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Military MPs propose removal of landmines in Myanmar

Xinhua, September 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Parliament members of the military in Myanmar have proposed to designate southeastern Kayin state as a pilot area for removing landmines, according to local media sources.

Principally agreeing to the proposal at a meeting of the Joint Cease fire Monitoring Committee (JMC) in Yangon's National Reconciliation and Peace Center , representatives of ethnic organizations offered to work with the military toward the complete removal of landmines.

According to Secretary of the JMC Col Wunna Aung, with technical assistance from abroad, the military and signatories to the Nationwide Cease fire Accord (NCA) will now carry out the removal of landmines together at a time when trust between the two sides has reached the highest point in almost six decades.

An agreement was also reached at the meeting to open up to six offices in ceasefire areas, the report said.

According to official statistics, a total of 101 people have lost their lives due to landmine injury in 18 months since 2015.

The majority of landmine fatalities are located in Kachin state with 74, followed by Shan and Chin states with 14 and 11.

Myanmar's previous government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15 initiated the NCA in Nay Pyi Taw on Oct. 15, 2015. Enditem