‘Those who attempt to escape are beaten, forcibly re-recruited or imprisoned,’ the report claims
By Thomas Bell
The Burmese army has been accused of kidnapping thousands of children as young as 10 years old to meet a recruitment shortfall.
Human Rights Watch has claimed that children are picked up at train and bus stations and markets and told they will be arrested if they refuse to join the army. Some children are beaten until they agree to “volunteer”.
The Burmese army continues to expand even as it faces high rates of desertion. Analysts believe recruitment may become even harder since troops were ordered to fire on revered Buddhist monks in September.
“The brutality of Burma’s military government goes beyond its violent crackdown on peaceful protesters,” said Jo Becker of Human Rights Watch.
“Military recruiters are literally buying and selling children to fill the ranks of the Burmese armed forces.”
The army is constantly engaged in campaigns against up to 30 ethnic rebel armies. According to a recent study, over half a million people are currently displaced after troops burnt villages and terrorised civilians.
Often the army establishes businesses such as gold mines or hydroelectric dams in the depopulated areas.
Aung Zaw, a former child soldier, said: “I can’t remember how old I was the first time fighting. About 13. We walked into an ambush, and four of our soldiers died.
“I was afraid because I was very young so I tried to run back, but the captain shouted, ‘Don’t run back! If you run back I’ll shoot you myself’.”
According to the report, “child soldiers are sometimes forced to participate in human rights abuses, such as burning villages and using civilians for forced labour. Those who attempt to escape are beaten, forcibly re-recruited or imprisoned”.
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Related
Fascinating video about “God’s Army”, a faction of child soldiers of the Karen resistance who surrendered in 2001
3 responses so far ↓
ALI KHAN // June 6, 2008 at 2:25 pm
PLEASE SOME COUNTRY HELP THOSE PEOPLE FROM THAT ARMY…..
pjwalker911 // June 7, 2008 at 12:41 am
The people of Burma are the only ones who can fight for their own freedom. No one else can do that for them. If some other countries or the UN comes in, then the people will be subject to those dictators, because no one can grant your freedom. Only you can claim your freedom.
Same in any country my friend. But people worldwide have become sheep, willingly submitting to dictatorship. They do not have either the common sense or the guts to throw off dictatorship.
abubadaf // June 14, 2008 at 8:44 am
yeah thats true the freedom that you wanna have lays in your bare hands not with others
basically if there is sum1 else to do it for you he
will be your dictator afterward…
so indeed no freedom et all