Type of Incident

Landmine incident

Date of Incident(s)

October 15th 2023

Incident Location

(Village, Township and District)

Yin Kweh Taung place, Hseh Phyu Taing village tract, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District

Victim Information

Name

Saw[2] L---

Age

19 years old

Gender

Man

Ethnicity

Karen

Marital status   

Single

Occupation

Plantation farmer

Religion

Christian

Position

Villager

Village

E--- village, Sa Tain village tract, Ler K’Hsaw Township, Mergui-Tavoy District

Perpetrator Information (Armed Actors)

Name(s)           

Rank

Unit

Base

Commander’s Name

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

1. Explain in detail how you collected this information.

[A KHRG researcher] interviewed the victim while he was hospitalised at the hospital.

2. Explain how the source verified this information.

The victim provided the information himself.

Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail.

On October 15th 2023, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)[3] Battalion #203, based in Ler K’Hsaw Township, was ordered by commander Lin Thein to seize the territory of Lieutenant Eh Hkwee from the Kaw Thoo Lei Army (KTLA)[4]. Saw L---, a villager who has medical knowledge, was asked by his friends [who are KNLA soldiers] to accompany them on [his duties on] that day. After they arrived at Yin Kweh Taung place, [a mountainous area] in Hseh Phyu Taing village tract, K’Ser Doh Township, Mergui-Tavoy District, and took a rest, the [KNLA] soldiers guarded security in the area.   

After a while, Saw L--- told his friend [one of the KNLA soldiers] that he did not want to stay in the area anymore [suspecting that something bad would happen]. A moment later, soldiers under the command of KTLA Lieutenant Eh Hkwee shot a bullet at Saw L---’s friend [the KNLA soldier] with a sniper, that penetrated his head and immediately killed him on the spot. As soon as Saw L--- heard the sound, he found his friend was already on the ground. Then, he carried the dead body back [to the KNLA’s temporary base] with the help of other friends. While carrying the body on his way back, at 12:23 pm, Saw L--- stepped on a landmine [and was severely injured]. His friends [the other KNLA soldiers] carried him and the dead body [of the KNLA soldier] in a car and sent them to the Karen National Union (KNU)[5] district office, four hours away, located in Mergui-Tavoy District. When he arrived [at the district office], Saw L--- was given an injection and became unconscious.

As the injury was serious, the local KNU leaders then sent him to a hospital in Thailand, for further treatment. On October 15th 2023, at about 4 pm, Saw L--- was hospitalised. When he woke up at the hospital, he found out that his left leg had already been amputated. He also noticed that Pu[6] A---, a staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was there to take care of him [as a patient attendant]. At first, they were strangers, but later they became familiar. Pu A--- took care of him well at the hospital [helping him move and bringing food]. After a week, Pu A--- returned to his house and a pregnant woman went to take care of Saw L--- at the hospital. Saw L--- felt uncomfortable having her take care of him [as she was pregnant]. The woman left after three days. Since then, Saw L--- had no patient attendant taking care of him at the hospital.

Saw L--- had difficulty expressing his pain at night to the [Thai] healthcare workers due to the language barrier. It was difficult for him, and he even cried silently in pain as there were no patient attendants with him at the hospital.

While Saw L--- was hospitalised, he wished and hoped that local KNU leaders would visit and encourage him. He explained: “The people I wished to come did not visit me, and only unexpected visitors came to encourage me.” A pastor came and prayed for him. He also added: “I am not discouraged, even though I had my left leg amputated. Many people have faced worse situations than me and have stood up and not given up on life. I believe that I can do anything if I try. When I recover from my leg injury, I will help wherever necessary with the medical knowledge that I have. Although I cannot help my mother with plantation work [anymore], I would like to help her with her healthcare condition. Even though I have lost one of my legs, I will not give up easily. I would like to encourage everyone to never give up.”

Saw L--- did not have enough food provided in the hospital nor any money with him to buy [more] food. He had to endure this situation from November 15th 2023 until December 18th 2023 [when he was discharged]. His family did not [immediately] know what had happened to him because he had no phone to contact and inform [them] about the landmine incident. Fortunately, his brother travelled to H--- place, in Thailand. At first, his brother did not know [much] about the incident until he asked about his brother to a KNU local leader secretary at the [Mergui-Tavoy] district office. She [the KNU local leader] then informed him about the landmine incident. The brother of Saw L--- also asked the KNU military intelligence [officer], G---, who sent his brother to the hospital, in order to get more information about his condition and where he was sent. On October 16th 2023, Saw L---’s brother went to meet with him [at the hospital] for a short period of time.

The ICRC provided expenses for the treatment and medication as well as some food to Saw L--- while he was being hospitalised. A local human rights organisation also helped make it possible for the two brothers to meet at the hospital. Saw L--- expressed: “I would like to thank those working at the organisation after hearing encouragement and receiving support from my brother. If not, I would not have been able to meet with my brother and talk to my parents. Now, I can communicate with the phone my brother has given to me. If not, I would have stayed alone in the hospital.”

Although the victim had attended a Mine Risk Education (MRE) training [provided by the KNLA], he was not able to avoid the landmine-contaminated area. Now, he is staying at a safe house prepared for injured people located in Thailand with good living conditions [as of December 2023]. Regarding the contamination of landmines during times of conflict, Saw L--- expressed: “I believe it would be beneficial if marks were placed after the landmines are planted. Having visible indications would help villagers stay informed and cautious while walking in the area, ensuring their safety by signalling whether there are mines present or not. I sincerely hope that such tragic incidents do not occur in the future. My wish is that future generations, including children and youth, will not have to endure the pain and suffering caused by landmines.”

Saw L--- has to do a medical follow-up to check his wound which costs 30 baht every day. To cover up the cost, a local KNU leader, Saw N---, provided 900 baht [25.04 USD][7] to him. [This local KNU leader provided him 2,900 baht [80.68 USD] in total since his admission at the hospital]. These follow-ups have become a great challenge for Saw L--- as he has no money. Due to the unstable political situation, his parents cannot work on their plantation and have no income, so they could not send money to him. He is facing a hard time. Recently, Saw L--- applied for a job peeling ripe tamarind shells. However, the local KNU leader advised him to not work as he has not fully recovered.

[As of April 2024, he is recovering from his injuries and waiting to receive an artificial leg provided by an international non-governmental organisation working in Thailand.]

Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided.

The victim himself allowed KHRG to use the provided information.