Myanmar junta troops lay landmines around churches, homes and toilets, Amnesty International says
- Researchers from the rights campaign group said Myanmar’s junta was committing war crimes by laying landmines around villages ‘on a massive scale’
- ‘Soldiers have placed landmines in people’s yards, at the entrance of homes, and outside toilets,’ Amnesty said on Wednesday
Fighting has ravaged swathes of the country since last year’s coup, which sparked renewed clashes with ethnic rebel groups and the formation of dozens of “People’s Defence Forces” now battling the junta.
During a visit to Kayah state near the Thai border, Amnesty researchers interviewed landmine survivors, medical workers who had treated them and others involved in clearing operations, the organisation said.
It said it had “credible information” that the military had used mines in at least 20 villages, including on paths to rice fields, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.
Amnesty also said it had documented several instances where the military had laid mines around a church and on its grounds.
“Soldiers have placed landmines in people’s yards, at the entrance of homes, and outside toilets,” Amnesty said. “In at least one documented case, soldiers booby-trapped a house stairwell with a trip-wire improvised explosive device.”
Anti-junta group members were attempting to de-mine some areas, but the work was done “by hand with only rudimentary equipment and without any professional training,” the report added.
