Ten of the 42 child soldiers released by the tatmadaw – the Myanmar army – on Monday had reported their circumstances to the International Labor Organization (ILO).
“Ten of them were identified through their report to us,” said Stephen Marshall, chief communication officer for the ILO.“What citizens
should know is that they have a legal right to sue for recruiting underage children as soldiers.”
The latest freeing of child soldiers is the third release made by the army since Myanmar began its democratic reform process three years ago. In September 2012, 42 underage soldiers were released and in February of this year a further 24 children were released.
Following the February release, military leaders told the media that there were “almost no” child soldiers left in the army. However, according to Marshall there are still child soldiers within the military.
“There have always been reports about these child soldiers,” said Marshall. “We have investigated and acknowledged that the child soldiers were running away from the front line camps,” he told Mizzima.
The exact number of child soldiers within the military is unknown and it is not possible to get into the military army to make inquiries, said Marshall.
On April 28, 2012, the Myanmar government and the ILO signed an agreement for a 3-year project to eliminate the use of child soldiers and child labor in Myanmar.
“We can see that the government is trying their best to implement this plan,” said Marshall.“Public participation is also essential,” he added.
If the government is unable to implement the project within the operation period, it will have to reconsider its objectives at the next annual ILO conference in June 2014.
