Doo Tha Htoo District Incident Report: Child seriously injured in a landmine explosion in Thaton Township, January 2021
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On January 8th 2021, a 12-year-old boy stepped on a landmine in Ta Maw Daw village tract,[1] Thaton Township, Doo Tha Htoo [Thaton] District. His left foot was blown off in the explosion, and he sustained injuries to his right thigh. The victim spent three weeks at a local clinic for treatment, after which he was sent back to his village. This particular landmine was planted by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[2] in response to an increase in Tatmadaw[3] activities in the area.[4]
Dam investment projects put peace at risk
Saw Paul, director of the coalition for sustainable rivers development, the Karen Rivers Watch (KRW) said.
“At this fragile stage of the ceasefire process, pushing ahead with the Hatgyi dam and other (mega development projects) will reignite conflict and could derail the talks. Investing in these projects is sabotaging the hopes of Karen people for lasting peace.”
The Karen Rivers Watch in a released statement said they are concerned the security around the dam sites could escalate into armed conflict.
“The increased Burma Army security around the dam sites and blatant disregard for concerns of impacted communities are heightening tensions, and throwing into doubt the government’s sincerity in conducting ceasefire talks.”
Mu Traw District Situation Update: Militarisation, indiscriminate shelling, displacement and landmine contamination in Bu Tho Township, May to July 2020
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This Situation Update describes events that occurred in Bu Tho Township, Mu Traw (Hpapun) District between May and July 2020. The Tatmadaw[1] sent more troops and ammunition to the local areas, resulting in several skirmishes with the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).[2] The Tatmadaw shelled civilian areas and farms in response to KNLA attacks, and also arbitrarily detained villagers and village leaders in one of their camps. Both the KNLA and the Tatmadaw planted new landmines. Local villagers now feel unsafe, and some communities have faced displacement and have seen their freedom of movement restricted because of the presence and activities of Tatmadaw soldiers. Access to healthcare remains difficult for villagers living in remote areas, and COVID-19[3] travel restrictions have delayed the start of the academic year
General Ner Dah Bo Mya, the head of the Karen National Defence Organisation told Karen News that armed conflict this month in Burma is linked to plans to build hydropower dams on the Salween River. In an exclusive interview General Ner Dah explains to
Karen News why he has placed his troops are on high alert.
General Ner Dah said that fighting between the government’s militia, the Border guard Force and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) has sent warning signals to the Karen armed groups that the government is planning to reinforce it military in the region.
“The current situation that we have in our area right now is that we have to be alert because there are fighting between BGF and the DKBA. We have to be alert because we can see that the Burmese [army] are reinforcing their military in most of their base camps that are also close to our base camps.”