The Burmese army has been easily recruiting soldiers in cyclone-affected areas of Arakan as many families in the area are struggling for the daily survival after Cyclone Giri ravaged the region. Many underage youths have also been recruited into the Burmese army, said local people and relief workers.
A relief worker said, "The worst area for recruitment of child soldiers is Mray Bon Township. Many families in the area are facing hardships getting daily food after the cyclone. Because of this, the Burmese army is very easily able to recruit child soldiers in the area."
On 16 December, 2010, 17-year-old Khin Maung Zaw, son of U Hla Maung from Yet Chaung Village in Kha Yu Chaung Village Tract in Mray Bon Township, was recruited into the Burmese army. Khin Maung Zaw's family disagreed with the recruitment, but were unable to stop it. Khin Maung Zaw was later sent to the No. 9 western command training school.
16-year-old Min Naing, son of U Wai Kyan Aung from Awar Kyaunt Su Village in Mray Bon Township, was also recruited by the Burmese army despite his family's opposition because he has not become a novitiate in accordance with tradition. Another 16-year-old youth from the monastery school in Wa Khoke Chaung Village in Mray Bon was also recently recruited by the Burmese army. 16-year-old Maung Soe Soe Ko, son of U Kyaw Thein Chay from Pa Thone Village in Mray Bon Township was recruited by Sergeant Soe Hla and brought to Ann to attend training.
"We heard that the Burmese army recruited around 30 soldiers, mostly children, in the area recently and they were brought to the No. 9 training school for basic training. But some sources told me that the child soldiers were brought to the western command headquarters in Ann Town from the No. 9 training school in Mray Bon in army vehicles," the relief worker said.
The army recruiting team is led by Captain Aung Thu Nyein from Sakhaka 5, the Military Operation Planning Bureau, and the team is now roaming the cyclone affected area village by village to recruit soldiers.
Many youths in the area are now joining with the Burmese army after the youths have faced many difficulties with their daily survival after Cyclone Giri, said a monk from the area, who added, "The army authority is taking the opportunity to recruit soldiers in our area. The soldiers in our village have been luring youths to join the Burmese army by shooting guns into the air."
Many middle and high school level students in Giri-affected areas had to drop out of school due to the crisis their families' were facing after the cyclone. The army authority has used the opportunity to recruit them into the Burmese army.
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