Myanmar security forces have laid landmines during attacks on villages and along the Bangladesh border – posing a grave risk to Rohingya Muslims fleeing atrocities, said Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a press release issued on Saturday. HRW suggested that the Myanmar government immediately stops using anti-personnel landmines and join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Witnesses told HRW that Myanmar military personnel also planted mines on roads inside northern Rakhine state prior to their attacks on mainly Rohingya villages. Myanmar government, in turn, has accused the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) of using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against infrastructure and security forces, HRW reported. Mohammad, 39, told HRW, he saw a neighbour’s son stepped on one of the mines laid by the military.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 24, 2017 07:30 UTC