Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 6 February 2025

Muslim leaders have urged the Arakan Army (AA) to promptly remove landmines from the entire Shwe Zar village-tract, including Shwe Zar Gone Nar village, in Maungdaw Town, which is governed by the Arakan Army (AA). 

A village elder from Shwe Zar Gone Nar stated, "Numerous villages and homes within the Shwe Zar village-tract had junta forces present. Gone Nar village has been taken over by junta forces, who were stationed in every house near the Shwe Zar Bridge border guard outpost. There could still be landmines present in these houses. For this reason, the Arakan Army (AA) needs to remove landmines from every house that housed junta troops and from the whole village-tract.” 

On January 25, 2025, local residents were permitted to go back to the Shwe Zar village-tract, situated across the creek on the edge of Maungdaw. However, shortly after they came back, landmine blasts took place, hurting a number of locals. 

After these events, Muslim leaders called for urgent removal of landmines. 

On the morning of January 29, a Muslim family that had escaped the conflict came back to their home in Shwe Zar Gone Nar village. That evening, when they exited their house, their 7-year-old son triggered a landmine left by junta forces hidden under the house. The blast amputated his right leg beneath the knee. 

A comparable event took place on February 5 at approximately 6:30 am when a 27-year-old man trod on a landmine by a water barrel at his residence. The blast amputated his right leg. 

Another inhabitant of the Shwe Zar village-tract stated, "In the mere seven days since residents began returning, two individuals have stepped on landmines. If the mines remain uncleared, additional people will be hurt or lose their lives. The Arakan Army (AA) needs to remove all landmines from the Shwe Zar village-tract promptly.” 

Starting from January 2, the Arakan Army (AA) has been deactivating landmines on the primary route near the 5th Border Guard Police Battalion (NaKhaKha-5) and has successfully eliminated over 100 landmines. Nevertheless, locals report that landmines in city districts and nearby villages remain uncleared. 

The Shwe Zar village-tract is made up of 13 villages, such as Gone Nar, Kan Paing Nar, Kat Pa Kaung, Zay Di Pyin, Ka Nyin Chaung, and Aung Bala.