Despite international pressure on the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to stop recruiting and using child soldiers, the SPDC has been continuously violating child rights to recruit or use child soldiers in the Burmese Army, according to a report from the Sino-Burma border.

On August 14, a group of soldiers from a battalion based in Myothit, abducted an orphan, Mg Pauk Chate (14) from Ngat Pyaw Daw village, Bhamo township, Kachin State, according to a local villager close to the victim.

"Pauk Chate disappeared on the day soldiers arrived at the village. We were told by a villager that he was called by a soldier and went with him," the source said.

There are three Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) No. 438, No. 437 and 320 based in Myothit-Momauk.

"We don't know exactly which LIB the soldiers were from. If they were from Makhoy, it may only be LIB No.  437," said the villager.

On the following day, Ko Yae Wine, a brother of Pauk Chate and some local head villagers went to the Makhoy battalion command post to appeal for the boy's release, but they were denied a meeting with authorities and Pauk Chate.

However, a soldier from Makhoy confirmed that Pauk Chate was at the barracks at that time, said the source.

On September 2007, the SPDC said in a letter sent to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) that they have formed a Committee for the Prevention of Recruiting Child Soldiers and preventing forced recruitment of under-age children as soldiers and ensuring adherence to orders and instructions issued for the protection of under-age children.

Nevertheless, the HRW's world report and Child Soldiers Global Report 2008 by the Southeast Asia Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (SEACSUCS) found that not only the Burmese Army but also several ethnic armed groups are still recruiting and using child soldiers in their armies.