Myanmar - 8,956,373rd verse, same as the first

[El Pelon]

And the hits have just continued to keep coming in Myanmar. When the world cares to look, they tend to only look at the Rohingya/Rakhine State these days, but all the other ethnics are still in the suck....just like always...but not enough people care about them to make them front page news in international press....just like always. The regional stuff still puts the info out there though.

https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/eight ... uary-alone

Eight civilians have been injured by landmines in northern Shan State this month, the Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO) has reported.

TWO spokesperson Lway Chi Sangar said that this includes six people in Kyaukme Township, one person in Namhsan, and one more in Namtu.

Three of the Kyaukme victims were from Ahpyaung village, two from Pan Lawt, and one from Tawng Paloe. The explosion in Namhsan occurred in Pan Neim village. At the time of reporting, NMG was unable to obtain the village name where the landmine went off in Namtu.

The explosions occurred on January 3, 6, 19, 21, and 23.

“Three [of the] people were working on their rotating farm in the mountains. They were injured by a landmine explosion when they went to their rotating farm with their motorbike,” Lway Chi Sangar told NMG.

In Ahpyaung village in Kyaukme, Mai Kyaw Shwin, 27, Mai Kyaw Lin, 28, and Mai Min Naing, 30, were all injured when a landmine went off as they searched for firewood in the nearby jungle.

One of the three individuals was in critical condition and transferred to a larger public hospital in another region on January 23—the other two received treatment at a local hospital, according to TWO.

“All of their injuries are in critical. One victim has had his left leg broken. Another victim got injuries to his stomach and his intestines came out… Another victim got injuries to his legs,” Lway Chi Sangar told NMG. “The two victims, who got injuries to their legs, received medical treatment at Kyaukme hospital, and the victim was transferred into Mandalay hospital.”

It is unknown which armed group planted the landmines in question. Locals have demanded that both the Burma Army and ethnic armed organizations not plant landmines near civilian villages and farms.

TWO also demanded that respective armed organizations cover medical needs of and provide necessary assistance to landmine victims.

The Burma Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, Kachin Independence Organization, Restoration Council of Shan State, and various military-backed People’s Militia Forces are active Kyaukme, Namhsan, and Namtu townships in northern Shan State.

[babihutan]

I will admit my own ignorance of Myanmar, being that my only recollection of the place was being served a cold bowl of chicken soup with more than one dead housefly in it as well as still bleeding, uncooked chicken in my 2-3hrs I spent in a border town.

Anyway, what is the conflict situation like nowadays? I heard the country opened up to tourism several years ago by Aung Sung Si (I believe her name is) and many unrestricted areas are now accessible?

Other than the Rohingya story, are there still a lot of armed groups, and with your experience in the country, are landmines common or a new practice?

Cheers

[El Pelon]

I guess the short answer is "it depends." Some things have changed and some places are better, but the heavy hand of oppression is still there pressing down on most ethnics. Some are under regular attack and conflict regularly pops up. The FBR have kept putting out field reports and document hot spots pretty well. https://www.freeburmarangers.org/category/reports/

Parts have opened up, and it's easy to get in and visit, but there are still restrictions on where tourists can go. All tourists still have to stay in registered guest houses, hotels and resorts (no crashing at anyone's home). Went a couple of times last year and the visa is USD 50 and the online application is a piece of cake to fill out with visas granted within a couple of days at most. Multiple flights per day from BKK and elsewhere makes it an easy stop. Yangon (where we spent most of our time) is a hustling and bustling metropolis and one would never know the ethnic conflicts were ongoing.

Landmines have always been and will probably always be a problem. More of a problem in some places than others. Problem with the higher quality landmines is shelf life. Some of the home made varieties lose their threat with the degrading that comes from the jungle and time. The ones manufactured by/for military use just hang out waiting. Floods move some mines with no way to know where they end up. Many/most fields were never mapped and many mines were placed and forgotten....until they pop. I'm assuming no other nation has taken the title of "Most landmined country in the world" from them.

[El Pelon]

From today's news reading

https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/army- ... n-idp-camp

Army atrocities reported in Meabon IDP camp
Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Narinjara

A column of Myanmar Army asked several villagers to leave the Sa Nyin internally displaced people (IDP) camp under Meabon township putting them in troubles, informed local village leaders.

Nearly 200 soldiers entered into the said IDP camp on the night of 25 January firing many gunshots into the air. The security force also
destroyed some shelter-huts in the camp and few tarpaulins were also set on fire near the road.

The security personnel initially asked the elders including many women asylum seekers to assemble in one place and then ordered them to leave the camp next morning, said a villager. Later the troop destroyed some utensils including tarpaulins of the camp.

“Our family members tried to hide as the army personnel entered into the camp by 11 pm. They asked all of the people to gather in one place and then ordered us to leave the camp next day. All people were sitting with folded knees on the ground. Later they left the camp within few minutes,” a woman, who wanted anonymity revealed.

Sa Nyin village administrator informed that over 200 gunshots were
fired by the security forces before they left the camp by 11.30 pm.

“There are around 500 people in the camp and most of them came from villages like Hin Kharaw, Lee Thwan and Kyan Dike. They left their villages a month back as incidents of fierce fighting between Myanmar security personnel and Arakan Army members broke out near their villages,” said the village administrator.

IDP camps are normally erected with the pieces of bamboo, tarpaulin and other available materials. The Sa Nyin camp is constructed at the village sport ground.

Ashin Thabawa Nadi, a monk working those in IDP camp, asserted that the security personnel threatened the asylum seekers to vacate the camp. We are now discussing with other village leaders to resolve the problem. Till now no decision is taken whether the people in the camp would be asked to vacate the place,” added the monk.

U Pe Than, a representative in lower house of Parliament from the
locality confirmed the incident and he expressed displeasures over the rude behavior of Myanmar army personnel over the camp people.

The army spokesperson major general Zaw Min Htun stated that the army column went to the camp during the night hours for security reasons.

“We have no plan to vacate the camp and our soldiers went there to check the security cover. Moreover, they did not misbehave any person in the camp,” concluded Zaw Min Htun.

[El Pelon]

https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/ancie ... -vibration

Ancient Koe- thaung Temple parts damaged due to artillery shelling vibration
Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Narinjara

Some parts of ancient Koe- thaung Temple in Mrauk U township are reportedly damaged due to the vibration of artillery shillings by Myanmar Army personnel around the locality, alleged local residents.

Many parts of roots & wells in north and north-western direction of the pagoda were cracked, said Daw Khin Than, chairman of Mrauk U heritage preservation association.

“The damage may augment if heavy shelling of artilleries nearby the pagoda is not stopped by the authority,” she added.

Koe-thaung Temple was built by Arakan’s great king Min Dikkha during 1553 -1556 where 90,000 Buddha images are placed. The large-size pagoda faced devastation in the past. However the archaeology department has started renovating it. Some parts of the pagoda are already renovated, but it is not completely done.

“Some parts were also damaged by the shelling of artilleries. The Koe- thaung Temple is surrounded by hills where the security forces are targeting the Arakan Army members. So the concerned authority should take proper initiatives to prevent such activities there,” added Daw Khin Than.

Mrauk U locality continues witnessing the conflict situation since 2019 where the security personnel had established many artillery bases to target the AA members.

“We may not distinguish the types of artillery and missiles but can say definitely that the sound generated by those arms is too high. Often we experience tremors whenever the artillery is fired,” said an elder from Mrauk U locality.

U Thein Tun, an official from the archaeology and national museum department based in Mrauk U revealed that he had already received the information about partial damages caused to the Koe- thaung Temple because of shelling of artilleries.

Rakhine State Parliament had sent a letter to the Arakan government on 8 May 2019 asking both the Myanmar Army personnel and Arakan Army members to avoid incidents of fighting nearby the ancient pagoda. But the fighting still continues till date.

People are raising voices to recognize the ancient area of Mrauk U as a world heritage site under the UNESCO. Similarly, the Union religious affairs ministry had also submitted a letter to the UNESCO on 24 Sept 2019 pursuing for its world heritage status.

But the ongoing violence may seemingly destroy the dream of villagers. However, some representatives from the UNESCO are expected to visit the Mrauk U locality by August next for field studies.

[babihutan]

Sounds pretty wild still. Also a lot of diversity ethnically in such a small country. Looking forward to the Free Burma Ranger Doc.