DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHILD SOLDIERS / BAN (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262518
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Delegates to an international conference on
child soldiers have called for a global ban on the use
of children in combat. The four-day conference in
Katmandu, Nepal, was the first of its kind held in
Asia. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha has this
report.
Text: Representatives of 15 governments in the region
took part in the conference, which was organized by
the London-based Coalition to Stop the Use of Child
Soldiers. The aim of the four day session was to
build a consensus on outlawing the practice.
Conference organizer, Rory Mungoven, says Asia ranks
close behind Africa in the use of child soldiers.
Tens of thousands of children are on the frontlines in
virtually every armed conflict in the region -- often
forcibly recruited by militant groups in Afghanistan,
Sri Lanka, and Burma (Myanmar).
The London-based Coalition to Stop the Use of Child
Soldiers says the problem is not confined to rebel
groups alone. Several governments recruit under 18-
year-olds for military service. Officials say the
young recruits are not sent into combat until they are
older. But according to Mr. Mungoven, such commitments
are often breached.
/// MUNGOVEN ACT ///
Many countries like Australia claim to perhaps
recruit under 18's but protect them from
participating in active duty. But when the
crunch comes, the temptation is always there to
use under 18's. For instance under 18's were
sent to East Timor as part of the Australian
peace keeping forces.
/// END ACT///
The Coalition says the international effort to ban the
recruitment of those under 18 is being led by
countries in Africa and Asia who have seen the problem
first-hand. Mr. Mungoven says the effort is opposed
by countries such as the United States and Britain
which want to attract students leaving school into the
armed forces to boost declining recruitment levels.
/// SECOND MUNGOVEN ACT ///
Of course this is what governments argue, [that]
there is a difference between responsible
governments and ragtag rebel groups, that there
is a difference between voluntary recruitment
and forced recruitment, there is a difference
between countries that are in conflict, and
peacetime armies. But if we are going to make a
global ban work, then we need a standard to be
applied universally, not one that governments
can pick and choose from.
///END ACT ///
The Coalition says once governments ban the
recruitment of those under 18, rebel groups will also
come under pressure to stop using child soldiers. It
says the challenge is to put the use of children as
soldiers on the same legal and moral footing as other
prohibited weapons such as chemical and biological
weapons, or the use of landmines. (Signed)
NEB/AP/KBK
18-May-2000 10:00 AM EDT (18-May-2000 1400 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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