A committee representing three ethnic Karen armed groups has nearly finished clearing landmines from a former conflict area in Karen State, Mizzima reports. The United Committee of Karen Armed Groups, which brings together the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), the Karen Border Guard Force (Karen BGF) and the Karen National Union, said it had cleared landmines in regions controlled by the DKBA’s Battalion 906 and around the villages of Wadu, Watamaw, Wathawkho, Meezai and Kawhe in territory controlled by the Karen BGF’s Battalion 1014. More than 50 landmine shave been cleared so far, the report said, while others have been clearly demarcated to protect civilians.