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ASEAN fails to act against Burmese junta: Rights group |
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by Ko Wild
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Thursday, 26 February 2009 00:00 |
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The Burmese military regime, which continues to use child soldiers with impunity, has failed to respect and protect children’s rights but members of ASEAN have equally failed to take action against the junta, a Thai based rights group said today.
The Human Right Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) Director U Aung Myo Min said this at a meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand today. The meeting was organized by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC).
The UNSC resolution 1612, states that all member nations have a responsibility to abide by the restrictions on using child soldiers, killing children, sexual harassment against minor children, targeting children's schools and hospitals, kidnapping children and not providing humanitarian aid to children.
"These six-point Don’ts cannot be flouted by any UN member country. The resolution clearly states that any nation violating these clauses shall be taken action against by all nations. But though Burma is violating all six clauses, ASEAN countries have not bothered to take action against the Burmese junta. So Burma continues to violate children rights," U Aung Myo Min said.
"The violations are taking place for a long time. Recently the junta violated children’s rights in Karen State and Shan State in Burma. They deliberately destroyed schools of the internally displaced children, tortured and persecuted the children and teachers in these schools," he added.
Today's meeting was held to prepare to collect true facts on Burma by the AIPMC delegation, which will attend the forthcoming ASEAN meeting to be held in Bangkok on the 27th of this month. The AIPMC delegation will meet ministers of member countries attending as ASEAN delegations, informally and in meetings on the sidelines for discussion on Burma issues.
"The junta set schools on fire in Kyaukyi District, IDP (internally displaced persons) region in KNU 3rd Brigade controlled areas at the end of 2008. They burnt down all the schools that they found in this area. The students had to flee from the burning schools. When they came back, their schools no longer existed," Aung Myo Min said.
AIPMC Chairman Mr. Kraisak Chunhavan and Thai Justice Minister Mr. Pirapan delivered speeches today at this meeting which was attended by representatives of Thai Human Rights Commission, Action Network for Migrants, AAPP-B and FDB besides some experts.
In today's meeting, U Aung Myo Min called on ASEAN member countries to withdraw diplomatic support to the junta and stop friendly relations with the SPDC (Burmese junta) which is violating UNSC resolutions and committing crimes by using child soldiers.
He also said that the long held policy of the 10-member ASEAN, which is non-interference in internal affairs of member countries and taking decision by consensus, are obstacles in resolving the Burma issue by other countries.
The ASEAN Charter, which might be discussed in this month's ASEAN meeting by the minister delegates of member countries, focuses only on economic, social and cultural affairs of the region. But, on human rights issues, the Charter does not provide opportunity to visit and investigate human right violations in any member country even if it commits such violations.
Burma is the signatory of CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child). In paragraph 38 of CRC, it forbids recruiting children under 15 into the army. Also according to a provision of the Burmese Army Service Personnel Act, children under 18 cannot be recruited to the armed forces.
However NGOs including ILO have been criticizing the Burmese junta for using child soldiers in its armed forces. There has also been frequent news of some child soldiers deserting and fleeing to the border.
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