Hsaung Zar Chi

Narinjara News,14 May 2020

Over thecourse of two days, explosions in Buthitaung and Kyauktaw Townships have killedtwo Muslim children and injured six civilians.

In Buthitauing, two childrendied after stepping on a mine while walking from Thayet Pyin (Muslim) villageto the now deserted Thayet Pyin (Rakhine) village, according to Hpon Nyo Leikvillage administrator, U Maung Than Hlaing. The explosion occurred on May 12 ataround 11am.

The two dead children have beennamed as Marehenar Beygaung, aged 8, and Maung Ahdullamen, aged12.   Both lived in Thayet Pyin (Muslim).  A thirdchild, Masardara Bibi aged 13, was injured in the explosion. She is from Hpon Nyo Leik (Muslim)village.

“Our villageis split into the northern and southern parts, one being Muslim, the otherRakhine. The children were all Muslim. The two that died and one that wasinjured had gone to the Rakhine part of the village to pick vegetables whenthey detonated a mine. Hpon Nyo Leik is really close to where the explosionhappened.  We heard the sound of the explosion, this enormous boom”,U Maung Than Hlaing said.

Doctor Saw MinThien from Buthitaung Hospital spoke with Narinjara and explained that theinjured girl had been seriously injured in the neck. They were unable to carryout the surgery required in Buthitaung so this morning she had been transferredto Maungtaw District Hospital.

The secondincident involved ashell exploding in Paik They (Muslim) village, injuring fivecivilians.  The shelling occurred just after an explosion near Gisspanadi bridge, Kyauktaw Town onMay 11, at around 3pm.

The injuredhave been named as U Hla Maung Thar (55), U Addamar Lawdi (37), Manarajnaw(17), Ma Tawyubar (17) and Maung Maung Soe (17).

Oneperson who wanted to remain anonymous explained what had happened. “Not longafter the first explosion, a shell fell into the village. The three people whosuffered minor injuries in the explosion are being treated in the villageclinic. One shelllanded in the cemetery.  Its of medium size, its got fins. I don’t knowwhat kind it is though.  The villagers are afraid and don’t dare gonear it”.

Yesterdayevening, U Hla Maung Thar and U Addamar Lawdi who were seriously injured in theexplosion were transferred from Ah Pauk Wa Clinic, Kyauktaw to Sittwe Hospital.