Maung SarGa
The Rakhine ethnic minority people,who rely on mountains and forests for their livelihood, are facing difficultiesdue to their concerns over landmine explosions.
Among seven Rakhine ethnicgroups, Mro, Thet, Khami and Daingnet communities primarily depend onmountain areas for their livelihoods. They work in the mountain fields andorchards.
During the resurgent fightingbetween the junta forces and Arakha Army (AA) fighters, the ethnic minoritiescontinued to depend on mountain and forest areas for their survival even thoughthose turned into a war zone.
The juntaforces planted a large number of landmines in the mountains and forests.So the people are scared of going to those areas now.
U IngarAung, a Khami individual, stated that they burn the upland to cultivateorchards. But it may lead to landmine explosions.
“Theexplosions have compelled the people to avoid those areas because of fear. Sothey are facing livelihood difficulties now,” added the individual.
The Khamicommunity lives across Ann, Pauktaw, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun andButhidaung townships and their total population will be over 100,000.
U Zani Phyu, chairman of Mroliterature and culture association, informed Narinjara News that the landminesin various conflict ridden Rakhine localities still scare the people. Moreover,the junta soldiers have planted new landmines and thus they made it impossiblefor the people to work in those areas.
"Theyhave not cleared the landmines from many mountains and forests. The juntaofficials should clear the landmines so that Mro as well as Rakhine, Khami,Thet people can work in those areas.
The Mropeople live in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, northern Buthidaung and northern Maungdawtownships and they have a total population of around 40,000.
The Rakhineethnic minorities, who are unable to work in the forests and mountains due tothe danger of landmines, cannot even return to their villages and thus they arecompelled to live with difficulties as internally displaced persons.
As the rainy season approaches, theywill face more livelihood difficulties. So the residents are insisting onremoving the landmines and increasing awareness about the danger of landmine explosions.
Accordingto data gathered by Narinjara News, four innocent civilians were killed, twelvepeople lost their legs and fifteen others were injured during March and Aprilbecause of ongoing resurgence of fighting in the Rakhine region.
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