Image: Source Unknown
Child Soldiers of Burma
The Past
The Present
The Future
We need to understand the past of Burma ‌
‌ to understand Burma today.
The Past
The Present
The Future
Image: University of Oxford
Burma or Myanmar?
Image: J Motlagh 2012
Image: JG Knight 2012
Image: J Motlagh 2012
The Past
The Present
The Future
14 states make the Union of Burma Map: International Bar Association
The Past
The Present
The Future
KACHIN SHAN CHIN
7 states have active ethnic rebel armies
KAYAH
KAYIN
RAKHINE Map: International Bar Association
MON
The Past
CHIN KAYAH MON SHAN
The Present
The Future
KACHIN KAYIN RAKHINE
11 9 3
2 1 1
Main Armed Rebel Groups
The Past
The Present
The Future
Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA)
Kachin Independenct Army (KIA)
Karen National Liberation Army (KNU / KNLA)
Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council
Kareni Army (KNPP / KA)
Shan State Army South (SSA-S)
United Wa State Army (UWSA)
UN : 7 Recognised Groups in 2014
The Past
The Present
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Image: Reuters
Aged 12!
Child Soldiers in the KIA. Image: Reuters
The Past
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The Future
How many child soldiers are there?
70,000 20% of the Tatmadaw.
The Past
The Present
The Future
How many have been released?
472 < 1% of child soldiers.
The Past
The Present
The Future
What price a child?
10,000 kyat +
â&#x20AC;Ś is what it costs to buy a child soldier.
The Past
The Present
The Future
AU $15.00
MR 40.00 US $10.00
The Past
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The Future
What drives the recruitment â&#x20AC;Ś
1
Extreme Poverty
2 3
Self Interest & Self Preservation
Lack of Reliable Systems
Of child soldiers?
The Past
The Present
The Future
Extreme Image: Aung Thet Wine, The Irrawaddy
Image: Steve Tickner, The Irrawaddy
Image: Maxim Malkov
Poverty
The Past
The Present
Kindergarten:
The Future
2,000 kyat / day
Education is prohibitively expensive! Labourer earns: 100-300 kyat / day Army private earns: 4,500 / month
School:
15,000-20,000 kyat / month
The Past
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The Future
Self Preservation
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Men are moved by two levers only : fear & self interest.â&#x20AC;?
Self Interest
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Self Interest Recruitment = Early Discharge Recruitment = Avoiding Punishment Recruitment = Family Income
Self Preservation
The Past
The Present
The Future
Lack of Reliable Systems
No Birth, Death & Marriage Registration Martial Law in place of Rule of Law
Makes child soldiers possible
The Past
The Present
The Future
Recent Developments Photograph:U Aung/Xinhua Press/Corbis
31 March 2015
Draft Ceasefire
The Past
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The Future
Rebel Groups…
…Recognised by Burma
The Past
The Present
The Future
Burma is coming out of the cold â&#x20AC;Ś
The Past
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The Future
International Assistance â&#x20AC;Ś not Condemnation RELIABLE RECORDS SYSTEMS Burmese infrastructure needs modernisation: computerisation has bypassed Burma. Burma needs technology in administration & government. Building reliable records managements systems & databases using technology.
Changing Systems & Behaviour
The Past
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International Assistance â&#x20AC;Ś not Condemnation MODERNISING THE MILITARY Modernising military systems of justice : no more corporal punishment Identifying & Punishing Traffickers & Kidnappers Rewarding People & Military Officers for identifying child soldiers for demob
Changing Systems & Behaviour
The Past
The Present
What can you Do?
The Future
The Past
The Present
The Future
Useful links & Resources … NEWSPAPERS The Irrawaddy
WEBSITES www.mmpeacemonitor.org www.child-soldiers.org www.hrw.org
REPORTS “My Gun Was As Tall As Me”: Child Soldiers in Burma (HRW, 2002) Burma: Failing to Demobilise Child Soldiers (HRW, 2013)
The End.