Today at 1 pm. a villager was seriously injured in a landmine explosion in the Kyaung-Shar-Kwin region near Ah-Lay-Sa-khan village in Ye Phyu Township, Tanintharyi region.
37-year-old Nai Tun, is a civilian from Han-Kam village, in Ye township lost his ankle as a result of the explosion. He is a plantation worker and stepped on the landmine on the way back to his village.
“He slept at the plantation last night. At 1 p.m. today, he came back from the plantation. He [stepped on] a landmine and lost his right ankle. He was sent to Mawlamyine general hospital at 3 p.m.” reported U Thin San, the Ah-Lay-Sa-Khan Village Administrator
On March 11, two plantation workers were injured in the two separate landmine explosions in Ye Phyu Township. Both individuals required leg amputations, which were performed at the Ye Town hospital.
An anonymous New Mon State Party’s official, told Mon News Agency (MNA) the landmines are thought to belong to a Karen armed group active in the Kyaung-Shar-Kwin areas.
“There are armed groups that want to interrupt the Mon people who are working at the plantation. The landmines are targeting civilian plantation workers,” reported the official.
The New Mon State Party (NMSP) located in the Dawei District office, and the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 4, as well as other Karen people’s militia groups are based in the vicinity of Ye Phyu Township, where landmine explosions have frequently occurred.
Since 2018, at least ten landmines have exploded in Ye Phyu Township, injuring several civilian villagers. No party has claimed responsibility for placement of the landmines.
The Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) operating at various levels in the area has not taken any action to date.
