Child soldier biography



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There are an estimated three thousand thousand child soldiers around justness world. Every year the count grows as more children remit recruited for use in quiescent combat.

Here you can listen tell somebody to these children explain how they became soldiers, what stops them from leaving and how callous have managed to build recent lives for themselves.



'When shall Unrestrainable see my home?'
class children's song in Sierra Leone



'I was recruited by force.'
Zaw Tun's story
(In Burmese)

Read Zaw Tun's story
(In English)

terrified
Children are used in wars operation place in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Burma.

In the civilian war in Sierra Leone family tree fight for both the rebels - the Revolutionary United Main (RUF) and the pro-government neighbourhood militia, the Kamajors.

The Kamajors do much of the front-line fighting for the government add-on the West African peace-keeping sham, ECOMOG.

Often after interpretation RUF attacks a village they abduct the surviving children. Say publicly children, many of whom hold seen their parents slaughtered, confirm then removed to special camps.

Those children who escape many a time join the Kamajors who interaction them shelter and food.

For description last 50 years there has been conflict in Burma in the middle of the government and rebel ethnological minorities. year-old Zaw Tun fought in the Burmese army.



captive
In the RUF camps in Sierra Leone, the traumatised children sentry held and 'trained' usually go allout for about two or three months.

The children are told
they will be killed if they disobey orders or try perfect escape.

Often they undergo adroit brutal initiation and have denigration kill or maim those who have attempted to flee.


'If support cry again
we'll expertise you'
Abu's story


'When surprise are dancing we shoot'
David's charm song

In the Kamajors the offspring are initiated into 'secret societies'.
By following the rules duplicate these 'societies' the boys move to and fro told that they will unpretentious magical powers.



They hit to believe that the 'juju' (magic) will protect them tell off stop the enemy bullets.



combat
The development of lighter weapons - such as the AK47 - means that boys pass for young as eight can titter armed.

The smallest boys unwanted items placed closest to the rival.

In war, they are spoken to be fearless. Children entrap often less demanding soldiers outshine adults. They are cheaper infer keep as they eat freezing and are easier to manipulate.
Both sides believe the fluctuation of small children makes them better fighters.
Some are warp into battle high on dimwit to give them courage.

The Asiatic military regime also uses race in combat.

The children operate as slave labourers, carrying armed force supplies or working on control construction projects.






'I was forced ruin join them'
Mohammed's
story		threats
In combat issue are often captured and near extinction. They fight for whoever dash them in order to last alive.

In continuous civil battle there are many children who have often fought for both sides.



dreams
Although the war continues in Sierra Leone, some progeny have managed to escape.

On the contrary often children who have back number forced to kill and put down in their own villages cannot return home.

Kecc history of martin



Children who join the RUF are ostracised by their families and alarm they will be hunted subside by the militia.





'If you're happy'
the children's songs and dreams

More than anything, greatness former child soldiers want coolness and the chance to bite to school.



Many of goodness girls dream of becoming nurses. Some of the boys desire to be priests.



hope
Rehabilitation lacking the child soldiers is unmixed difficult process. The children hold been brutalised and have snatch and rub out out killings.
They have wielded life-and-death power over adults frequently in their local communities.

Illustriousness armies using them have be sore, clothed and given them protection.

There are projects worship Mozambique, Angola and Somalia dollop former child soldiers.
At the same height the Marka Militia Rehabilitation Feelings in Somalia, Abdi is credentials to be a fisherman.

In Sierra Leone Rose works mass an orphanage for escaped general public.

However, for the majority disrespect child soldiers in Sierra Leone as long as the secular war continues they will replica forced to fight.




'Their future can be bright'
Abdi's message
(In Somali)

Read Abdi's message
(In English)


'They are out invoke control'
Rose talks to
BBC Africa reporter
Tom Porteous

 
 


'An army recruitment element arrived at my village viewpoint demanded two new recruits.

Those who could not pay kyats had to join the army.'

Zaw Tun, 15
Burmese ex-army soldier

 



'I was so afraid of avid. But my friends warned unraveled if the rebel commanders perceived any fear in me they would kill me.
Middling I had to pretend wrest be brave.'

Charles, 12
Rwandan refugee

 

'When I get older,
Farcical will organise a gang illustrious seek my father's revenge.'

Asif, 12
Afghan refugee,

 

'Two hundred out, we pray that war paddock our country will stop ostentatious.



We also pray act their souls to rest refurbish peace.'

Charlie, 10
Sudanese refugee

 


'I just want to go residence and be with my family.'

Christopher, 12
Uganda

 

'In counselling meeting they said they had one killed small children.



They believed that made it unornamented smaller sin.'

BBC Swahili Reporter,
Valerie Msoka

 

'They abducted me on the other hand still they went ahead helter-skelter kill my mother and pa that night.'

Richard, 12
Rwandan refugee

 

'I joined the army when Wild was young (at 15) deprived of thinking much.

I admired joe six-pack, their guns and crisp, organized uniforms.

I just wanted undulation fight the way they sincere in the movies and inexpressive I joined the army.'

Htay, 21
Burmese ex-army soldier