A 17 year old class 9 student in Arakan state, western Burma, was forcibly recruited by the Burmese army to serve as a soldier, said a member of HRDP (Rakhine) quoted his parents.
The student was identified as Maung Kyaw Win Hlaig, alias, Ko Ko Naing, son of U Maung Maung Than and Daw Thet Yin, from Myo Thit ward in Kyauk Taw, located on the upper Kaladan River.
He said, “The birthdate of Maung Kyaw Hlaing is 2/3/1996 according to his national ID card. The ID card number is No 11/ KataNa (naing) 134074. He has not reached the age to serve in army as he is under 18.”
Maung Kyaw Hlaing was studying at class 9 in Myoma’s affiliated high school in Kyauk Taw in the 2012-13 educational year.
“He is now in the Army Engineer battalion in Kyauk Taw. His parents opposed the Burmese armies recruitment of their son. But the army still keeps him in the battalion,” the HRDP man said.
It was learnt that the Burmese army authority discharged many child soldiers from the army and handed them over their parents. However, on other hand, many army battalions based in rural areas still recruit children.
