This photo was taken on August 3rd 2019 in A--- village, Wel Pyan village tract, Hpa-an Township. It shows Saw B---, the 19-year-old villager who lost part of his right leg after stepping on a landmine. [Photo: KHRG]
Part 1 – Incident Details
Type of Incident |
Type of Incident |
Landmine explosion |
Landmine explosion |
Type of Incident |
Date of Incident(s) |
Landmine explosion |
May 18th, 2019 |
Type of Incident |
Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
Landmine explosion |
A--- village, Wel Pyan village tract, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District |
Type of Incident |
Landmine explosion |
Date of Incident(s) |
May 18th, 2019 |
Incident Location (Village, Township and District) |
A--- village, Wel Pyan village tract, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District |
Victim Information | Victim Information |
Victim Information |
Name |
Saw B--- | |
Saw C--- |
Victim Information |
Age |
19 | |
32 |
Victim Information |
Sex |
Male | |
Male |
Victim Information |
Ethnicity |
Karen | |
Karen |
Victim Information |
Family status |
Married | |
Married |
Victim Information |
Occupation |
Farmer | |
Farmer |
Victim Information |
Religion |
Buddhist | |
Buddist |
Victim Information |
Position |
Villager | |
Villager |
Victim Information |
Village |
A--- village | |
A--- village |
Victim Information | ||
Name |
Saw B--- |
Saw C--- |
Age |
19 |
32 |
Sex |
Male |
Male |
Ethnicity |
Karen |
Karen |
Family status |
Married |
Married |
Occupation |
Farmer |
Farmer |
Religion |
Buddhist |
Buddist |
Position |
Villager |
Villager |
Village |
A--- village |
A--- village |
Perpetrator Information | Perpetrator Information |
Perpetrator Information |
Name(s) |
Rank | |
Unit | |
Base | |
Commander's Name |
Perpetrator Information |
Unknown |
Soldiers | |
Unknown | |
Mee Zai Mountain | |
U Sanda Waya, a Senior Monk in charge of the Mee Zai Mountain's monastery |
Perpetrator Information | ||||
Name(s) |
Rank |
Unit |
Base |
Commander's Name |
Unknown |
Soldiers |
Unknown |
Mee Zai Mountain |
U Sanda Waya, a Senior Monk in charge of the Mee Zai Mountain's monastery |
Part 2 - Information Quality
1. Explain in detail how you collected this information. |
1. Explain in detail how you collected this information. |
1. Explain in detail how you collected this information. |
After the D--- village tract administrator told me about landmine victims in A--- village, I asked help from Saw E---, an A--- villager who lives in Ka Ma Maung. He put me in contact with the victims, after which I met with them in A--- village. |
1. Explain in detail how you collected this information. |
After the D--- village tract administrator told me about landmine victims in A--- village, I asked help from Saw E---, an A--- villager who lives in Ka Ma Maung. He put me in contact with the victims, after which I met with them in A--- village. |
2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
The two sources experienced this incident first hand. |
2. Explain how the source verified this information. |
The two sources experienced this incident first hand. |
Part 3 – Complete Description of the Incident
Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
This incident occurred outside of A--- village, Wel Pyan village tract, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District. The victims are Saw B---, 19 years old, and Saw C---, 32 years old, from A--- village.
On May 18th, 2019 they left A--- village to forage for dog fruits in the forest. At approximately 30 minutes walking distance northwest of the village, Saw B---, walking five feet [1.524 metres] behind Saw C---, stepped on a landmine. Due to the landmine explosion, the flesh of his right leg was torn off from the knee down. Saw C--- also fell forward onto the ground and sustained a slight back injury.
Saw C--- explained the incident to KHRG: “My younger brother who was walking behind me stepped on the landmine. It hit my back and I fell forward. When I looked at my brother, he had also fallen down but he seemed like he was going in and out of consciousness. I also realised that my back was slightly injured.” Saw B--- added: “I do not remember how I got back home.”
According to information received by KHRG, this landmine was planted by a seceding faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) splinter group[2] led by Senior Monk U Sanda Waya. They used to be based on the Mee Zai Mountain, but they left after surrendering their weapons to Border Guard Force (BGF)[3] Battalion #1014 on June 23rd, 2019.
According to a follow-up conversation with a KHRG researcher, Saw B--- and his family are now in distress due to the consequences of the landmine incident. Saw B--- cannot work anymore, as he lost part of his right leg. He now depends on his family and relatives for his survival. Saw C--- can still work, as his back injury was not serious. They did not receive any compensation to cover their medical treatment.
So far, no armed actor took responsibility to clear the area of landmines. Local villagers just try to avoid areas which they think might be contaminated.
|
Describe the Incident(s) in complete detail. |
This incident occurred outside of A--- village, Wel Pyan village tract, Hpa-an Township, Thaton District. The victims are Saw B---, 19 years old, and Saw C---, 32 years old, from A--- village.
On May 18th, 2019 they left A--- village to forage for dog fruits in the forest. At approximately 30 minutes walking distance northwest of the village, Saw B---, walking five feet [1.524 metres] behind Saw C---, stepped on a landmine. Due to the landmine explosion, the flesh of his right leg was torn off from the knee down. Saw C--- also fell forward onto the ground and sustained a slight back injury.
Saw C--- explained the incident to KHRG: “My younger brother who was walking behind me stepped on the landmine. It hit my back and I fell forward. When I looked at my brother, he had also fallen down but he seemed like he was going in and out of consciousness. I also realised that my back was slightly injured.” Saw B--- added: “I do not remember how I got back home.”
According to information received by KHRG, this landmine was planted by a seceding faction of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) splinter group[2] led by Senior Monk U Sanda Waya. They used to be based on the Mee Zai Mountain, but they left after surrendering their weapons to Border Guard Force (BGF)[3] Battalion #1014 on June 23rd, 2019.
According to a follow-up conversation with a KHRG researcher, Saw B--- and his family are now in distress due to the consequences of the landmine incident. Saw B--- cannot work anymore, as he lost part of his right leg. He now depends on his family and relatives for his survival. Saw C--- can still work, as his back injury was not serious. They did not receive any compensation to cover their medical treatment.
So far, no armed actor took responsibility to clear the area of landmines. Local villagers just try to avoid areas which they think might be contaminated.
|
Part 4 - Permission for Using the Details
Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
Both the victims allowed KHRG to use this information. |
Did the victim(s) provide permission to use this information? Explain how that permission was provided. |
Both the victims allowed KHRG to use this information. |