there are plenty of trees, companies came for logging. Wood manufacturing companies hire armed groups for security. It is the NMSP territory area, according to the ceasefire agreement, and a permanent NMSP military base has been designated there.
It is also said to be KNU territory. The NMSP and its allies the KNU have a dispute over logging and they have fought each other. When there was a conflict between them, the KNU attacked some of our villagers. I had to beg them to stop.
I offered that we could help stop villagers from entering places that were restricted.
The NMSP has issued a directive saying that Mon people must not cut down trees in the area. However, we are allowed to cut trees if we need to build a tent or house. The Village Administrator has to issue an approval letter if a villager requests [to cut down trees] to build a house.
As the Administrator, I have to make sure the villager is truly going to build a house. After that, I could permit them to cut one to two trees. They [NMSP] do not allow [local people] to sell timber. The NMSP has closed down the area due to logging restrictions. Some timber dealers from the town have collaborated with some armed people for logging, and there has been a conflict between them and the NMSP.
Question: How will the landmine issue be resolved?
Answer: So far, only villagers have been injured by landmines. Now they are afraid to go to their plantations. On behalf of the villagers, I want to request the individuals responsible to not to lay landmines [in our area]. I want to ask the JMC (Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee) and media to come and observe our village situation.
The villagers want to work and live in peace, and they do not want the NMSP and KNU to have a clash in this area. We want our village to be at peace. Monks have urged us not to go to our plantations as there are landmines in the area and requested me to speak up…to solve this problem. As a middleman, I am running out of ideas. I am not sure which department I should talk to.
I have heard of the JMC from the news and knew they focus on ceasefire monitoring. I have contacted them [JMC], and they responded to me like they are not available or they don’t know and suggested contacting their office. When I tried calling their office, no one answered my call.
We need to find a solution.
There are NMSP and KNU groups in this area. Since we have to work in the area with the presence of both armed groups, we tried to talk with them and get guidance from them. However, landmines continue exploding in our area. What can I do then? This is all I want to say.
Question: Thank you so much for your answer.
