Landmines kill two on the border

Landmines kill two on the border

War

Unidentified landmines laid by an unidentified armed group had resulted in the death of two Shan civilians on their way from Thailand to visit their homes, said sources from Chiangmai's Fang district. 

The incident took place on 8 November when villagers of Loiwiang, Kholam tract, Namzarng township, who had fled to Fang in 1999 following Rangoon's forced relocation campaign (1996-98) crossed the border into Mongton township, Fang's adjoining neighbor in Burma's Shan State. The blast resulted in 2 killed and 4 injured. 

The two that died were Sai Nyunt and Sai Pang and one seriously wounded was Sai Ho, who is being treated at Chiangmai's Pa Nge Hospital. 

Shans in Fang said they had decided to take the matter to Col Yawdserk, leader of the Shan State Army, whose units are active across the border. 

Lt-Col Awng Kham, Commander of the SSA's Special Force, with base at Hpabawng, opposite Fang, regretted the event and asked that travelers consult the SSA first about the safe paths they could take before embarking on their journey. 

"With years of fighting between us and the Burmese-Wa alliance, no one can tell whose landmine it really was that the villagers ran into," he told S.H.A.N. this morning, "and it would be unfair to place the blame solely on us." 

Apart from the SSA, the Burma Army and the United Wa State Army have bases along the border. 

According to Landmine Monitor Report (2002), at least 14 armed groups, including the Burma Army, are believed to use antipersonnel mines. The others are Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO); Chin National Army (CNA); Shan State Army (SSA); Karenni Army (KA); Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA); Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA); All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF); People's Defense Forces (PDF); Mergui-Tavoy United Front; United Wa State Army (UWSA); Pa-O People's Liberation Front (PPLF); All Burma Muslim Union (ABMU); and Wa National Army (WNA).

Burma is not a signatory to the Mine Ban Traty of 2001. It has also not attended any of the annual meetings of State Parties to the Treaty. Vietnam, another non-signatory, had at least participated in a meeting to discuss the issue of landmines within Asean context held in January 2002.