[child-rights] Burma's Denial of child soldier use "Not Credible"

(New York, October 18, 2002) The Burmese government's claim that it
does not use child soldiers is contradicted by the evidence, Human
Rights Watch said today. Burma has claimed a recent Human Rights
Watch report is "just another example of attempts to tarnish the
image of Myanmar and the Myanmar Tatmadaw (military) in the eyes of
the international community."

"We're very disappointed that, despite ample evidence to the
contrary, the government continues to deny the military's use of
children as soldiers," said Jo Becker, Children's Rights advocacy
director for Human Rights Watch. "It is the widespread forced
recruitment of children by Burma's army that tarnishes the image of
the country, not efforts to bring these abuses to light."

On October 16, Human Rights Watch released a report based on numerous
first-hand testimonies of children who had been forcibly recruited by
Burma's military. The report found that boys as young as 11 are
forced into the army, brutally treated, and forced to commit human
rights abuses and fight against armed opposition groups. Although the
vast majority of Burma's child soldiers are in government armed
forces, armed opposition groups were found to include children as
well.

The government claimed on Thursday that the military is purely
voluntary and that national laws setting the enlistment age at 18 are
"strictly enforced."

"Burma's denial of the use of child soldiers is not credible," said
Becker. "We urge the government to take positive steps to confront
the problem. These include demobilizing all children from its forces
and putting effective systems in place to ensure that children are
not recruited and that those responsible are held accountable."

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation
in Myanmar, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, is currently in Burma for his
fourth visit to the country.

Human Rights Watch has urged him to raise the recruitment and use of
children as soldiers with the government of Burma and to report on
this issue to the United Nations General Assembly.

Human Rights Watch Press Release