Man killed by landmine amid fighting in Rathedaung

A resident of Ngasan Baw village in Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township was killed on the spot when he stepped on a landmine at around 2:30 p.m. on February 2 while searching for his cattle, according to Yaybote village administrator U Maung Wai Thein.

By Myat Swe 02 Feb 2020

Myat Swe | DMG

February 2, Rathedaung

A resident of Ngasan Baw village in Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township was killed on the spot when he stepped on a landmine at around 2:30 p.m. on February 2 while searching for his cattle, according to Yaybote village administrator U Maung Wai Thein.

The deceased man, 58-year-old U Thein Soe Aung, had fled to Yaybote village just a day earlier after intense clashes broke out near Amyat Taung village. As the fighting abated the following day, he decided to venture out from Yaybote in search of his cattle and stepped on a landmine planted between Amyat Taung and Ngasan Baw villages.

“He fled to my house [in Yaybote village] yesterday because of the fighting. But he left Yaybote village at around 11 a.m. today for his village to look for his cattle,” U Maung Wai Thein said on February 2.

U Thein Soe Aung’s body was brought to Rathedaung town.

The Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) had several clashes in the countryside near Amyat Taung village on February 1. Stray fire from the hostilities was reported in Ngasan Baw, Amyat Taung and Ma Nyin Taung villages.

Local residents said fighting flared again on February 2 near Ma Nyin Taung village.