Residents of Loikaw Township in Karenni (Kayah) State say the military regime is concealing information about civilians injured by landmines, increasing fear and insecurity among those who have recently returned to the town.

In the last week of October, a 12-year-old child was reportedly injured when a landmine exploded inside the compound of a home in Mine Lone Ward, Loikaw. Locals allege that junta authorities attempted to suppress information about the incident.

“The child was playing in the yard when the mine exploded. The child is now being treated at the hospital. At that time, [the military] tried to prevent the news from spreading,” said a woman living in Loikaw.

“We have paid soldiers to clear the mines. They claim it was a leftover mine. Even staying here feels unsafe. We live in fear, wondering where the next mine might be.”

In July, the military began allowing internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return to their homes in Loikaw, collecting 100,000 Kyats per household for so-called mine clearance. However, residents say troops cleared only the inside of house compounds, leaving public areas, streets, and nearby fields unchecked.

Meanwhile, after Loikaw University’s Distance Education program reopened, the junta reportedly ordered students—who had been studying in Taunggyi due to conflict—to return to Loikaw to sit for their exams.

“Now that the election is approaching, they probably want to show that Loikaw is peaceful,” said a 30-year-old male resident. “We heard that only a few students are returning for exams. But since it’s under military control, people do as they’re told—they’re afraid of being arrested.”

Residents also report a steep rise in the price of basic goods. An egg now costs 500 Kyats, while a sack of low-grade rice sells for 70,000 to 100,000 Kyats. A pack of condensed milk that previously cost 50 Kyats now costs up to 400 Kyats.

The recent landmine explosion is not the first incident. On December 12, 2024, a man collecting belongings in Daw U Ku Ward was killed after stepping on a mine.

Loikaw has been a major conflict zone since November 2023, when junta forces and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) launched “Operation 11.11,” during which Karenni revolutionary forces briefly controlled the town. The junta recaptured Loikaw in early June 2024 and has since established multiple checkpoints and tightened security throughout the area, residents said.