SPDC Orders Mobilization of Child S

[shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: SPDC Orders Mobilization of Child Soldiers: 

28 July 1999 

SPDC Orders Mobilization of Child Soldiers

20 July 1999, Lashio. Sources reported that the Burmese high command has
issued
orders in mid-June to induct and train boys between 12 and 18. 

Maj-Gen (Thura) Tin Aung Myint Oo, Commander of the Northeastern Command, with
headquarters in Lashio, Northern Shan State, issued a directive which
contained
the following interesting points: 

To teach the Ye Nyunt Youth members only primary school education; 
[N.B. Ye Nyunt literally means "Brave Sprout"] 

To train them for reserve force; 

To give boys between 12 and 18 full military training in order to be prepared
for mobilization at any time; 

Those who continue their schools must join the army when they are 18.
Otherwise, they shall need to enter the Nationalities Development Institute in
Sagaing (Northern Burma), after necessary bonds have been signed. 

Those who refuse to join either the army or the Institute shall be promptly
expelled; 

Only those who profess Buddhism shall be inducted and they shall be
ordained as
novices during summer holidays; 

Those who profess other religions shall be induced to join the Buddhist fold.
Those that refuse to shall be expelled; 

All members of the Ye Nyunt Youth shall be Buddhists. Units stationed near the
Ye Nyunt camp shall be manned by religious commissioned and non-commissioned
officers; 

All Ye Nyunt Youth centers shall submit regular monthly progress reports; 

All local military commands must maintain constant supervision for the Ye
Nyunt
Youth. 

"The above directive confirms that the SPDC only wants fighters for their
whatever cause" said a source. "They don't care what happens to them when they
grow up". 

There are Ye Nyunt Youth centers, providing bed, board and schooling for
orphaned and poor boys, in Lashio, Tangyan, Kutkhai and Kunlong. The program
began since the days of the present junta's predecessor, the Burma Socialist
Program Party. "Initially, it was to recruit and train boys only between 14
and
16 for the reserve", the source added.