Ban Calls for Release of Child Soldiers in Burma

Observing that there is credible evidence of recruitment of children in some units of the armed forces and other ethnic armed groups in Burma, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on the Burmese military government to cease the arrest of children, immediately release child soldiers and allow access to an independent international organization to monitor such cases.

The 19-page report of the UN secretary-general was discussed and deliberated in detail by the Security Council’s Working Group on Children and Armed Conflicts. Though details of the deliberations—held behind closed doors—were not immediately available, it is understood that several countries, led by the United States, Britain and France, have called for stricter action, including an arms embargo against the Burmese junta, while a few countries, led by China, are expected to oppose any such move.

On the eve of the discussion, the non-profit organization, Human Rights Watch, on Wednesday urged the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Burma in response to the Burmese military government’s continuing recruitment of children for its national army.

The secretary-general said there were extensive reports of children sighted in uniform, sometimes armed, riding in trucks, and marching and participating in military trainings or parades, which corroborate individual reports and point to a worrisome trend. These reports implicate the Tatmadaw (Burma's armed forces) and a number of non-state armed groups, he said.

In a report that covers the period from July 2005 to September 2007, the Secretary-General said that while the Burmese junta has shown increasing interest in addressing underage recruitment and has engaged the UN on the issue, information from credible sources indicate a pattern of “pre-recruitment” in which children from vulnerable families are taken to Tatmadaw bases.

“They are not officially recruited, do not receive identification numbers and are used in non-combatant capacities. Once they attain the age of majority (18 years old), they are subsequently enlisted,” Ban said.

Expressing grave concern over reliable reports of a number of incarcerated children or minors who have been convicted of desertion and sentenced to prison terms of up to five years, the report urged the junta to immediately release all children being used by the armed forces or armed groups; to launch an intensified public awareness campaign; and to allow access to all areas where recruitment is alleged.

Ban also tackled the issue of landmines in his report, stating: “The government of Myanmar [Burma] should develop a de-mining programme and a broad mine-risk education initiative in mine-affected areas.” He also urged the military authorities to allow international and humanitarian organizations access for delivery of humanitarian services to all affected areas and to accept the proposal of the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations for an inter-agency humanitarian needs assessment.

Ban urged Burma to accede at the earliest opportunity to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (2000)—which centers on the involvement of children in armed conflict—and to adjust national legislation accordingly.

While calling for continued co-operation with the International Labour Organization, the Secretary-General recommended that the Burmese junta nominate a military officer as focal point for day-to-day interaction on the implementation of an agreed action plan with UNICEF, the United Nations country team and child protection agency.

“The government of Myanmar should continue to take disciplinary action against the persons or groups responsible for aiding and abetting the recruitment of children—including the ‘pre-recruitment’ and use of children for work on military bases—and is urged to systematize and institutionalize this disciplinary process. To this end, the disciplinary process should be open and transparent, allowing for independent verification by the monitoring and reporting mechanism,” he said.