by Than Htaik Oo
Thursday, 31 January 2008 00:00
Chiang Mai: The 'Human Rights Education Institute of Burma' (HREIB) today said that it was not true there were no child soldiers in Burma as claimed by the military regime.
Today's issue of the state-run 'New Light of Myanmar' says, "expatriates national traitors with negative views in collusion with some foreign media are making groundless accusations that there are child soldiers in Myanmar Tatmadaw (armed forces) with the intention of attacking the nation" and "Tatmadaw systematically recruits in accordance with the laws, rules, orders and directives". But Thai based HREIB said it was not true.
"We are still receiving news of recruiting minors. We got the news recently saying that a Sergeant came and bought children at Kemmendine fish market and took them to the recruiting camp. If they dare do such recruiting in downtown Rangoon, you can imagine how much worse it is in other areas. There are many child soldiers still serving in the army", Director of HREIB Aung Myo Min said.
The state-run newspaper also said that the officials concerned were instructed to continue to take measures in line with the law and to enforce the subordinate organizations to abide by the law, rules and regulations promulgated in the interests of the children.
They are still denying it. Talking alone is not enough to do away with child soldiers in the armed forces," U Aung Myo Min added.
But according to the 'Human Rights Watch' report issued in November 2007, there are over 60,000 child soldiers in Burmese armed forces.
"This figure maybe correct and valid according to the statements of child soldier deserters who fled to the border and complaints lodged by the guardians and parents in this regard," Aung Myo Min said.
The local authorities of Putao, Kachin State forcibly took away over 120 Lisu ethnic race teenage high school students to the basic military training depot and about 10 of them escaped from the recruiting unit, Ko Leonard, Vice-Chairman of 'All Kachin Students and Youth Union' (AKSYU) said citing the local residents.
"The officials forcibly took away over 120 teenaged Lisu, Rawan ethnic tribes in October from Putao to the recruitment centre for basic military training. They were taken to Rangoon and 10 of them refusing forcefully to be enlisted in the army, were then sent back to their homes. The rest of them, 108 children, are still serving in No. 46 Infantry Battalion (IB 46)," he said.
Aung Myo Min said that the regime is weak in stopping the use of force in recruiting minors and it is important to take action at an earliest time against the complaints lodged.
"If they really wish to stop the use of force in recruiting minors, they must look into all the complaints lodged with them and sent them back to their respective parents. And also there should be a mechanism for lodging complaints and start public awareness in this regard. They also should establish rehabilitation centres for the child soldier deserters where they could be nurtured back into their child life. Only in this way, the child soldier issue can be eradicated and tackled.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
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