Three Die in Landmine Blast in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

By Min Aung Khine 18 November 2020

Sittwe, Rakhine — Three civilians were killed and six others seriously injured in a mine blast in Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township on Tuesday.

A man, woman and child were killed and one man and five women were seriously injured. The car was destroyed.

The victims from Khayay Myaing village went to a donation ceremony in Tharyargone village and their car triggered a landmine on the return journey, said Buddhist monk Nanthartaung Sayadaw, who witnessed the scene.

“Khayay Myaing villagers came to an alms-giving ceremony in Tharyargone this morning and their car ignited a landmine on their way home at noon. We visited the scene. Three died and six were taken to hospital,” the monk told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday.

Maungdaw district administrator U Soe Aung said security personnel investigated the incident.

“The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army previously planted mines in the area. We assume it is responsible for the blast,” he said.

Clashes have temporarily ceased in Rakhine State and Tuesday’s incident was the first explosion in Maungdaw since the Arakan Army (AA) called for voting to be held by the end of December in constituencies where polling was canceled on Nov. 8. Myanmar’s military welcomed the AA’s suggestion.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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