Mine ban policy overview

Policy

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar[1] has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. On 30 March 2011, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), a military junta that has ruled the country since 1988, dissolved and handed over power to a new government dominated by the military-sponsored Union Solidarity Development Party.[2] Myanmar was one of 17 countries that abstained from voting on UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 65/48 on 8 December 2010, which called for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. It has abstained on similar annual resolutions since 1997.

Myanmar did not attend the Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva in November–December 2010. It has not attended an annual Meeting of States Parties or an intersessional Standing Committee meeting since 2003, though it did take part in the Bangkok Workshop on Achieving a Mine-Free South East Asia in April 2009.[3]

In March 2011, the chair of the National Democratic Force (NDF) informed the ICBL that his party’s policy was supportive of the mine ban, and that the NDF would raise the issue in parliament.[4] In February 2011 a former commander-in-chief of the army stated to the ICBL that “Mines must be banned according to both humanitarianism and religion in a civilized world,”[5] while Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi called on all combatants to “cease the way of mines” and all groups to “start to ban landmines in their operations without waiting for their opponent to start to do it.”[6]

In September 2010, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar (UN Special Rapporteur) urged the ruling authorities in Myanmar to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty, and requested that the government of Myanmar work with the UN country team and humanitarian partners to develop a framework to improve the situation, starting with the granting of permission to local humanitarian agencies to carry out risk education, provide victim assistance, and improve the mapping of mine-affected areas.[7]

In June 2010 the ICBL submitted a stakeholder document to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for Myanmar to the Human Rights Commission summarizing Monitor reporting from the past 10 years on the use of forced labor for mine clearance/detonation and recommended that authorities in Myanmar “order an immediate halt to the use of antipersonnel mines by the armed forces and proxies under its control; order an immediate halt to the use of forced labour by the armed forces and proxies under its control, particularly for the purposes of mine clearance and portering in mined areas; and accede to the Mine Ban Treaty.”[8] During the UPR process, Canada recommended that Myanmar accede to the Mine Ban Treaty. In the outcome document the authorities indicated that this recommendation would be examined by Myanmar, which would provide its responses on the recommendation in due course.[9] The Human Rights Council also emphasized that its Special Rapporteur also urged Myanmar to ratify the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and repeated concerns of the Special Rapporteur that previously-laid mines remain largely in place and that civilian casualties continue to constitute the majority of reported mine victims, particularly along border zones where displaced people have returned.[10] The Halt Mine Use in Burma/Myanmar campaign, which was launched by the ICBL in 2003, distributed 15,00 copies of the Burmese-language translation of the Myanmar Country Profile for 2010. The Monitor cooperated with the UN Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU) in Yangon to produce an updated map of townships with identified mine contamination.[11] In April 2011, the Halt Mine Use in Burma/Myanmar campaign launched a website.[12] During an ICBL mission to Yangon in February and March 2011, General Thura Tin Oo, previously the commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw, said that the army should forego the use of antipersonnel mines: “I strongly recommend that landmines must be banned by the Tat Ma Daw, as well as those fighting against them. The good example to be followed is that of our neighboring countries, Thailand and Bangladesh [who joined the Treaty].”[13] On 3 March 2011 the Australian Embassy held a diplomatic briefing on the findings of the Monitor report on Myanmar in Yangon for staff from embassies of states that have joined the Mine Ban Treaty. The Canadian Embassy held a diplomatic briefing on the findings of Myanmar Country Profile in Bangkok for a similar audience on 17 March 2011.

Myanmar is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Government use, production, stockpiling, and transfer

Units of Myanmar’s Army (Tatmadaw) have laid mines in numerous parts of the country every year since the Monitor began reporting in 1999.

In February 2010, Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 363 and 367 allegedly laid mines in Kheh Der village tract, Kyaukkyi township, Nyaunglebin district: militia forces accompanying returning villagers subsequently discovered 11 mines.[14] In March 2010, villagers in Htantabin township blamed Tatmadaw LIB 427 for laying mines that injured two villagers and an animal.[15] Also in March, a former Tatmadaw soldier from LIB 102 in Karenni state noted that he had been given a mine to use while in the military, and that before he deserted in March 2010 he witnessed other soldiers being ordered to lay mines near his unit’s camp in Khaw Daw Koh area, Tantabin township, Bago division.[16] In April 2010, villagers in the Ma No Roh area, Tenasserim division stated that Tatmadaw LIB 561 planted mines near their village.[17]

In October 2010, the Tatmadaw laid mines around four bridges between Thaton and Bilin townships. The mined area was marked with a “Caution Mines” sign at each bridge. The Tatmadaw stated that the mines were laid to prevent the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) from using the bridges.[18] In December 2010 in Bilin township of Thaton district, Border Guard Force Battalion 1016, led by Par Ke Re, and Tatmadaw IB 3, led by Major Zaw Lwin Moe, placed mines in Kyaw Blaw Khi Blo and Htee Nyar Khar Blo. These mines subsequently injured villagers and killed cattle.[19] Another Tatmadaw unit is alleged by the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) to have laid mines for the first time in many years in Chin state. The FBR claims that Battalion 232 laid new mines in the vicinity of Nygeletwa, Pomnyamwa, Aumthiwa, Mariwa, Setalumwa, and Putuwa villages in Paletwa township of Chin state.[20] On 25 December 2010, Tatmadaw soldiers placed mines on trails and village land, in Mone township. A rebel soldier was sent to remove the mines, and found four M-14 mines before being injured by a fifth mine.[21]

Myanmar Defense Products Industries (Ka Pa Sa), a state enterprise at Ngyaung Chay Dauk in western Pegu (Bago) division, produces fragmentation and blast antipersonnel mines, including a non-detectable variety.[22] Authorities in Myanmar have not provided any information on the types and quantities of stockpiled antipersonnel mines. The Monitor has previously reported that, in addition to domestic production, Myanmar has obtained and used antipersonnel mines of Chinese, Indian, Italian, Soviet, and American manufacture, as well as some mines whose origin has not been unidentified.[23] Myanmar is not known to have exported antipersonnel mines.[24]

Non-state armed groups 

Many ethnic rebel organizations exist in Myanmar. At least 17 non-state armed groups have used antipersonnel mines since 1999. However, some of these groups have ceased to exist or no longer use mines. Some armed groups have unilaterally renounced the use of antipersonnel mines by signing the Deed of Commitment administered by the Swiss NGO Geneva Call.[25]

Non-state armed group use

Conflict—especially mine warfare—between two Karen rebel groups, the KNLA, and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), has increased since mid-2009. The Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA) was accused by the junta of laying antipersonnel mines resulting in civilian casualties.[26]

The KIO/KIA dispatched representatives to offer compensation to the victims’ families while claiming they had marked the area. In October 2010 the KIO/KIA released a statement that warned the public of more mines in the area. The KIO/KIA stated that they had planted more mines as a result of increased tensions with the junta over the KIO/KIA’s refusal to bring its troops under Tatmadaw command.[27] On 21 May 2011, state media reported the seizure of 30 craft produced antipersonnel mines in the possession of a member of the KIO/KIA in Myitkyina township.[28] State media also reported the recovery of mines during the surrender of members of the Shan State Army (SSA) and the KNLA.[29]

In September 2010, the KNLA informed local inhabitants that they have planted mines beside the road between Phapun township and Kamamaung sub-township in Karen state.[30]

DKBA soldiers who defected to the KNU in 2010 stated to the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) that the DKBA uses mines, but fewer than at previous times. They claimed that they receive few mines from the Tatmadaw and mostly manufactured their own, both pressure- and tripwire- activated types, but were able to purchase some United States mines in Thailand. None of the defectors said they marked their mined areas, but they were instructed to issue verbal warnings to nearby villages. In August and September 2010 the KHRG interviewed three DKBA child soldiers, one who had been ordered to lay mines near his camp and another who had been ordered to clear a mine. The third was aware of mine use by his unit, but did not lay mines.[31] In June 2010 the DKBA planted about 150 mines around their camps in the villages of Me Lan and Me Lakhaung in Bilin township, Mon State.[32] Also in January 2010 villagers in Waw Muh village tract, Dweh Loh township, Papun district stated that they were prohibited from going to some of their agricultural fields due to mines laid by the DKBA.[33] Also in January 2010, villagers from Meh Nyoo, Meh Gkoo, Meh Mweh, and Meh Gklaw village tracts in Bu Tho township stated that soldiers from DKBA battalion 666 placed mines in areas near the villages and gave verbal warnings of dangerous areas.[34] Villagers in Ma Lay Ler village tract, Dweh Loh township, Papun district allege that on 26 March 2010 DKBA Battalion 333 laid mines to prevent attacks by the KNLA in the area, leading to the loss of several cattle.[35] In April 2010 in Lu Thaw township, Papun district, a Gher Der village guard stepped on a mine laid by the KNLA because he could not remember where it had been laid. On the same day another person from the same village stepped on a mine he alleged had been recently planted by the Tatmadaw on the road.[36] Villagers in Meh Mweh village tract, Dweh Loh Township, Papun District state that on 9 April a DKBA unit came to the area and planted some mines.[37] In May 2010 Gk’Law Lu village, Dta Greh township, Pa’an district was reportedly burned by the DKBA to remove people from the area. Villagers were warned by the DKBA not to return to the area as it had been mined.[38] In May 2010 a villager in Wah Muh village tract, Dweh Loh township, Papun district stated that while being escorted by a DKBA soldier, he stepped on a mine laid by another DKBA unit and that the areas were unmarked.[39] In mid-December, a rebel group of DKBA planted mines near a Tatmadaw military camp resulting in deaths and injuries at Gk’Neh Lay village, Kawkareik township, Dooplaya district.[40] On 5 December 2010 the DKBA warned villagers from Waw Lay village, Kawkareik township, Dooplaya district that they should only move by the roads, not the small paths, as these had been mined against the Tatmadaw.[41]

On 7 July 2010 villagers at Way Muh village tract, Dweh Loh township, Papun district stated that a DKBA unit laid some mines resulting in the death of cattle.[42]

Both the KNLA and DKBA are known to issue prohibitions on travel to areas, and this is understood by villagers to mean that the area is mined. If a village is not allied with one of these armed groups, that group may not give them the warnings.[43]

There were reports in 2010 of use of antivehicle mines.[44] 

Mine militarization

The prevalence of mine use in some eastern zones of the country results in the spread of military weapons and thinking into the civil realm of society. This is reflected in increased reports of use of mines by ordinary citizens and village guard groups. The KHRG has reported increased use of antipersonnel mines by ordinary villagers, ostensibly to prevent the Tatmadaw’s entry into their villages. This practice is especially prevalent in the Kay Bpoo, Nah Yoh Htah, Saw Muh Bplaw, Ler Muh Bplaw, and Yeh Muh Bplaw village tracts of northern Lu Thaw township, Papun district. Villagers in this area have repeatedly stated their need and desire for more access to mines, according to the KHRG. Villagers state that the KNLA provides them with instructions for mine construction, as well as material for the mines, as well as some completed mines, but this is not enough for their needs. The KHRG attributes use of mines by villages in this particular area to the fact that they are surrounded on all sides by Tatmadaw military camps, and have no other areas to which they can flee. The KHRG notes that in other areas, villagers are more likely to see mine use by any party as a threat to their well-being.

One villager in Ler Muh Bplaw village tract, Lu Thaw township, informed the KHRG that the villagers use mines to farm near the front line, close to Tatmadaw camps. “If the SPDC soldiers step on a landmine when they come, they will go back after they were hit by the mine, or we can turn back [flee]. We do it for alertness.” When asked how many mines they had laid in that area the villagers replied “over a hundred.” Another villager, from the same village, stepped on a mine laid by the village guards. He stated that “I went back and farmed my hill field at the front line and stepped on a landmine. I was hit by our people’s landmine. Not an SPDC Army landmine. I can say that it was an SPDC landmine, because if there were no SPDC Army activities, there’d be no landmines and they wouldn’t hit anyone.”[45]

Non-state armed group production, transfer, and stockpiling

The KNLA, DKBA, Karenni Army, and the United Wa State Army have produced blast and fragmentation mines. Some also make Claymore-type directional fragmentation mines, mines with antihandling fuzes, and explosive booby-traps. Armed groups in Myanmar have also acquired mines by removing mines laid by others, seizing Tatmadaw stocks, and obtaining mines from the clandestine arms market. Although some former combatants have non-hostility pacts with the ruling authorities, they have not disarmed and some still possess antipersonnel mines.[46] In May 2010, the authorities announced that soldiers of the SSA had surrendered and turned in mines and other weapons to the authorities.[47]

Landmine Monitor Report 2009, for the first time, identified the presence of US-made M26 bounding antipersonnel mines in Myanmar, but could not identify the source or the user.[48] In 2010, a confidential source indicated that the KNLA had received many M26 mines from the Royal Thai Army in the past, before Thailand joined the Mine Ban Treaty.

The Union of Myanmar[1] has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

In November 2010, a government representative said that the legal affairs department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reviewing the convention.[2] Previously, in November 2009, a government official informed a regional conference on cluster munitions that while Myanmar has not yet joined the convention it nonetheless, “criticizes the use of such weapons with indiscriminate area effect and which can cause humanitarian consequences.”[3]

Myanmar attended one regional meeting of the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR in October 2008). Since 2008, Myanmar has shown an interest in the convention. It participated in a regional conference on cluster munitions in Bali, Indonesia in November 2009, where it made its first public statement on the issue.  Myanmar attended the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane, Lao PDR in November 2010 as an observer, but did not make any statement.

Myanmar is not party to the Mine Ban Treaty or the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

In November 2009 Myanmar stated, “We do not use cluster munitions, develop, produce, otherwise acquire, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, nor assist, encourage or induce anyone to engage in any activity prohibited under this Convention.”[4]

Contamination and Impact

Mines

Mines are believed to be concentrated on Myanmar’s borders with Bangladesh and Thailand, but are a particular threat in eastern parts of the country as a result of decades of post-independence struggles for autonomy by ethnic minorities. Some 33 townships in Chin, Kachin, Karen (Kayin), Karenni (Kayah), Mon, Rakhine, and Shan states, as well as in Pegu (Bago) and Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) divisions[1] suffer from some degree of mine contamination, primarily from antipersonnel mines. Karen (Kayin) state and Pegu (Bago) division are suspected to contain the heaviest mine contamination and have the highest number of recorded victims.

No estimate exists of the extent of contamination, but the Monitor identified suspected hazardous areas (SHAs) in the following townships: every township in Karenni (Kayah) state; every township in Karen (Kayin) state; Momauk township of Kachin state; Thanbyuzayat, Thaton, and Ye townships in Mon state; Kyaukkyi, Shwekyin, and Tantabin townships in Pegu (Bago) division; Maungdaw township in Rakhine state; Hsihseng, Langkho, Mongpan, Mawkmai, Namhsan and Tachileik townships in Shan state; and Bokpyin, Dawei, Tanintharyi, Thayetchaung and Yebyu townships of Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) division. The Monitor has subsequently identified previously unknown SHAs in townships on the Indian border of Chin state.[2]

Explosive remnants of war

Myanmar is also affected by explosive remnants of war (ERW), including mortars, grenades, artillery and ordnance used in World War II, but no information is available on the extent or location of such contamination.[3] There have been no reports of cluster munition remnants.

Mine Action Program

Despite a significant mine threat, Myanmar does not have a functioning national mine action program. In late 2009, the Protection working group of the UN mission in Myanmar, chaired by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), created a mines subgroup.[4] UNHCR initiated discussions with the government on the issue of mines, reportedly contacting the ministries of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Social Welfare, and the Ministry for the Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs.[5] The mine subgroup planned to focus on mine/ERW risk education (RE), identifying gaps in medical and rehabilitation support for survivors and exploring the feasibility of starting humanitarian mine clearance. As of 1 August 2011, the government had not agreed to the establishment of a national mine action program[6] and no meetings of the sub-working group had yet been convened.[7]

Mine clearance in 2010

Sporadic demining has been reported in recent years by the Tatmadaw, villagers, and ethnic minority organizations.

A child soldier in the Tatmadaw interviewed in 2010 said that all soldiers were trained to handle mines and that he witnessed an enemy mine being removed by a soldier in his unit in Mon State.[8]

In February 2010, the Free Burma Rangers (FBR)[9] reported undertaking mine clearance in villages near the border of Kyaukkyi and Hpapun townships, removing a small number of minimum-metal M14 antipersonnel mines on up to eight occasions each year.[10] The FBR include a course on mine identification and emergency clearance procedures for their relief teams. Mines encountered on their missions have either been removed by FBR personnel, who turn them over to anti-junta militia, or are removed by militia members.[11]

A Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) defector to the Karen National Union (KNU) who was interviewed by the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) in July 2010 reported that the DKBA had policy of paying a THB500 (US$16) reward for each mine cleared by its soldiers in order to give villagers access to hillside lands and to assist returns from Thailand.[12]

In late December 2010, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) sent a soldier to clear mines that had been laid by the Tatmadaw on 25 December. The soldier cleared four M-14 mines before being injured by a fifth mine.[13] Two Karenni Army soldiers were killed on 2 April 2011 when a mine they had removed detonated, also fatally wounding a member of the FBR.[14]

“Atrocity” or forced labor demining[15]

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Quintana, cited reports that “civilians are forced by the military to clear brush in suspected mined areas or to serve as porters for the military in areas where there is a mine hazard. According to sources, civilians have been ordered to remove mines without training or protective equipment or to repair fences of mined areas, which have caused serious casualties.”[16] After a visit in August 2010, he reported meeting a victim of forced labor mine clearance.[17]

In early 2010, a Tatmadaw child soldier interviewed by an independent source said he witnessed his unit seize villagers in 2010 and march them in front of the unit in case of mines.[18]

The FBR has reported the following incidents. On 10 December 2010, a patrol of the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 299 seized a family near Maw Tu village, Dooplaya District, consisting of two women and four children and forced them to walk in front of the patrol, both in case of attack and because of the risk of mines.[19] In March 2011, FBR reported that villagers were forced to drive their vehicles on the road from Hkler Lah to Bu Hsa Hkee ahead of an Army convoy to detonate any mines. The same day, 140 men and women from Klaw Mee Der area were forced to carry food along the road from Pa Leh Wah to Klaw Mee Der and act as human minesweepers by Infantry Battalion (IB) 102. Previously, on 11 Feb 2011, five men from Play Hsa Lo were forced to carry loads and act as minesweepers between Play Hsa Lo and Tha Pyin Nuint by IB 102.[20]

The KHRG said it had received reports of the following incidents in 2010:

·         A convict was injured by a mine while forced to porter for the Tatmadaw in January 2010.[21]

·         A villager from Ma Lay Ler village tract, Dweh Loh Township, Papun District, was forced to clear mines in January 2010 by the commander of IB 96 after the unit suffered mine injuries.[22]

·         A villager from Lu Thaw township forced to work as a porter for the Tatmadaw stepped on a mine as he escaped on 9 January. He said he was told by the military that they were afraid to use vehicles on the road because of mines so they used humans.[23]

·         In February 2010, a convict porter with Tatmadaw LIBs 707 and 708 stated that he was forced by the military to clear mines without tools or walk in front of the military column in suspected mined areas near Papun.[24]

·         Villagers from five villages in Meh Gklaw village tract, Bu Tho Township, Papun District, claimed that in March 2010 they were required by Tatmadaw Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 340 to clear brush from a track that had been regularly mined by the KNLA, DKBA and Tatmadaw.[25]

·         Former prisoners who escaped from being used as porters by the Tatmadaw IB 212 in January 2011 stated that they were forced to look for mines ahead of military columns using a stick with prongs that looked like a pitchfork. They stated that all porters in their column were required to do this work.[26]

In January 2011, the KNU published the testimony of convict porter Aye Min who said he had witnessed three porters step on mines prior to his escape. He said the convicts were used as porters by Battalion 208 under command of LIB 22.[27] In May 2011, the KNU stated that in the first four months of 2011, 1,220 villagers from five districts of Karen state had been seized for use as human mine sweepers or human shields.[28]

A Buddhist Karen resident of Poe Thweki village in southeast Hpapun township said he was forced by the commander of DKBA units 666 and 999 to lay mines in the frontline with the DKBA soldiers for an unspecified period until he escaped in May 2009.[29]

Other Risk Reduction Measures

RE is inadequate and often non-existent in areas with reported casualties. Very limited activities are carried out in Karen (Kayin) state by the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People, in Karenni (Kayah) state by the Karenni Social Welfare and Development Centre, in Shan state by the Lahu Development Union, and in Chin State by the Chin Peoples Action Committee. Throughout 2010 these groups reportedly made presentations in 130 communities reaching about 6400 people. There are no government-run RE activities, although in 2009 it was reported that “beware mines” signs had been placed by authorities in some parts of the country.[30]

Casualties[1]

Casualties Overview

In 2010, there were at least 274 new mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties in Myanmar, based on state and independent media reports and information provided by NGOs and other organizations. Of the 2010 total, 154 casualties were civilians and 21 were military. The civil status for 99 other casualties is not known. At least 10 casualties were children (nine boys; one girl) and 15 casualties were adult women.[2] As in the past, the data contained insufficient details to distinguish trends.

Most mines causing casualties were recorded as antipersonnel mines. However it has been reported by local risk education providers that most mines laid by the state military are factory made, while most mines laid by some non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are victim-activated improvised explosive devices (IEDs). People involved in mine and IED incidents are often not able to distinguish between these types of victim-activated explosive items and the type is not recorded.[3]

Past reporting by the Monitor has indicated that there are a significant number of military casualties recorded, but that such records are not generally available to the public.[4] In January 2011, a child soldier with the Tat Ma Daw (Myanmar Army) Light Infantry Battalion 202, interviewed by the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), reported that over 200 soldiers were killed by mines and firearms during local fighting north of Myawaddy in November–December 2010.[5]

The 2010 total represented a similar number of casualties to the 262 which were identified for 2009 through similar reporting sources.[6] However, due to the lack of systematic data collection and varying sources of annual data, reporting does not reflect the full extent of mine/ERW incidents and casualties in the country. The actual number of casualties is known to be much higher. The US Department of State reported that there were up to 600 mine casualties (100 killed; 500 injured) in Myanmar during 2010.[7] This estimate is closer to the 721 mine/ERW casualties reported by the Monitor for Myanmar in 2008 (89 killed; 632 injured), when data on military casualties was available.[8]

The total number of casualties in Myanmar is unknown. The Monitor has identified 2,861 (219 killed; 2,445 injured; 197 unknown) casualties between 1999 and the end of 2010.

At least two elephants were injured by mines during 2010 and through to September 2011. Elephants injured by mines that were transported to the Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation in Thailand received care at its hospital. The elephant hospital reported receiving 14 elephants injured by mines since 1997, however many more are believed to have died in the forest or were not transported to the hospital for treatment by their owners. Most elephants injured by mines are those used in the illegal cross-border timber trade.[9]

Victim Assistance

The total number of mine/ERW survivors in Myanmar is unknown, but at least 2,445 survivors have been identified since 1999.[10]

Assessing victim assistance needs

No assessment of survivor needs has been carried out in Myanmar. The Ministry of Health does not record injuries due to mines/ERW separate from other traumatic injuries.[11]

Victim assistance coordination

Myanmar does not have a victim assistance program or strategy. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is responsible for disability issues and facilitates some socio-economic and rehabilitation services.[12] No inclusion of survivors in planning victim assistance activities was reported in 2010.

Service accessibility and effectiveness

Assistance to mine/ERW survivors and persons with disabilities in Myanmar continued to be marginal due to many years of neglect of healthcare services by the ruling authorities. However physical rehabilitation, orthopedic surgery, and prosthetics were available to some mine/ERW survivors through rehabilitation centers in 2010, both within Myanmar and in Thailand near the border.[13]

Victim assistance activities in 2010[14]

No changes to the quality of services provided by the government were reported.

The New Light of Myanmar published an increasing number of reports of mine casualties within the country in 2010. Some reports mention assistance to new mine/ERW casualties and in some cases their hospitalization, although details of the types of assistance provided were not mentioned.[15] In 2010, continued government restrictions imposed on the ICRC prevented it from carrying out assistance activities for civilians in violence-affected areas along the Myanmar-Thailand border.[16] UNHCR provided MMK100,000 (US$100 at the street exchange rate) one-time financial assistance to mine victims and other conflict-related amputees and families of survivors from February until October 2010. The program was under review in early 2011 and scheduled to recommence during the year.[17] The number of patients coming to access services at the Hpa-an Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center, located in Myanmar’s most mine-affected area, decreased for the second year in a row. In 2010, the center’s prosthetic output for mine/ERW survivors decreased by almost 20% from 2009.[18] The Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People (CIDKP) increased production of prosthetic limbs from its Kho Kay Prosthetic clinic, located in Karen state.[19]

The government did not provide social protection for private sector workers who became disabled. However veterans with disabilities received benefits on a priority basis and non-military persons with permanent disabilities were also entitled to a benefit payment. There was little state funding for services to assist persons with disabilities. Myanmar had no laws to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities.[20]

As of 1 October 2011, Myanmar had not signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Services in Thailand

In Thailand, assistance to mine/ERW survivors from Myanmar was primarily provided at clinics in refugee camps and public district hospitals in the border provinces with Myanmar. Most services continued at similar levels to the previous year. However, fewer conflict-injured patients, including mine/ERW survivors from Myanmar, received treatment at Thai hospitals with ICRC support than in 2009.

Victim assistance activities on Thai-Myanmar Border and in Thailand for Myanmar nationals in 2010[21]

In 2010, Norway was Myanmar/Burma’s sole international mine action donor, contributing US$36,393 towards advocacy activities carried out by the NGO Geneva Call. In previous years Spain and Denmark made contributions towards risk education and victim assistance activities.

Summary of contributions: 2006–2010[1]

N/R= Not reported