Landmines are weapons that kill and maim indiscriminately, whether it be civilians, soldiers, elderly people, women, children or animals. They cause injury and death long after the official end of a war. Contrary to trends in the rest of the world, rather than reduce or abolish the use of landmines, the SPDC has actually increased production of anti-personnel landmines and at least in the case of the Burma-Bangladesh border, is actively maintaining minefields. In Asia, Burma is currently second only to Afghanistan in the number of new landmine victims, surpassing even Cambodia. The SPDC has not signed the Mine Ban Treaty and abstained from the 1999 UN General Assembly vote on the treaty, saying, “A sweeping ban on landmines is unnecessary and unjustified. The problem is the indiscriminate use of mines, as well as the transfer of them.” Although the SPDC is not known to export landmines, mines from China, Israel, Italy, Russia and the United States have been found planted inside Burma, indicating past or present importation of them. By their own admission, accepting transferred (imported) landmines makes them part of the problem.

As there is no centralized agency which collects data on landmines in Burma, there is no way to know the true number of landmine victims. Using various sources of data, the Landmine Monitor Report 2000 estimated that in 1999 alone there were 1,500 mine victims. There is also evidence that landmine casualties have been increasing in recent years. Statistics of landmine victims collected by Medicins Sans Frontieres were higher in 2000 than in the previous two years, and in April 2001 the Mae Tao clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand, reported an increase in mine victims arriving from the Dooplaya district of Karen State.

Of Burma’s 14 states and divisions, 9 of them are affected by landmines. Evidence suggests that in Karen State there is one landmine victim everyday. Civilians become landmine victims in two ways. One way is their use as human minesweepers (see below), another is accidentally stepping on landmines planted in areas where civilians reside. In efforts to block supply routes for armed ethnic organizations, the SPDC plants mines on supply and escape routes used by villagers and refugees. Villages from which people have fled or have been forcibly relocated from are also mined to prevent the villagers from returning as well as to block access to food, supplies and intelligence to opposition groups. Landmines have also been planted along streams, paths, roads and passes that are used by civilians, including those fleeing Burma. It is estimated that there is one civilian death for every two military casualties associated with landmines. In a particularly troubling statement, the Myanmar Red Cross stated that “the problem [of landmines] is going away” and that resources should not be wasted on this issue.

The use of landmines has taken an even uglier turn in Burma, as the SPDC has been known to use villagers, as well as animals, as live minesweepers. This specific targeting of civilians is contrary to the claims of the SPDC that landmine use has not been directed against civilian populations. Civilians conscripted for forced portering in conflict areas are sometimes sent ahead of the troops so that they will detonate mines. In 1999 and 2000 there were reports that human minesweepers were being used in Dooplaya District, Karen State, south of the Karen State capital Pa-an, during military assaults on SSA positions near Tachilek in Shan State and in operations against God’s Army in the Tenasserim Division. A survey of refugees along the Thai-Burma border by a Danish medical group found that forced portering and forced minesweeping accounted for half of landmine casualties (Burma Debate, Winter 2000/2001).

The border states and divisions of Burma are the most heavily mined areas in the country due to the civil war being fought with ethnic groups living along the border. The border areas already have problems with security and adequate health care and mine pollution only compounds these problems. The presence of landmines means that ethnic people cannot engage in everyday activities, such as farming, gathering food or traveling without fear of being killed or losing limbs due to landmines. In addition, as previously mentioned, villagers who have been forcibly relocated cannot safely return to their original villages to collect property, food supplies or check on their homes.

It is thought that the majority of people injured by landmines die before they get medical treatment. Mine victims often have limited or no access to healthcare facilities and may have to walk for days to find medical care. Sometimes the security situation can mean that no treatment is available for a long period of time. In some cases landmine victims have been turned back by the SPDC before they could reach a hospital.

The 2001 Landmine Monitor Report stated that at least eleven ethnic armed groups in Burma are currently believed to use antipersonnel mines. These groups include: the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA); the Karenni Army (KA); the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF); Peoples Defense Forces (PDF); Myiek-Dawei United Front (MDUF); Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO); Shan State Army (SSA); Democratic Karen Buddhist Army; God’s Army; the Chin National Army (CNA), and the United Wa State Army (UWSA). During the 1990s it is believed that many of these groups were able to obtain antipersonnel mines leftover from the Indochinese wars. By 2001, it was reported that these antipersonnel mines were becoming more difficult to obtain on the black market, but that a growing number of mines were being lifted or captured from SPDC military operations, and then re-deployed. (Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2001)

Thailand has repeatedly accused the SPDC of laying mines inside Thailand. In February 2001 border tensions between the two nations flared up, and in the following months both Burmese troops and a proxy army of the Wa are alleged to have planted mines in a disputed piece of territory. A preliminary report on a Level One Impact Survey in Thailand contained the following information on the border region: “The majority of the mine threat is across the border in Myanmar where a considerable number of mine accidents are taking place. In the Camps for Displaced persons alone 83 mine victims are recorded and many more are evident from hospital records. 150 accidents have been reported in the last 2 years of a total of 541 victims including previous years. 213 reported danger areas, however, are recorded on the Thai side of the border.” (Source: NPA/TMAC Impact Survey Final Presentation, Supporting Notes: Guy Rhodes NPA, May 2001)

Mines have also been laid between all military camps along a cross-state route in upper Karen State from Kyankkyi in the west to Hsawhta on the Salaween River at the Thai border, as part of an attempt to cut off the travel routes of insurgents. However, these mines have also effectively blocked refugees from using these routes to seek asylum in Thailand.

The Landmine Monitor Report 2001 has noted a disturbing new development along the Thai/Burma border, with mines being planted by loggers and narcotics traffickers. Recently timber concessions believed to be owned by Thai military and political officials, have been opened in the border areas of Karen State south of the Thai town of Mae Sot. There are allegations that people living in the area have been hired by logging sub-contractors to plant landmines along the edges of these concessions to prevent trespassing and stealing of timber. Reports state that the loggers are also supplying the explosives and detonators for the construction of these mines, and that several people employed by these sub-contractors have become mine victims. There are also allegations that narcotics traffickers in the same area are now using landmines to secure their routes for transporting drugs, and to protect factories producing meta-amphetamines in both Karen and Karenni States. (Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2001)

The Bangladesh-Burma border, 270 kilometers comprised of dense forests, hills and 60 kilometers of sea, is the longest minefield in the country, with mines running almost the entire length of the border north up to the Indian border. Mines have been laid since the 1991 mass exodus of 250,000 Rohingya Muslims from Arakan State. The SPDC has said that the minefields are necessary to stop cross-border movement by armed ethnic opposition groups. However they also prevent or make it extremely dangerous for refugees to cross the border and impede cross-border economic activities.

The landmines affect Burmese and Bangladeshi citizens, as well as animals. In some cases mines are planted inside Bangladesh because of poor border demarcation and thick vegetation. In July of 2000, a Bangladeshi organization that works with handicapped people held a press conference in which they said that between 1995 and 1999 more than 500 Bangladeshi nationals been killed by landmines while cutting bamboo inside Arakan State in Burma. They also said that more than 120 Bangladeshis had been disabled between 1998 and 1999 due to landmines and that 24 people from Arakan state along with 26 wild elephants had been killed from landmine explosions. The government of Bangladesh has repeatedly asked the Burmese government to remove the landmines from along the border. However it is believed that SPDC military engineers are actively replacing old or exploded mines along the border.

There were reports that the Burmese Border Security force, the NaSaKa and regular SPDC troops have been actively laying mines along the border following the end of the rainy season in October 2001. On October 20th two landmines exploded on the border line, but no casulties were reported. As in past years the Bangladesh Border Security Force has issued warnings to its citizens living in the border area that they are in danger of mines being laid by the Burmese troops. (Source: Kaladan Press)

On 3 January 2001, 2 people from Ituklo village, Papun District, Karen State, stepped on 2 land mines that had been planted by SPDC troops and were wounded.

The same day, 2 people from Nawthehder village, in the same area stepped on land mines, also set by SPDC troops and both of them died on the spot. (Source: KIC)

On 14 January 2001, a resident of Lay Bay village, Mon Township, Nyaung Lebin District, Karen State, was injured by the explosion of a mine planted by the SPDC. The mine was detonated when he opened the gate of his garden and one of his legs was broken. On the same day there was another land mine explosion and a woman named Ma Yin Mya, age-25 died on the spot. She lives in Mone town, in section 5. (Source: KIC)

On 27 January 2001, the strategic commander Kyaw Zwa Min and IB-73 commander Min Oo forced Saw Ta Peh Poo, from Kler Lar villager, Toungoo District, Karen State to drive his car before them in order to clear the area of land mines. His truck detonated a mine in the area between Ploe Mu Der and Si Kheh Der villages. Saw Ta Peh Poo was seriously injured and his truck was damaged. (Source: KIC)

On 1 August 2001, a resident of Painchit village (name unknown), Karenni State, stepped on a landmine which had been laid by KNPLF troops located near the village. The explosion blew off one of his legs. ( Source: KNAHR)

On 11 August 2001, a porter from SPDC troop IB-26, column (1) named U Aung Bu, (48 years old, father’s name U Nyunt) from In Gyin Thar section, Aung Chan Thar Township, Toungoo Division stepped on a land mine at Bu Hsa Khee area that had been planted by another group of SPDC troops based in Bu Hsa Khee village. The victim had both his legs broken. (Source: KIC)

On 16 August 2001 at 11:35am, a porter from troop of SPDC IB (26) column (1) named Saw Klo Htoo (alias Saw Poe U, age (32)) from Kler Lar (Baw Ga Li) village, stepped on a land mine set by SPDC troops and died on the spot. (Source:KIC)

On 29 September 2001, DKBA troops led by Moe Joe (alias) Pah Ni Tho planted land mines on the paths going to villagers’ paddy fields at La-kyo-kho mountain and as a result La-kyo-kho villager saw Kaw Lar, (M, 23), son of Tee Tin Maung, was killed by stepping on a land mine. (Source:KIC)

On 14 October 2001, Baw-naw-kee villager, Saw Pah Mu Sah (M, 40) was seriously wounded by a landmine planted by Pah Nee Tho of DKBA in a paddy field at Baw-naw-kee, Karen State. ( Source: KIC)

On 15 October 2001, troops from SPDC IB 25, led by Lieutenant Colonel Win Htein planted land mines in Keh-pyu-chaung area in Ler-doh-soe township. Wa-sha-kho villager Saw Kaw Kaw, (M, 18), son of Saw Kyi Win, was maimed by one of the land mines. (source:KIC)

In November, troops from SPDC battalions under LID 77 and DKBA troops planted land mines in paddy fields of villagers in the areas of Shwe-u, Mya-lay, Htee-hser-khee, Kaw-haem, Htee-si-baw, Khaw-po-plai, Su-khee, Ta-mai-hta, Klaw-hta, Nya-po-khee, Ta-ku-khee, Paw-khee, Kwee-lay-pu and Kwee-lay-pya villages, Tha-ton District, Karen State. Owing to this, villagers dared not harvest their crops, and as a result, all the crops were destroyed. Three buffaloes of villager Tee Moo Paw Pa of Kwee-lay-pya village were killed by these land mines. (source:KIC)

On 5 November 2001, one Buddhist monk was killed and another lost a leg in a land mine explosion as they walked to a religious festival. The incident occured 2 kilometers (1.3 miles) outside the monks’ village of Mae Htaw Ta Lay in Karen State. The monks had been walking to a festival being held in a nearby village to mark the end of Buddhist Lent. They were traveling in spite of travel restrictions imposed on villagers by the SPDC because of guerrilla activity in the area.
(Source: AP)

On 27 December 2001, at 9:40 am, Htee-moo-ta villager Saw Yin Aye (M, 28) of Kaw-ka-reik Township, Doo-pla-ya District, Karen State, lost a leg to a land mine planted by SPDC controlled DKBA Battalion 907. He did not get any compensation or treatment. (Source:KIC)

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