(27 Mar 1995) English/Nat
Worldwide, an estimated 200-thousand children under the age of 15 are recruited as soldiers and face life and death on the frontline.
The United Nations has asked UNICEF, its agency concerned with the plight of children, to come up with proposals to free these child soldiers.
But in South East Asia, they are finding there are no easy answers
Inside the secret headquarters of the Karen guerrilla army, both men and boys carry weapons.
The Karen guerrillas have been fighting for autonomy in Burma since 1948.
This 14-year-old relaxes in a hammock.
But on this same day he has sworn allegiance to his army and its rally call - 'Give me freedom or give me death'.
There are no signs of freedom yet, but many have already died.
And UNICEF fears the child soldiers are getting even younger.
SOUNDBITE:
"In all conflicts around the world, Middle East, Africa and South East Asia, there is a trend to recruit younger children."
SUPER CAPTION: Rita Reddy - UNICEF coordinator South East Asia
Most children are not forced into war.
This burnt 14-year-old Karen boy volunteered after Burmese troops killed his parents.
UNICEF is expected to come up with a set of proposals by the end of the year which will enforce the 1949 Geneva Convention banning children under 15 from fighting.
The problem is that most child soldiers are in rebel guerrilla groups outside the reach of international law.
The Karen's Chief of Staff believes it is the duty of every man and boy to fight for the cause.
SOUNDBITE:
"Our determination is that our Karen people are born as children
for our Karen state and they have to sacrifice themselves for our
Karen survival. That's why I don't mind about it. That's his duty, to finish his duty, and me also if I die, I finish my duty."
SUPER CAPTION: General Hla Htoo - Chief of Staff Karen National Union
Cambodia's Khmer Rouge has a more notorious past than the Karen but officials were still shocked at the young age of some the guerrillas - as seen in recent defections to the government side.
Many parents, driven by poverty or fear, allow their sons to join guerrilla groups in the knowledge that the armies can feed their children.
SOUNDBITE:
"They will send the child with the militia for protection purposes sometimes and to be fed and looked after, because the families are no longer capable of doing it. With extreme poverty and lack of food, these circumstances in a conflict situation are conducive to a child being recruited."
SUPER CAPTION: Rita Reddy - UNICEF coordinator South East Asia
But while solutions are sought, deaths and amputations continue.
UNICEF is planning new programmes but there is no certainty that they will succeed in stopping the child soldiers going to war.
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