Final Draft - peoplespartner.files.wordpress.com€¦ · Web viewExecutive Summary: The Research Process: In the conduct of the research, the researcher basically conducted extensive

A Research Paper on Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Re-integration (DRR) of Child

Soldiers: A Case Study on Burma by: Anna Rosario Dejarlo Malindog

A. Executive Summary:

The Research Process:

In the conduct of the research, the researcher basically conducted extensive interviews with leaders, head and coordinators of organizations in the Thai- Burma border who are implementing programs which are intended or unintended to respond to the use of child soldiers in Burma. The areas that the researcher visited include Chiang Mai, Maesariang, and Maesot. The researcher also had the chance to visit and conduct informal interviews with heads and facilitator of some organizations based in Mai Ja Yang Kachin State located at the China – Burma border on issues related to the DRR programs for child soldiers. The researcher was not able to enter the camps because of the strict Thai policy restricting foreigners to enter refugee camps located at different border areas. Short interviews were also conducted among people from the Burmese exiled communities who have quite experience and knowledge on the issue of child soldiers in Burma. The researcher also explored and used secondary resource materials to get more information on DRR (demobilization, reintegration, rehabilitation) related programs that other organizations based at the Thai-Burma border are intentional or unintentionally implementing already in respond to the issue of child soldiers in Burma. The researcher reviewed books, magazines, newspapers and website of these organizations and validated such information and data through one on one interviews and focus group discussions with key personnel of these organizations intensively. The research period was over one month.

Limitations of the Research:

Time allotted for the research is very limited Security issues both of the researcher and the people involved

in the organizations being surveyed

DRR-Related Programs Undertaken:

Based on the research conducted on DRR programs, most of the organizations in Thai-Burma border have programs and activities which are potential DRR programs for former child soldiers. However, these programs and activities, originally, were created not to cater to the needs of former child soldiers rather to respond to some pressing needs of the Burmese population in exile

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especially to the needs of the children in general. Moreover, these programs and activities are potential programs which can be utilized for the DRR program initiatives. The following are DRR – related programs currently being undertaken by some organizations in the Thai-Burma border;

1. Child Soldier Demobilization Project (CSDP) – is being managed and has been initiated by Mr. David O’Hanlon and Thein San - Coordinator of the Child Soldiers Demobilization Program of All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF). The program intends to disarm child soldiers who deserted from the Tatmadaw and present themselves to armed opposition groups. It provides physical well being and care for the detainees being placed in a safe house inside KNU and ABSDF controlled areas. By necessity it will be a semi-military environment which but still military enough to provide a smooth transition from the iron regimentation of the Tatmadaw to civilian life. All detainees passing through the program will be assessed upon the basis of their security status, mental health and trade proficiency. If the staff of the centre are satisfied that an individual is no threat to the community, is mentally stable and capable of earning a living he shall be deemed prepared to leave the centre and rejoin civilian life.

2. MTC Training Program – is under the broad array of services being offered by Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) located in Maesot. MTC is primarily a health agency that extends health and medical related services to the exile and migrant (legal and illegal) Burmese communities most especially the underprivileged ones. This training program under MTC primarily caters to health workers and interns in the clinic but it also opens opportunities to other people not necessarily working in the clinic to learn and be educated on issues being discussed in the training sessions. Basically it offers courses on human rights, gender, environment, community organizing and development, internship, office and organizational management. The program aims to educate health workers and other people in the Burmese communities on these issues in order for them to be more effective in their respective endeavors.

3. CDC - Elementary School Program - is under the care of Child Development Center (CDC), an educational institution based in Maesot. The program offers courses on Thai, Burmese, and English languages, mathematics, science, development subjects, vocational training, computer, sports, and hand working. Year school program – school starts in June and finishes in March. It facilitates and maintains boarding

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houses for both girls and boys especially for the orphans. The boarding houses can accommodate 38 children for each house. The program is not intentionally designed for former child soldiers and is not part of the overall national framework on DRR program for former child soldiers in Burma. The program includes activities such as sports, cultural activities, arts, library, handicrafts, school health, and cultural exchanges.

4. Campaign, Advocacies and Child Birth Registration Program – the implementer of these DRR related programs is the Committee for Protection and Promotion of Child Rights of Burma (CPPCR). The activities under these programs or initiatives include holding of awareness campaigns, workshops and the distribution of pamphlets on child rights to raise the level of awareness of the peoples’ of Burma on international child rights and the importance of birth registration. It travels to collect birth data among migrant worker families both inside and outside of Maesot. It holds seminars with educators, health workers, traditional midwives and village ward elders and officials for smoother and more efficient birth registration. It compiles and issues birth record certificates after confirming collected data on child births

5. Mae Hong Son Educational Programs of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) are as follows;

Primary Schools/ Middle/ High Schools - includes teacher training; curriculum development; parental involvement1; extra curricula activities; teacher appraisals/ competencies.

Special Education - includes Special Education Assistants in each Primary School; regular sessions for parents and children excluded from school; Special Education Assistants specializing in blind and deaf education.

Vocational Training - focuses on Standards 8 and 9. Vocational training programs outside schools targeting dropouts being set up now.

Karenni Teacher Training Centre (KnTTC) - presently is a two year program with students electing to be trained in primary or secondary education.

Home School Liaison - since 2005; for those children who have been at school, but are in danger of dropping out due to a wide range of personal/ social/ academic problems. Home School

1 Parent involvement includes research into parent needs and wishes for involvement in their schools.

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Liaison Personnel provides support for students and a link between them, the schools and the student’s care-takers.

Accelerated Schools - presently setting up accelerated classes within mainstream schools – this is more effective and prevents the isolation of the target group (often child soldiers) from the rest of the community. Also improves opportunities for monitoring their access to education.

Accompaniment Program - links to the Home School Liaison by offering regular accompaniment and visitation of families with specific needs6. Maesot Based Programs of Jesuits Refugee Service (JRS) – provides safe house for children/people without shelters. This safe house also caters to former child soldiers from Tatmadaw (Burma armed forces). JRS have been extending this kind of assistance to former child soldiers and handled some cases in a more irregular manner. They also provide and extend temporary financial assistance like housing to former child soldiers/deserters. In coordination and cooperation with ICRC, they can also facilitate the re-integration of former child soldiers with their families. They provide and link different service oriented organizations in responding to cases of child soldiers who need immediate and not so immediate assistance and interventions. JRS is also effective and efficient in processing and establishing the refugee claims and statuses of former child soldiers/deserters.

7. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Maesot Programs – Provides protection and seeks durable solutions including supporting resettlement of Burmese refugees to third countries including former child soldiers. In as far as the organization is concern it handled cases of former child soldier for resettlement. In coordination with COEER and UNICEF it conducts monitoring and protection of children in the camps. It raises the issues of child soldiers with its partner organizations and integrates the issue of child soldiers in its programs and services.

8. Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee (BMWEC) School Program - provides elementary education (grade1 to grade. It has boarding houses for children especially for orphans (parentless) students. It gives counseling to the parents of the children enrolled in the schools of BMWEC.

9. Training/Workshops; Karen Internally Displaced School (KIDS); Theater for Social Change and Education and Culture

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– are among the DRR related programs that the Karen Student Network Group (KSNG) is implementing at the moment.

10. Earthrights International Burma and Mekong School, Chiang Mai, Thailand – are two of the educational programs of Earthrights International that basically teach human rights and environment. It aims to enhance the skills of local earthrights activists on human rights and environmental concerns and issues. It also wants to create local human rights and environmental activists in Southeast Asia, and in the Mekong Region. These two innovative programs provide rigorous training in human rights, environmental monitoring and advocacy techniques.

The schools teach that earth rights promotion and protection are the cornerstones of democracy, which requires an engaged civil society to secure and defend these rights. Through the EarthRights Schools students gain specific knowledge and skills essential to the creation of a civil society, and take this knowledge out into their own communities. The EarthRights schools help to create a corps of committed defenders of human rights and the natural world.

ERS – Burma – the program is designed to create young leaders with skills and knowledge to work on earth rights issues in their communities, while also providing a model that combines a balance of theoretical and experiential learning for activists and community leaders. The kind of subjects that ERS Burma is teaching fall under human rights and the environment, political systems (what is democracy) and international law, community building and development. It also teaches subject matters that are more into skills building like English language, computer programs, making a visual and report presentation, research and reporting writing, project proposal writing, and other skills which the students could learn while they go through the one year program.

ERS – Mekong School - the program aims to create a cohesive group of activists from each of the Mekong countries who have the intercultural skills, substantive knowledge and experience to voice their individual and collective concerns about Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded hydroelectric projects, and related human rights, transparency and participation issues, within the Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS).

11. Women’s Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE) - primarily attempt to address some of the problems faced by marginalized ethnic women from Burma and their children in key areas of education, health, and income generation. The following are the programs that WEAVE is currently implementing;

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Educational Program - the first phase the program is the “Child Development Project” which basically supports nursery schools in the refugee camps in Mae Hong Son Province. The next phase of the program is the “Early Childhood Development (ECD)”, incorporating an inclusive education approach to include children with special needs.

Women’s Capacity Development Project – it supports the capacity building efforts of young women and women’s groups on project management and organizational development, adult literacy and vocational training.

Health Project - it integrates women’s health education delivery which focuses on the design, production and dissemination of culturally appropriate materials in various formats, covering topics such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS awareness, nutrition, family planning, childcare, and violence against women.

Income Generation – the project aimed at providing safe employment opportunities for women based on the premise that “a right to work is a right for all”.

12. Wide Horizons – is an educational program under the auspices of Burmese Migrant Workers' Education Committee (BMWEC) and World Education/ Consortium (WE/C). This is a 10-month program offering advanced courses in English, Computer skills, Educational Management and Organizational Management. This will be a boarding program with students and teachers living, working and studying together. 13. Separated Children – is one of the many programs being implemented by COERR (Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees) that assists UNHCR assemble an accurate and up to date database on Separated Children in all nine (9) refugee camps, thereby enhancing their protection against possible abuse.

14. Computer and English Institute – is an educational program being managed by the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO). It primarily teaches computer courses, intensive English and Chinese languages. For a limited percentage of time and considerations other subject matters are also being taught in the school. The school has a two year program. Every program cycle at least around 30 to 50 Kachin students are accepted.

Gaps, Pressing Concerns, Limitations and Challenges of the DRR Research:

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In view of the research on DRR conducted, among the common primary concerns of the above – mentioned DRR related programs are security and funding. Almost all of the programs identified do not have enough or sufficient funds to finance the operations and effective implementation of such programs and activities. This major predicament of Burmese service-oriented organizations is being posed as a challenge to the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers to respond on if indeed it is going to move and capitalize on these organizations as players on its DRR related programs and initiatives in the Thai-Burma border and other areas of which the issue related to child soldiers in Burma is being felt.

Another challenge that the researcher observed is the segmented and not well coordinated programs and activities by the different organizations doing related DRR activities. No cooperation in general between and among the organizations and most of all, sharing of information and communication and linking of the different services and activities are not present and not practice by people. Worst among the researcher’s observations is the seemingly competitive nature of proponents and implementers of the said programs. Instead of forging alliances and linkages with key organizations and implementers of DRR programs, usually program implementers of DRR related programs are too critical and play politics on some individuals and organizations working on the issue of child soldiers just to gain popularity and assurance that their specific program are better for DRR other than the existing ones being done by other organizations. This is particularly more evident in the interviews conducted with the coordinator of the Child Soldiers Demobilization Program.

In addition to these, sharing of information among and between implementers and organizations doing DRR related activities and projects especially that which pertains to best practices and processes in handling cases of former child soldiers do not take place in a more regular and coordinated manner, and the level of awareness of implementers on the dynamics of the issue of child soldiers seems to be limited though some of them have handled cases of former child soldiers and extended DRR programs to them to some extent.

Highlights on Generated Recommendations:

Based on the interviews conducted by the researchers, the following are the common recommendations that implementers doing DRR related programs have expressed;

Lobbying the Thai government to lift up the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the Thai

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Government and Burmese military government which states that deserters from Tatamadaw who are staying in Thailand will be sent back to Burma.

Lobbying the Thai authorities to loosen up the security risks and threats especially among people and organizations doing DRR related activities and projects for more liberal, open, efficient and effective implementation of such projects.

Fund-raising and mobilization for DRR-related programs.2

Lobbying the Thai authorities to accredit and recognize existing educational programs being done by organization doing DRR related work.3

Raising the level of awareness of people on the issue of child

soldiers and the different concerns and dynamics of this issue.

Forging tight working relationship between the local and international organizations working on child soldier issues, i.e. DRR programs.4

B. Updated Situation of Child Soldiers Issue

Burma has been notoriously known to be the one of the many de-facto governments in the world for its human rights violations and abuses especially on its record for its systematic practice and use of children as soldiers in its army - the “Tatmadaw”. Since 1988 the number of soldiers of “Tatmadaw” – the Burmese army has grown enormously. The massive and intensive recruitment of child soldiers contributed much to this expansion of the Burmese military base both in numbers of soldiers and military camps established in the different states of Burma. From 200, 000 men in arms in 1988, it expanded approximately to 500, 000 men in

2 The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers is not necessarily ask to fund-raise for these organizations directly but much more to help them in their respective fund raising activities such as linking them to different funding organizations and agencies and extending high and strong recommendations that will help them establish connection and credibility with any prospective funding agencies and institutions.3 Accreditation here means that educational DRR related programs on-going in the Thai-Burma border should be given accreditation by the Thai Ministry of Education so that graduates of these school programs can have access to higher education offered by Thai schools. 4 This recommendation simply states that networking and consultative actions between local and international organizations working on child soldier issues be strengthened. This recommendation also means that a common framework and work plan should be drafted on DRR programs for child soldiers which could be the basis of which cooperation and coordination between and among organizations working on DRR related programs can be built and took off from in forging a national DRR program for child soldiers which could be symbolized by a MOA between and among the organizations concerned.

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2005. Since 1988, there have been few willing volunteers to be soldiers, so the junta has relied on forced recruitment to respond to the needs of militarization.5

Children age 12 to 17 are the most vulnerable victims of this military expansion by the junta. The drive to expand the army appears to have increased in significant number. Many battalions were created so quickly. Burma has an estimated 500, 000 soldiers in its national army today.6 It allegedly includes child soldiers forced into service. Based on Human Rights Watch’s report entitled “My Gun was as Tall as Me”, the testimonies of former child soldiers interviewed for the report suggest that the vast majority of new recruits are forcibly conscripted, and that 35 to 45 percent may be children. Although there is no way to establish precise figures, data taken from the observations of former child soldiers who have served in diverse parts of Burma suggests that 70,000 or more of the Burma’s army estimated 350,000 soldiers maybe children.7

This gross condition of the recruitment and use of child soldiers in Burma has been evidently proved to be true by the 50 interviews with former child soldiers done by the Human Rights Institute of Burma and Yoma (3) News Service during 2004- 2005. Based on the findings of the said interviews, children agreed to join the military due to coercion and deception. And these acts are being reinforced by underlying economic, political, cultural, and social factors that pressure children to become child soldiers. Most child soldiers in Burma were forcibly recruited.

However, the recruitment of child soldiers in Burma is not only being done by the government armed forces of Burma but also by non-state armed ethnic groups. Since Burma’s independence in 1948, armed insurgents and resistance groups were created to fight the military regime in Rangoon. NSA or Non-State Actors or sometimes referred to as opposition armies also take part in the recruitment of child soldiers for their own purposes. The recruitment of child soldiers among the opposition armed groups in Burma somewhat varies from one group to another. There are at least 30 opposition armed groups in Burma but at the moment, most of them made ceasefire agreement with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) for a variety reasons. It has been observed that almost all of these opposition armed groups have 5 International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), “GROWING UP UNDER THE BURMESE DICTATORSHIP”, August 2003.6 International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), “GROWING UP UNDER THE BURMESE DICTATORSHIP”, August 2003.

7 Human Rights Watch, “My Gun Was as Tall as Me”: Child Soldiers in Burma, USA, October, 2002, p.3

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been recruiting children to be soldiers. Nonetheless, because of the sensitivity of the issue, exact numbers of child soldiers could not be obtained. Human Rights Watch have said that in approximation, the combined numbers of child soldiers from NSA side is estimated to be around 6, 000 – 7, 000.8 But according to some observers it is gradually decreasing due to international pressure from UN Agencies and some other international human rights organizations. Significantly, within the last five years the numbers of child soldiers involved with non – state armies declined.

Indeed, it is but a fact that the progressive involvement of child soldiers in Burma both in the government armed forces and the non-state armed forces is evident and latent. In retrospect, to be more precise or strict about the issues on child soldiers in relations to the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, both the regime in Burma and the non-state armed groups are continuously violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child and related international standards and conventions concerning the use of child soldiers because of its continuous recruitment of children as soldiers in their respective armed forces.

Moreover, on the issue of demobilization child combatants both on the part of the Burmese army and the non-state armed opposition ethnic groups no such DRR programs have been established. SPDC promised that it will indeed implement DDR programs through the creation of the Committee to Prevent the Use of Child Soldiers (supposedly a government entity in-charge of monitoring and demobilizing child soldiers). The Committee to Prevent the Recruitment of Child Soldiers was formed on January 2004 chaired by SPDC Secretary 2 Lt Gen Than Sein and announced that a task force was being formed to ensure inspections for underage recruitment. On 16 January, 2004, the Committee met for the first time and adopted resolutions on prevention of the recruitment of minor for military service and created a task force. In October, the Committee adopted a Plan of Action. It includes;

Strengthened control of the recruitment process to ensure

that no one under 18 years of age enters the armed forces;

The discharge from military service and return to their parents or guardians of those found to be under 18 while training or in service

The provision of vocational training or other educational options and livelihood support, in particular for orphans, vulnerable children and those without guardians;

8 Human Rights Watch, “My Gun Was as Tall as Me”: Child Soldiers in Burma, USA, October, 2002.

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Improved birth registration system; and

The dissemination of information to recruitment centers and the general public on the prohibition of recruitment of persons under 18 years.

However, this committee seems to be useless and all the plans mentioned above remained plans and nothing happen to them. The committee did not respond to the complaints and requests of child soldiers’ relatives and family when they ask its help in finding for their missing children or releasing recruited children who are in so many ways are involved in the armed forces. This scenario has been evidently proved to be true by the 50 interviews with former child soldiers done by the Human Rights Institute of Burma and Yoma (3) News Service in 2005. In retrospect, the regime in Burma is continuously violating the Convention on the Rights of the Child and related international standard and conventions concerning the use of child soldiers because of its continuous recruitment of children as soldiers in its armed forces and also of not fully demobilizing child combatants. On the other hand, there is no cooperation or coordination among international organizations in identifying children, processing and managing cases of those who are demobilized.

On the other hand, children who fled and ran way from the Burmese army crossed border areas lived in camps or as “illegal immigrants” along the border. Because of their exposure to violent acts and lack of skills and “know how” on how to act as civilians they are likely to commit social unrest and other kind of disturbing actions against other people in society. Often times also, they face the risk of being returned or deported back to Burma by the Thai government in view of the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the Burmese government and the Thai government saying that the Thai authorities will send or deport back any soldiers who deserted from the Tatmadaw who are in Thailand back to Burma. In terms of opportunities and chance of building a new and comfortable life, these former child soldiers face difficulties because they lack the necessary skills and knowledge in making a living since they were not taught how to earn a living. This result to either struggling extremely in order to survive or it motivates former child soldiers to go back to military camps since being a soldier is the only profession they know and the only way for them to survive.

Indeed, it but a must that the military government in Burma makes it an urgent priority to implement DRR programs. There is a need to demobilize everyone under 18 years of age from the armed forces. There is need for a process of reintegration for child soldiers to their former communities in order to help children establish new foundations in life. This would entail re-establishing contact with

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their family. The provision of educational and vocational opportunities for former child combatants is a must to prevent them from rejoining military units, and at the same time to improve their economic security and means of survival as normal people.

On the other hand, low profile but quite sometimes successful actions from international organizations based in Rangoon in demobilizing child soldiers serve some purpose and give hope and light to the bleak situation of child soldiers in Burma. The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are quite dealing with cases filed by parents of child soldiers wanting their children be demobilized from the army.9 Some of the cases filed to them have been quite successful though this is considered to be below the minimal expectations in view of the thousands of cases filed by parents of child soldiers to these international bodies regarding the demobilization and release of their children from serving the army.

These are quite success stories in the fight against the use and recruitment of child soldiers in the Burmese military army done by international bodies working and based in Rangoon. However, this is not equitable to the thousands of cases of child soldiers that need to be addressed and be given attention. Moreover, these cases serve as an encouragement that indeed inspite of the constraining situation and the gross state of the issue of child soldiers in Burma, still there are ways and means of going about the issue and trying to mitigate the problem of child soldiers which could be done by concerned international agencies and organizations if not by pro-democracy Burmese led organizations.

C. Policy / Legal Background

Based on the research conducted, the military government of Burma itself doesn’t have any concrete policy on DRR related work and programs. It doesn’t have existing policy or national framework of action related to DRR programs for child soldiers. The military government in Burma doesn’t have any peace agreements or negotiations to some extent that could be utilized to capitalize in ushering in peaceful co-existence among and between the different ethnic groups of Burma. The ceasefire agreements that it has with some considerable ethnic armed opposition groups and some co-opted armed groups in Burma do not by any means state or imply real conflict resolution or peace agreements because the primary purpose of these ceasefire agreements are just to stop

9 The latest report on cases of the demobilized child soldiers from “Tatmadaw” which were featured and reported by Yoma (3) News Service (Burma) entitled “SPDC Release Two Underage Soldiers”, 2005, states that the two international organizations based in Rangoon (ILO & ICRC) facilitated the demobilization of 6 child soldiers.

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confrontational and combatant fighting without recognizing and settling fundamental differences and demands between and among people and stakeholders party to these ceasefire agreements. This nature of the ceasefire agreements between the junta and the ethnic armed opposition groups though very volatile and tension dominated have not been for the most part violated and so far no direct military confrontation happened between the concern parties.

On the other hand, the Thai government being a possible host for former child soldiers from Tatamadaw does not have any program or policy that will respond to cases to the needs of former child soldiers from Burma who crosses the border and stayed in Thailand to seek new life and opportunities away from the military kind of life. Instead of upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) of which it is a signatory, it went against CRC principles of protecting the fundamental rights of the child by forging alliance and signing an MOU with the military government in Burma saying that it will deport or send back deserters from the armed forces of Burma who are staying in Thailand back to Burma. This MOU between Thai authorities and the junta in Burma makes the implementation of any DRR related programs in the Thai-Burma border difficult and risky.

On the other hand, the exile government of Burma and whole democratic movement of Burma including Burmese service oriented organizations do not have a well coordinated, linking mechanisms and national framework or policy that will respond to DRR related needs of former child soldiers from Burma living and fleeing to Thailand for solace and new life opportunities. Even the ethnic armed opposition groups which are forces behind the democratic opposition movement of Burma do not have and are not 100 percent willing to demobilize its child soldiers though some of them are contemplating on this issue and are open to talks with organizations both local and international working on child soldiers issues.

With regards to the number of child soldier deserters from Tatmadaw and even from ethnic armed opposition groups, no exact numbers can be drawn. On the issue of recruitment for both NSA and SPDC armed forces, no exact number only approximations. This is because the issue of child soldiers in Burma is quite one among the many issues of Burma that is most sensitive, high-risk and controversial one.

D. Program Survey/Case Studies

Case Study No. 1: Child Soldier Demobilization Project (CSDP) 10 10 Interview with David O’ Hanlon, Coordinator of the Child Soldiers Demobilization Program (CSDP) and Thein San, Coordinator of the Child Soldiers Demobilization

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CSDP which was initially conceptualized by David O’Hanlon an Australian ex-soldiers who claimed to have been working in the Burmese democratic movement for quite sometime now started in 2003. The program is in partnership with ABSDF (All Burma Students Democratic Front) an opposition armed group based in Maesariang, composed of student activists who were the forefronts of the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma.

CSDP as its name implies is a demobilization program intended to disarm child soldiers who deserted from the Tatmadaw and present themselves to armed opposition groups. It provides physical well being and care for the detainees being placed in a safe house inside KNU and ABSDF controlled areas. By necessity it will be a semi-military environment which but still military enough to provide a smooth transition from the iron regimentation of the Tatmadaw to civilian life.

The primary objective of the program is to provide safe haven for former child soldiers/deserters from the Burmese army located inside the Karen National Union (K.N.U.) territory. The reason behind this is the idea and the belief among the proponents of the said demobilization program that in view of the security and legal considerations, it will be necessary to implement the program on Burmese soil in areas controlled by the K.N.U. because they believe that KNU is capable of providing a security zone for the said program.

The program has been in operation for the past six (6) months and it caters exclusively to Burmese former child soldiers primarily because the people handling the program are Burmans which according to the implementers of the program gives them easy way in facilitating the activities of the program because understanding is easy to establish since the cultural background and language are the same. It believes that ABSDF members being older and better educated will act as role models for the child soldiers and in the way of Burmese culture become surrogate “elder brothers”. ABSDF members often come from very similar backgrounds as the child soldiers and are most importantly native speakers of Burmese. It will be easy for the child soldiers to identify with them and to adopt them as positive role models.

In as far as the implementation of the said program is concerned, in the last six months, the coordinators of CSDP Mr. David O’Hanlon and Thein San - Coordinator of the Child Soldiers Demobilization Program of All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) expressed that they had experienced

Program of All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF), Maesariang Thailand, 25 January 2006.

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handling three (3) cases of former child soldiers who have gone through their program. According to them, the three former deserters from “Tatamadaw” (Burma Army/SPDC) that were handed over to them by KNU/KNLA went through counseling program with a monk. These child soldiers also went through some educational program which included English and Burmese language skills building, gardening program, sports and wood working. After these short courses they were sent to the Thai-Burma border area specifically in Maesot to attend some training courses that would enhance their skills and capacity to live a normal civilian lives. One of them attended trainings in Mae Tao Clinic and now is a medic serving some Burmese communities, and the other two went through further counseling program in Maesot and decided to work in ABSDF headquarters as office staffs.

Indeed out of the three cases, one was a success story since he is now a medic. However, the other two were quite challenges for the program since they became juvenile delinquents (excessive drinking that led to destructive acts and violence against Burmese migrants) when they were in Maesot which pushed the coordinators of the program to send them back to the ABSDF headquarters so that they can monitor and contained their behavior. Now, these two former child soldiers are now serving ABSDF and living in ABSDF camps and working as office staffs.

The implementers of the said program said that all of the three detainees who passed through the program have been assessed on the basis of their security status, mental health and trade proficiency. And if the centre is satisfied that an individual is no threat to the community, is mentally stable and capable of earning a living he shall be deemed prepared to leave the centre and rejoin civilian life.

CSDP is a program intended to respond to the issue of child soldiers but more exclusively to Burmans child soldier deserters from Tatamadaw. However, like any other DRR related program, CSDP has not been so far in any way integrated to the overall national framework of action on DRR for child soldiers in Burma. The primary reason that the researcher can see behind this is the weak cooperative mechanism of the program with key and focal organization working on this issue. The researcher also have observed and this has been affirmed by the coordinator of CSDP Mr. O’ Hanlon that his program operates quite in a more exclusively and independent manner from any other groups and service-oriented organizations working on the issue of DRR for former child soldiers in Burma for quite a number of reasons. One of these is due to the nature and area of operations of CSDP. According to O’ Hanlon, CSDP operates inside Burma as against to most of the organizations with DRR related programs that run their respective programs in

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Thai soils. In view of this, he does not see the urgency and the necessity of forging strong alliance with the Thai-Burma border organizations since CSDP does not in direct ways work with them and according to him does not in many ways solicits their help.

The program claims to have strong support from KNU leaders. Initially it had been supported by the Burma Relief Center (BRC). But currently, the program doesn’t have any funding and still lobbying funds. It has limited resources both materials and equipment and monetary resource. It does not have the support of either the Thai or Burmese government.

The program has also no established network and mechanism for partnership with other organizations. Based on the interview of the researcher, particularly with Mr. David O’Hanlon, she sensed an air and degree of arrogance and a competitive stance being accorded to the program to be thus far superior in terms of program concepts and processes than any other organization doing demobilization program for former child soldiers. The researcher also got the impression from the several interview encounters (three meetings at the most) with Mr. O’ Hanlon that the program implementers lack coordination, cooperation and networking with other agencies doing similar work. It does not really facilitate exchange of information among groups and organizations working on the issue of child soldiers.

In addition to the above mentioned challenges that the program is facing is the fact that it doesn’t have the capacity to take care of women/female child soldiers. In case they have female child soldiers they have to handover these girls to the women unit of KNU who take charge of them.

Program Summary Matrix: Child Soldiers Demobilization Program (CSDP)

Program Description

The program intends to disarm child soldiers who deserted from Tatamadaw.

The program is exclusive for ex-Burman child soldiers deserters from Burma

Strengths/Weaknesses

Claimed strong support from KNU (Karen National Union)

No partnership with other service oriented organizations based in the Thai-Burma working on DRR related programs.

No funding No capacity to handle cases of

female child soldiers

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Recommendations Lobbying the Thai government to lift

up the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Thailand and Burma stating that the Thai authorities will send back to Burma any deserters from the government armed forces of Burma living and staying in Thailand

Funding mobilization on the part of the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

Case Study No. 2: Mae Tao Clinic Trainings (MTC) 11

In view of the ever increasing and ever desperate needs of the Burmese refugees not only in Maesot but even inside Burma and those who live in camps and other border areas for medical and health attention, Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) was established in 1989 in Maesot District of Tak Province. It caters to approximately 100, 000 migrant workers and 50 000 internally displaced person. Its mission is to improve the access to and utilization of quality health services among displaced people living along the Thai-Burma border area and ethnic areas and the promotion of not only health but other issues of concern to Burma through information and education and by strengthening network among local and international health organization. More specifically, it provides quality health services for displaced Burmese population along the border; it trains health workers and provide subsequent on-going medical education; it collaborates with other organizations to strengthen health information systems along the border; it aims to improve health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among local Burmese populations and it promotes networking and collaboration between local ethnic and international health organizations. Some of the major networked organizations of MTC are;

Earthrights International and Earthrights School (ERI &ERS)

Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) National Health Ethnic Council (NHEC) Burma Medical Association And almost all other organizations based in the Thai-

Burma border areas.

11 Interview with Dr. Cynthia Maung, Head of Mae Tao Clinic and Khun Htee Coordinator of the MTC Training Program, Maesot Thailand, 10 February 2006.

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In as far as MTC services in Thailand in general are concerned it offers medical services; surgical services; reproductive health; child health services; migrant outreach and cross border collaboration (partnership program); social welfare and rehabilitation program; heath worker training (initial training and continued education) and counseling program. In terms of delivery of services, Dr. Cynthia Maung said that MTC is quite effective considering that it has both limited financial and human resources. However, MTC faces so many challenges and these include the reality that the clinic is not registered and most of the people working in the clinic are not legal entities in Thailand. This problem is much more of a security issue. This put the whole clinic both the facilities and the workers at risk from Thai police raids and other forms of harassments. But so far no instances of such things happened in MTC. Actually inspite of the risk involved, MTC is the safest place for any Burmese migrants to live and for any Burmese groups to conduct their activities like training and workshops. The reason behind this is because of the tolerance and sympathies being accorded by the Thai authorities to the operations of the clinic and the partnership between the clinic and the Maesot health departments and hospitals.

Another constraint that MTC is facing is the lack of recognition and certificate of health providers which is directly related to the fact that most of them lack the opportunity to a more advance educational opportunities related to medical and health care education. MTC also has limited outreach and preventive services in view of the limitations in time, staffs and security. The ever increasing case load also becomes a challenge for MTC. This according to Dr. Cynthia Maung entails expansion of the infrastructure and staffs of the clinic, however, quite hard to implement due to lack of financial resources. And the most pressing concern these days of the clinic is the increasing numbers of abandoned babies and children which is a direct consequence of increasing number of stateless and street children roaming around Maesot.

In responding to these challenges, the whole management team and staff of MTC are currently working on how to get recognition for its health workers from Thai or local health and medical authorities. It would want to strengthen both the health information system and the monitoring system to ensure quality of health care services. It also aims to network and strengthen more its partnerships with both the local and international health communities and professionals and establish cross-border collaborative health services. And last but not the least it would want to provide and extend continued education for health workers that’s why it initiated the training program for medics and health workers.

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However, among the many programs that MTC administers, the training and counseling programs of the clinic are the ones which could be possibly maximized to respond to the DRR needs of former child soldiers. In as far as the training program is concerned, it started in 2004. In the beginning, it was just a three (3) month long training on child rights, issues. Later, it was expanded to include training related to environment, political issues (democracy) and sharing of information on what is the situation of Burma. Its primary objective is to train and educate health workers on human rights, environment and health care, politics, economics, social change issues, project management and office management, counseling, conflict transformation, community organizing, formation of community based organizations and international non-government organizations, and communication building skills development. The training program is being offered to medics, health workers, interns in Mae Tao Clinic and to those people who are interested to learn on these said mentioned issues and topics.

MTC Training program primarily caters to health workers and interns in the clinic but it also opens opportunities to other people not necessarily working in the clinic to learn and be educated on the issues being discussed in the training sessions. According to Dr. Cynthia Maung, (overall director of the clinic) and Khun Htee (training coordinator of the clinic), the program is quite very effective in terms of its implementation and indeed it caters and opens itself to a wider audience. However, it is not originally designed to respond to the DRR needs of former child soldiers but much more responding to the needs of the wider Burmese constituency of the clinic which includes almost all ethnic groups from Burma including Burmans. Currently, no funding agencies are supporting it. It is not also included in the overall national agenda and framework of DRR programs of any local or international organizations working on the child soldiers issues of Burma.

And in as far as handling cases of child soldiers is concern, both Khun Htee (MTC Training Coordinator) and Dr. Cynthia Maung (Director of MTC) have expressed that indeed they both believe that in many ways, they have handled cases of child soldiers unintentionally. But monitoring and being more attentive to these former child soldiers were not ensured in view of the fact that it is not the mandate of the clinic to do so and they don’t have any kind of monitoring mechanism when it comes to child soldiers’ issues. They accommodate these former child soldiers much more because they need medical attention and educational needs as internally displaced persons rather than on the basis that they are former child soldiers.

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On the other hand, in a more informal manner of feedback mechanism, it came to their knowledge that some of the former Tatamadaw child soldiers that they handled without actually knowing initially that they were former deserters from the government armed forces of Burma are now serving as medics in some camps. However, monitoring these former child soldiers in their current endeavors are not within the capacity and set of services MTC is called for.

Program Summary Matrix: MTC Training Programs and Services

Program Description

An educational program open to all possible participants coming from diverse ethnic background from Burma

Primarily teaches human rights and the environment, health related issues and concerns, gender, community organizing and development, internship, office and organizational management.

Strengths/Weaknesses

The program has the following strengths;

Strong network with local, regional and international organizations

Diverse group of people working in the clinic

Committed workers coming both from the local level and international levels

Strong support from the Burmese communities and international organizations

Very strong network with CBOs, NGOs, INGOs

Committed volunteer and training coordinator

Effective teaching methods and style12 Sufficiency of training resource materials

The program has the following challenges:

Logistical constraints i.e. transportation of the participants, accommodation of

12 They employ different kinds of teaching methods based on the nature of the topics and the level of learning of the participants. They also have established network of individuals and organizations which usually come to the clinic and conduct trainings showing a variety of styles, methods and materials for teaching.

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guest trainers, and some times venue for the training.

MTC is not registered Financial constraints – no funding for the

program. The programs just get less than the minimal support from the funds of other projects in Mae Tao Clinic. In effect, it does not have the capacity to buy equipment and materials, and even supplies for training activities.

Security issues13

No enough man power/staffs Do not have budget for salary of the

coordinator No working space for the program and

the coordinator No program is not being maximized to

respond to the DRR needs of former child soldiers

Recommendations Fund-raising for the training program of MTC

Case Study No. 3: Child Development Center - CDC 14

CDC was formed on the 3rd of June 1995 to meet the educational and day care needs of health workers’ children employed at the Mae Tao Clinic. Since 1995, CDC expanded as the demands and needs of the Burmese communities in Maesot increased over time. Now it provides day care and educational services to children of staffs employed at the Mae Tao Clinic and Burmese migrant workers. As an organization, it has a strong commitment in providing quality education to the students enrolled in the school. Students of CDC are being taught Burmese, Thai and English languages, Science and Mathematics, Geography, and History based on the Burmese educational curriculum.

13 Security issues refer to the reality that most of the people working in the clinic especially those from the training department do not have traveling documents/papers and it’s hard for them to go around Maesot freely to organize training and mitigate logistical constraints if there are depending on the needs of a particular training that would be held in the clinic. 14 Interview with Saya Shwe Nin, Head of Child Development Center - CDC and Tara Ko Phu - Teacher and Co-founder of CDC, Maesot Thailand, 10 February 2006.

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As an educational institution, CDC aims to provide primary education to at least 300 migrant children; to provide physical and psychological development for 300 migrant children; to provide life skills education; to strengthen parents’ participation in children’s education; to strengthen relation and increase collaboration among migrant school and Thai community; and to maintain safe and appropriate school environment.

In terms of its partnership, CDC has strong partnership with Brackett Foundation; Consortium; Human Rights Education Institute of Burma; Teachers from Thai Education Department; Teachers Training for Burmese Teachers; School Health from Mae Tao Clinic and Burmese Migrant Worker Education Committee.

As educational institution, CDC primarily offers elementary education to migrants workers’ children along the Thai-Burma border more specifically in Maesot area. Its elementary school program teaches Thai, Burmese, English languages, mathematics, science, development subjects, vocational training, science, computer, sports, and hand working. The school program starts in June and finishes in March. Most of the CDC students are within the age range of 6 years old and 15 years old. However, on a case to case basis, the school accepts students not within this age range depending on the educational needs of a particular child or person.

It facilitates and maintains boarding houses for both girls and boys especially for the orphans. The boarding houses can accommodate 38 children for each house. The program is unintentionally designed for former child soldiers and is not part of the overall national framework on DRR program for former child soldiers in Burma.

The school curricula have the following set of activities;

Sports Program – physical exercise is very important and the children are encouraged to participate in sports activities. Students are encouraged to participate in sport competition and fellowship with Thai school students during international children’s day and community events.Cultural Activities – social and cultural events are held in conjunction with important community celebrations, such as Water Festival/Karen New Year I which the community participates.

Arts – creative activities to provide healing from psychological trauma and to enhance sense of belonging to community.

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Library – maintains a library for children to access a range of materials to enhance their learning. It will include journals, magazines, international stories, Burmese stories and pamphlets.

School Health – school health activities conducted in conjunction with Mae Tao Clinic and Thai Public Health. One of the important health activities is the “Adolescence Reproductive Health training being organized by Adolescence Network Group” during summer.

Handicraft – students are encouraged to study alternative school to provide children with vocational knowledge and skills like knitting and hard sewing, cooking, arts and crafts.

Field Visits – exposure trips or field visits for the students to have more general knowledge and relationship between migrants’ children and the Thai society.

Cultural Exchange – students are asked to participate in cultural exchange among Thai schools and local Thai community events.

CDC is being funded by the following organizations;

Brackett Foundation USA Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (Philippines) for migrant

teacher teaching Terre De Hommes (Netherlands) for School Health Child’s Dream (Switzerland)

However, CDC is not specifically designed or intentionally established to respond to issues of child soldiers though they had experienced handling cases of child soldiers for the past two years. They have handled three (3) cases of child soldiers of which initially they were unaware of. However, due to some informal feedback they have known the cases of these children and extended to them necessary educational support they needed without prejudice. The identity and background of these children were protected from other people and students in the school by not concealing their former experience and involvement with the Tatamadaw. These former child soldiers underwent rehabilitation program through the educational program of the school. These children are now in their 9th standard education and studying at CDC. These children are Karen orphans and deserters from Tatamadaw.

Program Survey/MatrixProgram Description

CDC is offering an elementary educational program for children living in the Thai-Burma border more especially those in Maesot and children of Burmese migrant workers.

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Strengths/Challenges


CDC is able to provide relatively good education to children

CDC prevents children from being involved in drugs and other forms of violent and self-destructive activities

Child trafficking and child labor (forced labor) cases in Maesot decreased in view of the fact that parents and the Burmese communities have some a way keeping safe their children by sending to the school and also generally they have that sense of awareness, concern and cautions on the vulnerability of their children towards trafficking and forced labor


Financial and logistical constraints Security issues It still could not accommodate other

migrant workers’ children The school are not recognized by the

Thai Educational Department and authorities

No work permit for teachers of the school

The school has no registration and accreditation from Thai authorities

Non-discrimination in accepting children in selection and accepting students.

School teachers are trained on child rights, leadership, communication, organizing, child psychology trainings and courses and TOT (teachers’ Training)

Case Study No. 4: Committee for Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (Burma) – CPPCR 15

15 Interview with Ko Chinn, General Secretary of Committee for Protection and Promotion of Child Rights (Burma), Maesot Thailand, 10 February 2006.

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CPPCR is an organization based in Maesot that was established at a meeting held at Mae Tao Clinic on the 2nd of November, 2002. In a more long term sense, it works to support and promote the plights of the children from Burma, in order to secure their basic rights (education, health, and protection) as birth rights under the international law. It aims to protect intrinsic basic human rights of the children from Burma and make them acquire full benefits of these rights. It generally works on the recognition that all stateless Burmese children born in the Thai-Burma border be recognized by Burmese authorities as Burmese citizens.

As an organization, it aims to provide Birth Identification and to promote and facilitate the Birth Registration process; to increase awareness and knowledge of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) amongst the Burmese people in Maesot, Thailand; to help the children of Burmese migrant workers families and ethnic families along the border not to become stateless children, by making birth registration records; to be of assistance in claiming legal citizenship in future Burma; to help get legal protection, acquire full child rights and obtain education and health assistance for children and to respond to the issue of child labor and child soldiers.

In as far as its current programs are concern it collects and produces birth registration records of children born along the Burma border. It works on the legal recognition of birth registration records and assists in protecting abuses of intrinsic fundamental rights of all children. More specifically it has the following activities;

Holding awareness campaigns, workshops and distributing pamphlets to raise awareness on international child rights on birth registration.

Making trips to collect birth data among migrant worker families both inside and outside of Maesot.

Holding seminars with educators, health workers, traditional midwives and village ward elders and officials for smoother and more efficient birth registration.

Compiling and issuing birth record certificates after confirming collected data on child births.

Obtaining legal counsel by consulting with Burma Lawyer’s Council and Thai Law.

The said above mentioned activities of the organization are not in anyway part of the national framework on DRR work for Burma.

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On the other hand, these activities are also not intentionally designed for child soldiers but potentially according to the General Secretary of CPPCR Ko Chinn are good for DRR related activities.


CPPCR’s primary program is the so-called “Birth Identification” which promotes and facilitates birth registration to help Burmese children born in Thai-Burma border not to become stateless by making birth registration record and for these children to gain legal citizenship in the future Burma.

CPPCR also conduct awareness campaign ad activities to promote and educate the Burmese communities more specifically in Maesot on the contents and provisions on the Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC) especially that which concern on citizenship and child protection issues.



Strong network with UNICEF, UNHCR, and other media groups.


Have good networking and partnership with other organizations in Maesot group

Support coming from the grassroots communities

The record of birth registration can be use to provide citizenship to children when the transition to democracy in Burma will come.


Financial and logistical constraints Security issues The information they gathered in the

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field are classified as confidential and could not be shared to other organizations and individuals.

The program needs to develop some advocacy activities

Needs volunteers who can help in writing report and dealing with international community.

Recommendations Established more connection and relationship with the international community and Thai-authority especially with regards to security issues.

To be able to develop a capacity to write and submit report to the UN system on child rights issues in Burma.

Case Study No. 5: Jesuit Refugee Service: Mae Hong Son 16

The program in Mae Hong Son is JRS’ largest in Thailand. Since 1997 JRS works in close collaboration with the Karenni Education Department (KnED). The main goal is to develop the capacity of the Karenni Education Department to manage their own education system. The JRS program supports the Karenni Education Program at all levels of management to ensure an educational system that is effective, sustainable and inclusive.

JRS aims to create and implement a well defined, appropriate curriculum, according to the needs of the community. It wants to increase the knowledge, skills and abilities of KnED to enable their effective management of the program. It seeks to design and implement a system of access for all of appropriate education of an equal standard of excellence and most of all it wants to protect refugees, especially women and children form any human rights abuses.

In terms of programs, the following are being implemented by JRS Mae Hong Son;

Primary Schools/ Middle/ High Schools - this includes teacher training; curriculum development; parental involvement17; extra curricula activities; teacher appraisals/ competencies.

Special Education - includes Special Education Assistants in each Primary School; regular sessions for parents and children excluded 16 Interview with Lynn Yoskikawa, JRS Maesot Program, Maesot Thailand, 10 February 2006.17 Parent involvement includes research into parent needs and wishes for involvement in their schools.

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from school; Special Education Assistants specializing in blind and deaf education.

Vocational Training - focuses on Standards 8 and 9 or what you call pre-high school education. The age range of students within this program is around 13 – 17 years old.The vocational training program outside the schools are being (with schools dropouts as one large target group) being set up now. Needs assessment done by KnED staff with support from JRS; planning of project done in camp with working group after initial needs assessment and stakeholders’ meetings, pilot project to be launched soon.

Karenni Teacher Training Centre (KnTTC) - presently is a two year program with students electing to be trained in primary or secondary education. It is currently preparing the curriculum in both English and Burmese. KnED will take over the management of the KnTTC by April 2006

KnED Management - includes material requests and distribution for teaching aids/ resources; the upkeep of buildings; stipends; management of the budget; management training; service to the community (through involvement in the UN/NGO’s Protection Working Group and other cross camp committees); Policy development

Home School Liaison: Since 2005; for those children who have been at school, but are in danger of dropping out due to a wide range of personal/ social/ academic problems. Home School Liaison Personnel provides support for students and a link between them, the schools and the student’s care-takers.

Accelerated Schools: Presently setting up accelerated classes within mainstream schools – this is more effective and prevents the isolation of the target group (often child soldiers) from the rest of the community. Also improves opportunities for monitoring their access to education.

Accompaniment Program: Links to the Home School Liaison by offering regular accompaniment and visitation of families with specific needsJRS is actively involved in the Protection Working Group.

On the other hand, the primary services being extended by JRS in Maeosot are assisting asylum seekers in coordination and cooperation with UNHCR and extending and assisting urban migrant workers some form of material assistance. JRS Maesot doesn’t have any educational program.

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JRS Maesot also has a safe house for children or people without shelters. This safe house also caters to former child soldiers from Tatmadaw (Burma armed forces). JRS have been extending this kind of assistance to former child soldiers and handled some cases in a more irregular manner. They also provide and extend temporary financial assistance like housing to former child soldiers/deserters. In coordination and cooperation with ICRC, they can also facilitate the re-integration of former child soldiers with their families. In most cases the kind of coordination and partnership JRS has with ICRC concerning the issue of child soldiers lies more on asking the help of ICRC in tracing where the family of these former child sldiers are and what condition and situation they have and if it is safe for these former child soldiers to be re-united with their families inside Burma. They provide and link different service oriented organizations in responding to cases of child soldiers who need immediate and not so immediate assistance and interventions. JRS is also effective and efficient in processing and establishing the refugee claims and statuses of former child soldiers/deserters.

The said above mentioned programs of JRS both in Maesot and Mae Hong Son are not in any ways part of the national framework on DRR work for Burma. On the other hand, the Mae Hong Son activities are also not necessarily designed for child soldiers, however, if there are cases of child soldiers being refered to them, they indeed respond to these cases baesd on their capacity and the services they can offer. JRS Maesot on the other hand is more or less responds potentially to some cases of child soldiers’ DRR needs.

Program Survey/Matrix Program Description

JRS Maesot offers economic, financial assistance and a safe house generally to those Burmese refugees in Maesot that need these kind of assistance and support. However, they also specifically respond to cases of child soldiers.

JRS implements different and various kinds of educational programs (primary school, special education, vocational training, teachers’ training, home schooling, and accelerated school) that caters to children and youth in Karenni camps based or located in Mae Hong Son

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Strong network with local, regional and international organization both non –governmental and governmental organizations and agencies.

Possess financial capability to implement its programs in a more comfortable and stable ways.

Have good networking and partnership with other organizations in Mae Hong Son

It closely and indirectly work with Karenni National Progressive Party (NSA) based in Mae Hong Son and Karen Nation Union - KNU based in Maesot (NSA).


It lacks the capacity to extend economic assistance and opportunities (job opportunities) to all possible constituencies.

Recommendations Do not focused and look at UNCHR as

the only venue where former child soldiers can seek help because there are so many organizations that are much more capable of extending assistance to former child soldiers.

Provide more economic assistance and opportunities.18

Case Study No. 6: United Nations High Commission er for Refugees UNHCR – Maesot, Thailand 19

UNHCR is a United Nations agency that basically works on refugees’ issues. In Maesot, the primary services that it extends to Burmese refugees are providing protection and seeking durable solutions. Through these services, UNHCR responds in so many ways to the problem and issues related to child soldiers. For instance, in view of the persistent recruitment of child soldiers 18 JRS so far quite a way or a mechanism of knowing the kind of economic opportunities and job opportunities that their clinet which include former child soldiers need because they do needs assessment in this respect. 19 Interview with Minako Kakuma, UNHCR Thailand Associate Protection Officer, Maesot Thailand, 11 February 2006.

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among NSAs like KNPP and KNU and SPDC, UNHCR and UNICEF created the UN Working Group on Children Affected by Armed Conflict with a special focus on the Thai-Burma border last November 2005. The primary initiative of the working group is to conduct dialogue with Thai government and non-state entities including the issue related to the lifting up of a reported MOU between Thailand and military government of Burma stating that any deserters from the government armed forces of Burma who stays in Thailand will be sent back to Burma. The working group also works on lobbying the Thai government to honor the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a signatory to it.

In concrete terms, UNHCR supports resettlement of Burmese refugees to third countries including former child soldiers. However former child soldiers are often difficult to find a resettlement country willing to accept. In coordination with COEER and UNICEF it conducts monitoring and protection of separated children and it raises the issues of child soldiers with its partner organizations and integrate the issue of child soldiers in its programs and services

The said above mentioned programs of UNHCR are not part of the national framework on DRR work for Burma because accordingly no such national framework yet exist. These programs under UNHCR are not necessarily exclusively designed for former child soldiers, but respond to the issue on child soldiers to greater degrees


UNHCR primarily works on providing protection and seeking durable solutions for Burmese refugees in the Thai-Burma border including former child soldiers (Please note that work on former SPDC child soldiers is only part of our program which also focus on non-state actors such as KNU/KNPP. Please look at the comment note)



It has a strong network in camps like JRS and ZOA.

It is a member of so-called child protection network of which one of the issues it is working on is the issue of child soldiers.


Weak advocacy work and initiatives in lobbying the Thai government

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Recommendations Explore long term solution to the issue of CS

Raise the level of awareness and information sharing on the issue of child soldiers not only among organizations working on the issue but also among communities directly and indirectly affected by the issue.

Strengthen the psychological counseling program for former child soldiers

Case Study No. 7: Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee (BMWEC) 20

BMWEC is a five (5) year old organization based in Maesot which was created primarily to address the lack of access of illegal migrant workers children to education. It is so far the biggest educational institution recognized the Thai Education Department in the Thai – Burma border. They were able to get this recognition by lobbying the Thai Educational Department on the importance of educating the Burmese migrant children. This form of recognition from the Thai authorities has given the school many considerable advantages. One of these advantages is the security of the staffs, teachers and the students of the school. Another advantage is the liberality of the school management to run the school free from harassments and raids from Thai intelligence and police. So far BMWEC has 24 schools recognized by the Thai educational authorities located in Maesot and other parts of Tak province in Thailand. The primary objective of the organization is to open schools in different areas in Tak Province of Thailand to give opportunities to the illegal migrant workers’ children to go to school and be educated.

Today, BMWEC has 45 schools catering to over 5 000 migrant children all over Tak province. The schools accept children below 17 years old, but there are exceptional cases of which the schools accept students over 19 years old depending on the case of the child. The level of education of the schools ranges from grade 1 to grade 4 and some schools are more advance and they have grade 8 classes.

20 Interview with Nay Do, School Health Coordinator of Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee (BMWEC), Maesot Thailand, 10 February 2006.

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The schools of BMWEC use text books from Burma and some books come from the Karen Education Department. The teachers of the schools also undergo capacity building program such as “teachers’ training” being extended by some non-government organizations like the Thai – Burma Border Consortium (TBBC). The students are being taught English, Thai and Burmese languages, history, geography, math and science. The schools also accept foreigner volunteers to teach at the schools.

To be more specific, BWEC provides elementary education (grade1 to grade 6). It has boarding houses for children especially for orphans (parentless) students. It gives counseling to the parents of the children enrolled in the schools of BMWEC. However, these programs are not necessarily designed for former child soldiers, though the schools have handled cases of former child soldiers who deserted from Tatamadaw. However, based on the interview, they did not really have the record or they were not able to track down how many former child soldiers attended the BMWEC schools since this kind of monitoring system is not in anyways their priority and within their mandates. Informally, they just know that there are certain school years that they will have students who are former child soldiers. And in as far as these cases of child soldiers are concerned, they just treat them just like any children who are in need of education and must attend classes regularly based on the rquirements of the schools. The school program is not also currently under national framework of DRR for former child soldiers from Burma.


BMWEC operates primary/elementary and secondary educational program in the Thai-Burma border more specifically in Tak province i.e. Maesot



24 of its school are recognized by the Thai Education Department.

Peoples working for BMWEC are 100% committed to the program and to the organizations.

Well-defined organizational structure and systematized educational program.

Good networking and partnership with other organizations based in Maesot.


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Less funding – they could not extend educational assistance to many other illegal migrant workers’ children.

Security issues for both the students and teachers

Dependent so much on the income of the school (each child has to pay 200 Baht for one school year.) Usually, the income of the school is not enough to cover all expenses and operations of the schools.

Recommendations Increase networking with other

organizations with similar aim and vision.

Lobby the Thai government for children finished studying at BMWEC schools to have access to Thai schools providing higher education

Lobby the Thai government not to arrest teachers and students of BMWEC schools who do not have security papers.

To be able to create a psychosocial program for those children who have traumas and are victims of war and conflict in the areas they come from.

To be able to standardized the curriculum that is being used in all the schools under BWMEC.

Case Study No. 8: Karen Student Network Group (KSNG) 21

KSNG was formed in July 6, 1996. It believes that the students and youths of Burma play a key role in the struggle for a free and democratic Burma and must be prepared for future leadership. The primary purpose of the organization is to stage activities for Karen youths that will unite and mobilize them to fight against the current regime in Burma, which has excluded true representation of the Karen people in political processes. KSNG is composed of nine student-working groups with a membership of over 2 000 students, and operates along the Thai-Burma border and has a based in Maesot.

21 Interview with Saw Poe Eh, President of Karen Student Network Group (KSNG), Maesot Thailand, 10 February 2006.

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As an organization it seeks out local educational opportunities for Karen students. It prepares Karen students for future leadership positions. It facilitates learning and understanding on topics related to social, economic and political events. It takes an active part in preserving and promoting Karen culture and literature and organizes the youth to gain trust among each other and build self-sufficiency and self-reliance.

KSNG operates and functions as a preparatory school for the future leadership of the Karen people in order to create better understanding among the Karen students and youths for united political goals and objectives so they are prepared to lead the Karen people towards a united, democratic, non-racist, non-sexist and prosperous society in Burma. It believes that justice is important for peace in Burma. It believes that justice means equality in all aspects of gender, economics, ethnic rights and politics.

As an organization, it has the following programs;

1. Training and Workshop - KSNG organizes different kinds of training-workshops like leadership, management and development training, computer, training, basic political training, capacity building workshop. It also organizes media training such as journalism training, and radio running program training.

2. Media – KSNG produces four different kinds of publications. It has also its radio program on drugs, politics, economics and women’s rights, stories, child trafficking, and environment.

3. Organizing – networking with Karen grassroots and community leaders.

4. Karen Internally Displaced School (KIDS) - provides school necessities such as notebooks, pens, pencils and etc. The purpose of the school is to provide opportunity to those children who escape from the government’s brutal torture to be able to read and write.

5. Theater for Social Change 6. Education and Culture – organizes different competitions on

general knowledge, poem writing, drawing, essay writing on Karen history, debating, impromptu speaking, singing, cultural exchange, basket weaving, traditional porridge cooking and story telling with drama.

7. Fund-raising and Cooperation

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8. Working Group’s Publication However, these programs are not necessarily designed for

former child soldiers. The programs are not also currently under the national framework of DRR for former child soldiers from Burma.


KSNG offers different kinds of educational, capacity building and cultural activities and opportunities and services to most Karen students and youth



Strong network with local, regional and international organizations


Very strong network with CBOs, NGOs, INGOs

Support coming from the grassroots communities


Financial and logistical constraints Security issues

Recommendations Fund mobilization to support the activities of KSNG

Case Study No.9: Earthrights International, Chiang Mai, Thailand 22

ERI (Earthrights International) is a nonprofit group of activists, organizers, and lawyers with expertise in human rights, the environment, and corporate and government accountability. ERI has offices in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.

EarthRights International (ERI) combines the power of law and the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment. It works at the intersection of human rights and the environment, which we define as earth rights. It specializes in fact-

22 Interview with Anna Malindog, ERI/ERS Alumni Coordinator, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 25 February 2006.

Earthrights International, http://www.earthrights.org

Earthrights International, 2004 Annual Report.

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http://www.earthrights.org/

finding, legal actions against perpetrators of earth rights abuses, training for grassroots and community leaders and advocacy campaigns. Through these strategies, ERI seeks to end earth rights abuses, and to promote and protect earth rights

What It Does?

Document - human rights and environmental abuses in countries where few other organizations can safely operate. We expose and publicize earth rights abuses through campaigns, reports and articles.

Organize - the human rights and environmental activist communities around earth rights issues. We are at the forefront of the movement to hold corporations accountable for fair human rights, labor, and environmental practices no matter where they do business.

Litigate - in U.S. courts on behalf of people around the world whose earth rights have been violated by governments and transnational corporations. For earth rights abuses against villagers in Burma, we brought the landmark lawsuit, Doe v. Unocal Corp.

Advocate - for those who have been harmed, and fight for better earth rights protections at every level, from the local to the international.

Teach - people about their earth rights and remedies, especially people living under repressive regimes. We train villagers and refugee women to testify at the United Nations and other international agencies. We run the EarthRights Schools for activists in Southeast Asia and in the Amazon.ERI – Human Rights Educational Program:

The EarthRights Schools work to create local human rights and environmental activists in Southeast Asia, Amazon and in the Mekong Region. The first EarthRights School opened in Thailand in 1998, the second opened in Ecuador in 2001, and the Mekong School will soon be opened of this June 2006. These three innovative programs provide rigorous training in human rights, environmental monitoring and advocacy techniques.

The Schools teach that earth rights promotion and protection are the cornerstones of democracy, which requires an engaged civil society to secure and defend these rights. Through the EarthRights Schools students gain specific knowledge and skills essential to the creation of a civil society, and take this knowledge out into their own communities. The EarthRights Schools help to create a corps of committed defenders of human rights and the natural world.

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ERI Schools

ERS – Burma

The EarthRights School- Burma contributes to the development of a vibrant and well-informed civil society in Burma, and communities along the Thai-Burma border through the intensive training of young environmental activists from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The School program provides opportunities for alumni to protect earthrights and influence development in their communities. The training program is designed to create young leaders with skills and knowledge to work on earth rights issues in their communities, while also providing a model that combines a balance of theoretical and experiential learning for activists and community leaders.

Since the EarthRights School’s establishment in 1999, it has gained a reputation for graduating highly effective peace and environmental advocates for Burma. Whether the issue is degradation associated with mining or logging, struggles against proposed dams on the Salween River, the development of the India-Burma pipeline or the relationship between forced labor and development, the School’s alumni can be found playing important roles.

Since 1999, 65 students have graduated from the program and are actively working for social change and environmental protection in grassroots organizations both inside Burma and along the border areas. Alumni are supported in undertaking their grassroots work through the activities of the Alumni Program. The alumni program seeks to maximize the impact of their work by providing ongoing structured opportunities for graduates to network, collaborate, exchange information and resources, and receive training and technical assistance.

The kind of subjects that ERS Burma is teaching fall under human rights and the environment, political systems (what is democracy) and international law, community building and development. It also teaches subject matters that are more into skills building like English language, computer programs, making a visual and report presentation, research and reporting writing, project proposal writing, and other skills which the students could learn while they go through the one year program.

Usually the kinds of students being selected for the school are those people who have been active in doing community and organizational endeavors. Part of selection criteria also is the level of activism and interest of prospective ERS students on issues

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related to human rights and environment. The age range of the students is within the age range of 15 – 30 years old. ERS - Mekong

ERI will open its inaugural EarthRights School-Mekong program in June 2006, drawing from the success of the EarthRights School- Burma model. The program will create a cohesive group of activists from each of the Mekong countries who have the intercultural skills, substantive knowledge and experience to voice their individual and collective concerns about Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded hydroelectric projects, and related human rights, transparency and participation issues, within the Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS). Graduates of the program will form a strong network of community advocates who, acting together, can effectively campaign on behalf of affected communities who are currently underrepresented and often excluded from decision making that impacts their rights and livelihoods.

Every two years the EarthRights School-Mekong aims bring together 12 students (two students from each GMS country: Yunnan/China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam) in a four-month intensive residential learning program in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Between the first three months of instruction and the second session of group work, students will return to their home countries to undertake fact-finding and documentation work on key projects. The second session has less focus on instruction, but more on guided campaign/advocacy planning. Each year the school will focus on a specific area of campaigning/advocacy occurring around Mekong region development issues. In its inaugural year, the course focuses on hydro-development and water issues and the ADB.

In as far as impacts of the Human Rights Educational Related Programs of ERI are concerned, according to Anna Malindog, Alumni Program Coordinator of ERI/ERS from her personal perspective it have the following positive impacts.

Building an Earthrights (human rights and environment) movement in Southeast.

Empowering grassroots activists through continuous education on human rights and the environment.

Sustained campaign and advocacy on the protection and promotion of earthrights (human rights and environment).

Moreover, these educational programs of ERI are not designed to respond to the issues and DRR needs of former child soldiers though these could be one among the many programs in the Thai- Burma border that could be potent sources of educational services that will respond to the educational needs of former child soldiers.

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Earthrights School Burma is an educational institution that basically teaches human rights and environment subjects.


The programs have the following strengths:

The school programs are well funded.23

The school programs have an efficient, effective, well educated and well trained teachers and visiting lecturers on issues related to human rights and environment coming from different international, regional and local organizations and also coming ERI/ERS staffs.

The school programs have well defined and written curriculum and system and style of teaching.

The schools have their own dormitories well equip with the necessary amenities needed by the students to be comfortable in their daily living in the schools.

The schools also are well provided with necessary educational facilities including internet, library, access to different educational materials and media, educational supplies (i.e. notebooks, paper, etc.) and communication facilities.

The schools have their own class rooms and areas for teaching which are quite comfortable to a greater degree.

The schools have teacher assistants who help the students in their studies

23 The following are some of the funding agencies and supporters of ERI that fund ERS Burma School and the Mekong School, American Jewish World Service, Foundation for the People of Burma, Refugees international Japan, Trocaire, Oxafam America, and Oxfam Hongkong.

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and in any educational exercises taking place at the schools.

The schools have committed management staffs and teachers.

The schools facilitate a democratic environment in its conduct and operations.

The schools also extend some form of stipend to the students so that they can buy personal things for themselves.

The schools also provide personal amenities that students need in their daily life in the school (i.e. soap, food, recreational activities, etc.)

After the students graduates, the school provides them technical, limited financial support (i.e. project funds, technical assistance grants), educational and capacity building opportunities through the alumni program.

The program have the following challenges:

For ERS Burma the pressing challenge is the security issue being faced by the students from Thai authorities.

Recommendations To get legal entity and accreditation from the Thai Educational Ministry and Department

Case Study No.10: Women’s Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE)24

WEAVE is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 with the intent to empower indigenous women and support their needs and basic human rights. It has offices in different border areas such as Mae Hong Son, Maesot and Chiang Mai. In 1994, WEAVE developed a partnership with refugee women’s organizations that

24 Interview with Mitos, Director of WEAVE, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 01 February 2006.

WEAVE, brochure

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lead to changes in the organizational mission to reflect WEAVE new thrusts and direction which primarily attempt to address some of the problems faced by marginalized ethnic women from Burma and their children in key areas of education, health, and income generation.

As an organization, its vision, mission and goals center on women’s advancement, and empowerment through education. It believes that encouraging the leadership of women and the development of their status benefits the whole community. And this is the very rationale why they prioritize supporting women to expand their power, rights, and opportunities through active women’s organizations in their communities. WEAVE supports and strengthens the development efforts of women’s organizations to become empowered and self-reliant, enabling them to participate fully in their communities and political life.

In as far as the organization’s programs are concerned, the following are list of programs WEAVE are actively managing and implementing;

1. Educational Program:

The first phase the program is the “Child Development Project” which basically supports nursery schools in the refugee camps in Mae Hong Son Province, in coordination with Karenni and Karen women’s organizations. The program covers supplementary feeding, teacher training and parent’s education, training of trainers, development of educational materials, child development learning centers, and teacher-leaders exchanges.

The second phase of the project is more focused on the “Early Childhood Development (ECD)”, incorporating an inclusive education approach to include children with special needs. The first priority of the project is to extend extensively ECD access to displaced Burmese ethnic children, regardless of gender or disability in camp and out of camp.

2. Women’s Capacity Development Project :

The project provides technical and financial support to Karen, Karenni and other ethnic women’s organizations along the Thai-Burma -India border. The program supports the capacity building efforts of young women and women’s groups on project management and organizational development, adult literacy and vocational training. The program also provides internship opportunities for young women.

3. Health:

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The health project integrates women’s health education delivery which focuses on the design, production and dissemination of culturally appropriate materials in various formats, covering topics such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS awareness, nutrition, family planning, childcare, and violence against women. In the course of the implementation of this program, WEAVE was able to establish firmed ties and partnership with international health organizations like WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, and IOM along the Thai-Burma border who are involved in refugee, IDP and migrant health issues.

4. Income Generation:

The project currently supports women’s initiatives in alternative livelihoods including 3 camp based projects utilizing women’s traditional weaving and embroidery skills. This project is aimed at providing safe employment opportunities for women based on the premise that “a right to work is a right for all”.

Though WEAVE’s programs have their own focal area, it started to have a more integrative approach, recognizing the interrelatedness of its program while at the same time trying to remain relevant. As one can observed, capacity development and advocacy are integral parts of all WEAVE programs.

In terms of target communities for its programs, WEAVE

focused on registered and unregistered communities particularly refugees, particularly refugee women, recognizing their role in providing for their families and in ensuring the well-being of their children.

However, WEAVE’s programs and projects do not really and were not created to respond to the DRR needs of former child soldiers. Nonetheless, these programs according to the Director of WEAVE, Ms. Mitos Urgel, these programs in one way or the other could be accessed and maybe used to respond to the DRR needs of former child soldiers depending on the framework by which the DRR programs for child soldiers from Burma will be administered and implemented of which WEAVE programs can complement and supplement such initiatives.


WEAVE’s programs center on children’s and women education, health related issues, building economic opportunities and livelihood for women and health related issues

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and concerns.Strengths/Challenges


The programs are well funded. WEAVE has an accreditation and legal

status in Thailand. Strong local, regional, and

international network and partnerships.

Well conceptualized, thought out and executed programs


Security issues in the Thai-Burma border and the level of sensitivity of the issues they are working on.

Recommendations To be able to respond to some issues like that of the DRR needs of child soldiers in Burma.

Case Study No.11: Burmese Migrant Workers' Education Committee (BMWEC) and World Education/ Consortium (WE/C)25

This upcoming school year of 2006 - 2007 the Burmese Migrant Workers' Education Committee (BMWEC) and World Education/ Consortium (WE/C) will be opening the Wide Horizons Program. This will be an advanced school located in Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand on the Hsa Thoo Lei school compound. This is a 10-month program offering advanced courses in English, Computer skills, Educational Management and Organizational Management. This will be a boarding program with students and teachers living, working and studying together. Through contacts with various CBOs, NGOs and schools in the area the students will have the unique experience of a program that is practical based. Students will have the opportunity to create and implement new projects of their design, as well as work with many local and international organizations.

25 Announcement for the Horizon Program through an advertisement circulated among the NGO communities in Thailand working for Burma issue.

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Wide Horizons will accommodate at least 20 outstanding candidates from Burma currently living in Thailand. It will recruit from a wide range of ethnicities and over multiple provinces in Thailand. In accepting students, the program has the following criteria;

Have experience working in community organizations or schools for at least one year

Are dedicated to their community Are hardworking in their studies and personal growth Agree to a year community work contract with a local

organization of their choice. Program Survey/MatrixProgram Description

Wide Horizon is a high level educational program for Burmese who are working and are planning to work in the NGOs.



The program has sufficient funding for its operation


Security related issues

Recommendations Improve security precautions and measures

Case Study No. 12: Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees26

COERR lives by the principle which says “to love and to serve”. It extends relief assistance to victims of natural disaster and gives needy assistance to refugees and displaced people. It also gives assistance to the poor and to the vulnerable groups. As an organization it was formed on the 20th of December 1978 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT). COERR operates under the concept of love and serving all fellowmen on the basis of humanity without any consideration of race, religion, gender or political ideology. As organization, its mission is to alleviate the suffering of people in need, regardless of their nationality, religion, gender or political beliefs. Its vision is to proactively render appropriate humanitarian relief services, particularly to the Extreme Vulnerable Individuals (EVI’s) that will enable them to 26 Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees, http://www.coerr.org.

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http://www.coerr.org/

live their lives with dignity and encourage them to be productive and caring member of their community. As an organization, COERR gets its resources from the assistance and supports of various religious and charity organizations as well as from private individuals in general, within and from foreign countries.

In general, COERR has the following assistance programs;

1. Extending emergency assistance to the victims of natural disasters – it gives emergency foodstuffs and other necessities of life to victims of natural disaster.

2. Provide assistance to the refugees – it gives necessary

materials for the lives of the refugees in four main (4) provinces along the Thai – Burma border, i.e. Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi and Rachaburi for them to be able to survive and assist them further in their preparation for their return to their homeland.

3. Extend assistance to the Thai people affected by the influx of refugees – it operates various relief projects in consistence to the requirements of the people in border areas.

In terms of concrete programs for refugees along the Thai-Burma border, COERR undertakes the following;

1. Relief Supplies - ensures that identified Extremely Vulnerable Individuals (EVI’s) in camps and affected host communities have access to adequate and appropriate food and non-food relief supplies to sustain life with dignity.

2. Education - ensures that refugee children have access to educational supplies, materials and facilities.

3. Environmental Protection & Agricultural Training/Production – works in increasing awareness and knowledge on appropriate and sustainable agricultural technologies to ensure better livelihood skills and to increase self-sufficiency of the refugees.

4. Self-Help Activities - enables EVI’s to acquire, develop and utilize livelihood skills that can alleviate their vulnerable conditions and make them productive both in the camp environment and upon repatriation.

5. Separated Children - assists UNHCR assemble an accurate and up to date database on Separated Children in all nine (9) refugee camps, thereby enhancing their protection against possible abuse.

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6. Community-Based Waste Management - implements a Community-Based Waste Management system in camps by formulating and applying effective maintenance and preventive waste management strategies while training and organizing the refugee community, to develop their self-sufficiency to manage the system.

7. Preservation of Traditional Ethnic Arts & Crafts through the Elderly - encourages and supports the elderly to promote and sustain traditional ethnic arts and crafts and thereby create opportunities to help them become productive members of their communities.

Moreover, COERR is currently implementing a project funded by UNICEF and it is called the Child Protection Committee (CPC). This project potentially can responds to the needs of DRR program for former child soldiers. The project is currently implemented in (9) nine camps namely Ban Mai Noi, Mae Surin, Mae Ra Ma Luang, Mae La Oon, Nupoe, Ban Don, Yang, Thamhin, Mae La and Umpien. The people working in CPC participated in a series of trainings implemented by COERR to enhance their skills and knowledge in addressing child protection issues. CPC acts as a coordinating body and work closely with community based organizations.

However, COERR clarified that it is the community not them who identifies child protection issues as a priority. COERR is not imposing on the community what issues to work on which is quite valid since this part of a basic community development principle. Nonetheless, the issue of child soldiers has been noted by CPC as one of the possible concerns.

There’s another project being implemented by UNHCR and COERR and this is about the database registration for separated children. There is already one item in the documentation tool about child soldiers (to determine if a separated child is a former SPDC soldier).


The program of COERR for “separated children” help and assists UNHCR assemble an accurate and up to date database on Separated Children in all nine (9) refugee camps, thereby enhancing their

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protection against possible abuse.Strengths/Challenges


The programs has sufficient funding for its operation

The programs has able and enough personnel to carry out its operation

Wide and broad network of organizations both locally and internationally

Long experience in terms of program implementation

The programs have a well established and stable relationship and partnership with people, communities and organizations in the context of its operations.

The programs have the following challenges:

Security related issues

Recommendations Improve security precautions and measures

Case Study No. 13: English and Computer Institute 27

The English and Computer Institute was formerly called the Pan Kachin College since it was established and formed by Pan Kachin Development Society (PKDS), an organization based at the China-Burma border, Mai Ja Yang Kachin State. It was ran by PKDS for quite a long time (at least more ten (10) years) until recently it was confiscated by the Kachin Independent Organization (KIO), a ceasefire armed groups from Kachin State located and based in Mai Ja Yang Kachin State (China-Burma border). The reason behind the transfer of leadership and operations of the college from PKDS to KIO was politically motivated and is the will of the military general in Rangoon (SPDC). SPDC exerted much pressure on KIO to have controlled over the school.

In as far as the school is concerned, it primarily teaches computer courses, intensive English and Chinese languages. For a limited percentage of time and considerations other subject matters are also being taught in the school. The school has a two year 27 Interview with Abraham Gam Aung, Head teacher of English and Computer Institute, Mai Ja Yan Kachin State, 27 February 2006.

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program. Every program cycle at least around 30 to 50 Kachin students are accepted.

In terms of resources, the school has boarding houses and dormitories for students both for boys and girls. They have a good school area and quite good school buildings and facilities. However, due to limited funds it could not accommodate more students. The school also has a library that needs more books for students to have more access to learning and materials other than what are being taught in formal classes.

In as far as its mission is concerned, just like any other educational institutions, regardless of its limited capacities both in finance and materials (educational facilities), it aims to extend and open opportunities to Kachin youth to study and acquire skills and knowledge that they could use in various endeavors. And in as far as the issue of child soldier is concerned, the institute is aware of the issue but did not really confirm if indeed the institute handled cases of child soldiers who deserted from the “Tatamadaw”.

Program Survey/MatrixProgram Description English and Computer Institute is an

educational institution that caters to the educational needs of the Kachin people especially the youth.

ItrStrengths/Challenges


Personnel are committed and are able to carry out its operation

Wide and broad network of organizations locally

Long experience in terms of program implementation

The programs have a well established and stable relationship and partnership with people, communities and organizations in the context of its operations.

The programs have the following challenges:

Security related issues Funding limitations Acquisition of more educational

facilities and materials Susceptible to the pressures of

SPDC since currently it is being run

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by KIO

Recommendations Improve security precautions and measures Fund raising School operations should be transferred back to PKDS.

E. Summary of Challenges Faced by the Surveyed DRR-related Projects/Programs

Based on the finding of the research, the challenges that DRR related programs in the Thai- Burma border implementers are facing fall almost in all of the categories written below;

Cooperation by government

MOU between the Thai government and military government in Burma. This is a challenge because whatever kind of DRR programs that will be implemented in the Thai-Burma border will not be as effective as possible if there are a threat that anytime the Thai government will deport former child soldier deserters from Tatamadaw to Burma.

Inter-civil society coordination:

No well coordinated and linking of DRR related programs being implemented by different organizations at the Thai-Burma border

No sharing and exchanges of information among and between DRR related programs implementers especially about the best practices in handling cases of child soldiers

No define and regular sharing of resources among and between DRR related programs implementers

Financial Constraints

DRR-related activities suffer from financial constraints and needs to mobilize funding in order for the programs to be more functional.

Relevance of Livelihood Programs

Mobilization and listing of possible economic opportunities for former child soldiers living in Thailand is important so as for them to have good access to better economic opportunities

Relevance of Psycho-social Programs

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Creation of counselling programs with special focus on trauma relief is needed especially for child soldiers who were former combatants.

F. Summary of Lessons Learned

Based on the findings of the research, the following are the lessons learned that will enhance/ strengthen DRR-related work in Burma.

Lobbying and working with the Thai government especially on security matters and concern.

Lobbying and working with NSA’s by influencing them to implement DRR programs.

Establishing a well coordinated and facilitated DRR programs among Burmese and international groups and organizations in the Thai-Burma border.

Protecting children throughout the process of implementing DRR programs

Bringing back children to their families Ensuring psycho-social well-being of children Protection from being re-recruited Confidentiality and security issues Working with detained children

G. Summary of Recommendations

1. Advocacy and lobbying – national, regional and international

Lobbying not only UNCHR for but other organizations as well with capability of extending help and responses to the DRR related programs for former child soldiers.

Raise the level of awareness and information sharing on the issue of child soldiers not only among organizations working on the issue but also among communities directly and indirectly affected by the issue.

Increase networking with other organizations with similar aim and vision.

2. Follow-up research/ documentation

To be able to develop a capacity to write and submit report to the UN system on child rights issues in Burma.

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Explore long term solution to the issue of Child Soldiers in Burma

3. Fund mobilization and economic and psycho-social program opportunities

Fund-raising for the training program Provide more economic assistance and opportunities to

former child soldiers. Strengthen the psychological counseling program for

former child soldiers Create a psychosocial program for those children who

have traumas and are victims of war and conflict in the areas they come from.

4. Efficient coordination among civil society actors and

Establish more connection and relationship with the international community and Thai-authority especially with regards to security issues.

Implementing DRR related programs actively participated by civil society and service oriented groups located and based at the Thai-Burma border areas where sharing of expertise and resources is manifested.

5. Government cooperation

Lobbying the Thai government to lift up the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Thailand and Burma stating that the Thai authorities will send back to Burma any deserters from the government armed forces of Burma living and staying in Thailand

Lobby the Thai authorities for the security of the school, students, teachers and the people working for educational DRR related programs

Accreditation and recognition from the Thai Educational Department for DRR educational related programs.

Access opportunity for students (former child soldiers) of DRR educational related programs to have higher education from Thai school.

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Documents

Final Draft - peoplespartner.files.wordpress.com€¦ · Web viewExecutive Summary: The Research Process: In the conduct of the research, the researcher basically conducted extensive