Child Soldiers in Burma

By Joseph Gloria

Where is Burma?

Southeast Asia

Reasons for Child SoldiersUnder control of military regimeLow Economic StatusWar Vets promote joining the war

State Law and Order Restoration Council

(SLORC)

Recruitment of Soldiers Prior to 1988

Volunteers onlyAge 18+Very Difficult to get into

After 1988(Rise of SLORC)Lottery processKidnappingAnyone was practically allowed

Duties of a Child Soldier Menial Work

Cooking, Cleaning, Doing paper work, ect. Physical Training and Conditioning Specific Jobs for Children

Act as spies, gather intel Dangerous jobs

Setting up mines,bodyguards, raiding villages

Living ConditionsGiven no respect from adults

Physically/mentally abusedMoney earned from working was taken away

Lack of careWeak medical care

Harsh treatment lead to…SuicideKilling your officer

Introduced to Drugs/Alcohol

Lost of ValuesWar changes the kids

They show no respect to eldersUse profanityAbuse drugs

Solving the ProblemBurmese Government signed the Joint

Action Plan, promises to release over 5,000 child soldiers (July 2012)

July 2013, released 68 children, totaling up to 178 children released.

SourcesExplaining Child Soldiering in

Contemporary Burma by Ruth Constantine

No Childhood At All by Images Asia

My Gun Was as Tall as Me by Human Rights Watch

Pictures by Google Images (https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&ei=V_iDUomgKKnkigK6o4C4Bw&ved=0CAQQqi4oAg)