Child Soldiers in Burma

October 30, 2007 10:15 PM

Sold to Be Soldiers: The Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers in Burma.

“I can’t remember how old I was the first time in fighting. About 13. That time we walked into a Karenni 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!’”
—Aung Zaw, describing his first exposure to combat

posted by homunculus (6 comments total)

Urge to kill... rising...
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:57 PM on October 30, 2007

Israeli military aid to Burmese regime.
posted by adamvasco at 12:08 AM on October 31, 2007

Monks return to Streets of Burma.
posted by adamvasco at 1:56 AM on October 31, 2007

At my niece's high school graduation a few years back, one kid was accompanied by his recruiter in uniform. The kid had a broken arm, the recruiter was on his cell phone: "Look, we already talked about this. The cast is coming off in three weeks, I've already cleared this." I wonder if that kid is still alive.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:45 AM on October 31, 2007

I really don't think "recruitment" is the right word in the FPP. It implies...a choice in the matter.

(not that there's much of a choice once US recruiters get their hooks in you, either...)
posted by notsnot at 5:56 AM on October 31, 2007

You're right. These kids are basically being forced into slavery.
posted by homunculus at 2:59 PM on October 31, 2007