Children Soldiers

[shadower]

http://www2.wcc-coe.org/photo.nsf/htmllist/A06635-0.html/$FILE/06635-0.jpg
http://users.otenet.gr/~tzelepisk/yc/chs1.jpg
http://peaceworkers.org.uk/images/Child%20soldier.small%20-%20PANOS.JPG
http://someplace.somebuddy.ca/images/soldier_bone600.jpg
http://users.otenet.gr/~tzelepisk/yc/chs2.jpg
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1998/391/in2.jpg
http://www.amnesty.ca/slideshow/2003/images/childsoldier.jpg
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9901/11/child.soldier.01/strip.child.soldier.jpg
http://www.globalpolicy.org/images/pictures/smallarm.jpg

[Howie Kaluha]

soldiers?! :|

[RP]

Just sad, no other way to describe it.

[davis411]

soldiers?! :|

X2

[ranger75bn]

:(

[shadower]

Just sad, no other way to describe it.
x2

[EvanL]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.

[pathfinder82]

that's just depressing. thanks!

[shadower]

“Before a battle, they would make a shallow cut and put powder in. Afterward, I didn't see any human being having value.”
-Alleu Bangaru, 14




The True Horror of Being a Child Soldier--Stories Told By Veterans:
Unwilling Soldiers

“I was on my way to the market when a rebel demanded I come with him. The commander said to move ahead with him. My grandmother argued with him. He shot her twice. I said he should kill me, too. They tied my elbows behind my back. At the base they locked me in the toilet for two days. When they left me out, they carved the letters RUF across my chest. They tied me so I wouldn’t rub it until it healed” -Abbas Fofanah, 16


Horrendous Acts

“When we caught kamajors (pro-government militiamen) we would mutilate them by parts and display them in the streets. When villagers refused to clear out of an area we would strip them naked and burn them to death. Sometimes we used plastic and sometimes a tire. Sometimes they would partially sever a person’s neck and then leave them on the road to die slowly… We gang-raped women, sometimes six people at a time. I didn’t feel much because I was drugged and was just there for ***. One of my friends was having *** with a girl when she complained she was tired. He took out his pistol and shot into her ******… We killed people, we cooked them, we ate them, and then we broke their pots” -Abdul Rahman Kamera, 15


“My schoolmates and I met our old teacher , and we knocked him down. We killed the teacher and we took his books and burned them, and then we took some of the papers to the toilet to wipe ourselves.” -Abdul


“The (older rebels) would (impale people) when the drugs had taken hold and they wanted to play wicked games. They want to see blood. Some of them drink blood. Especially on the war fronts where there’s no food, no water, when we killed civilians, we would cut a hole on the top of the arm, above the wrist, and press on the arm, and drink.” -Zakaria Turay, 14

http://nths.newtrier.k12.il.us/academics/faculty/muir/africa_project/p7/ChildSoldiers/images/z980495d.jpg
http://www.greatestcities.com/9407pic/418/CP23418.jpg/Child_Soldier.jpg
http://www.helgeoveras.com/images/barnesoldat_02_400.jpg
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/liberia.jpg
http://www.kleveman.com/photo/africa/big/DSC00017.jpg
http://www.kleveman.com/photo/africa/big/DSC00022.jpg
http://www.kleveman.com/photo/africa/big/DSC00028.jpg
http://www.newint.org/issue236/Images/soldiers.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-59.jpg
http://www.ryanquiel.com/gallery/album14/Khmer_Rouge_Children_Soldiers?full=1
http://www.senter.no/images/LTTE%20soldiers.jpg
http://www.sinhale.com/child4.jpg
http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sos-children-charity/sudan_child_soldier.jpg
http://www.talkingproud.us/ImagesEagle/LiberiaIntervention/TeddyBear.jpg
http://www.unaids.org/bangkok2004/photos/C-1179_768.jpg
http://www.walpolejr.stars.com/society/Child%20Solider/03.jpg
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/pics/6634-0.jpg
http://www2.wcc-coe.org/photo.nsf/htmllist/A06632-0.html/$FILE/06632-0.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-58.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-60.jpg

[davis411]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.
No they are just some untrained kids with guns.

[TuNeRsHaRk]

most of them choose to do it so its not like their all being forced to do it


crazyness

[EvanL]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.
No they are just some untrained kids with guns.
not soldier in the traditional sense. but the term for them is child soldier, because they are used as an army. And armies consist of soldiers.

[EvanL]

its one of the saddest chapters of human history, using children to do things grown men wouldnt even do if their life depended on it.

[Howie Kaluha]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.
No they are just some untrained kids with guns.
not soldier in the traditional sense. but the term for them is child soldier, because they are used as an army. And armies consist of soldiers.

My point exactly. These aren't soldiers. They are children that have been brainwashed by sick rebels.

[Machi]

...
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-60.jpg

good example for a sleeping world-conscience.

CU Mark

[EvanL]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.
No they are just some untrained kids with guns.
not soldier in the traditional sense. but the term for them is child soldier, because they are used as an army. And armies consist of soldiers.

My point exactly. These aren't soldiers. They are children that have been brainwashed by sick rebels.
and used as soldiers

[shadower]

“It's not really war. It's just barbarism. There are rules in war. When children are used, there are no principles, no values, no rules.”
-Esther Gulima,
Unicef official

“A twelve-year-old was forced to set fire to the huts where his family lay sleeping. They wanted to test him. So he burned. People then fled the homes. They told him to shoot them. So he shot them.”
-Grace Machel

[davis411]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.
No they are just some untrained kids with guns.
not soldier in the traditional sense. but the term for them is child soldier, because they are used as an army. And armies consist of soldiers.

My point exactly. These aren't soldiers. They are children that have been brainwashed by sick rebels.
and used as soldiers

I think fighters is a better word for it.

[BloodyTalon]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.
No they are just some untrained kids with guns.
not soldier in the traditional sense. but the term for them is child soldier, because they are used as an army. And armies consist of soldiers.

My point exactly. These aren't soldiers. They are children that have been brainwashed by sick rebels.
and used as soldiers
Calling them soldiers is implying that they're a legitimate fighting force with lot's of training and organization. Those kids are not soldiers; they're fighting slave labor.

[EvanL]

soldiers?! :|
when there used to fight in units, against other units of people, yes they are soldiers.
No they are just some untrained kids with guns.
not soldier in the traditional sense. but the term for them is child soldier, because they are used as an army. And armies consist of soldiers.

My point exactly. These aren't soldiers. They are children that have been brainwashed by sick rebels.
and used as soldiers
Calling them soldiers is implying that they're a legitimate fighting force with lot's of training and organization. Those kids are not soldiers; they're fighting slave labor.
you have a point, but my point was that they are being used in an army as soldiers. Not that they are trained or anything. Soldier never meant that you have to be trained. ONe of the defenitions of the word is
An active, loyal, or militant follower of an organization
But lets not take this topic into a spinzone.

[Tracker 23A]

:(

[b.scheller]

most of them choose to do it so its not like their all being forced to do it

Actually, most child soldiers, were forced into fighting for Rebel factions or Governemtn Army's. Many of them, were given hardcore drugs, as a incentive to fight, or were drugged. They were also further ostracized, by being forced to take part or to watch massive rapes of whole villages.

Like most of the plight of Africa, these children have been often overlooked. Mainly because, the West cares not for Africans, excusing tribalism as the result of the wars and civil wars.

-b.scheller

[Cecinator]

Rebel group in Myanmar (Burma) led by two 12 year olds. Article is five years old though.
http://www.macalester.edu/~fines/godsarmy/20000118/

[hughdotoh]

Damn sickening.

No use comparing them to Boy Scouts, or even JROTC. These kids are real killers.

Anybody who supports this pressing kids into soldiering ought to be sodomized to death.

[Beer Monster]

Unfortuantley there have always been children fighting in war zones and probably always will be. Just a human trait I suppose.

I remember after the first Gulf War there was a bit of an up roar in the UK when it turned out that there had been a 17year old Royal Scots soldier fighting as part of the Desert Rats (there was quite famous photo of him kneeling on the gorund infront of the rest of his section ...... can't seem to find it though). I think 15 is the minimum age but 17 was still considered to young by the British public.

[NimDod]

Nice to see where all of the Europian and US foreign aid money is going, isnt it?

[davis411]

Nice to see where all of the Europian and US foreign aid money is going, isnt it?

Yep.

[Cygnus]

Is there really hope for these children? How do you undo what has been done to them, is there any garantee they will never go back to being child soldiers or slave killing force.

I may sound barberic, but kill them all... Start a new africa one with oput memories of murder and crimes. I meant kill the rebels and the child soldiers not the entire population.

Former rebels in my country though no longer with their units turn to crime to earn money. They get both incentives from the government for surrendering and to stop bing rebels and also they earn money with weapons they hid from the government.

[shadower]

http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso01st.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso02b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso03b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso04b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso07b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso08b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso09b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_10b.jpg

[Digital Marine]

And we think our childhood was bad :|

[rajkhalsa]

http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso04b.jpg
That to me is the saddest picture of the bunch :|

[Para]

You must Remember that Germany had soldiers of this age during WW2 and right nasty little sods they were too. They often fought to death and they inflicted very heavy casualties on the Allied Troops around Cean. Out of one battalion of the youngster just two of them survived to be taken prisoners the rest died at their posts, so don't underrate them.

[shadower]

http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_11b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_12b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_14b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_15b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_16b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_17b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_18b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_19b.jpg
http://www.africa-photo.com/gallery/bolesch/kindersoldaten/kiso_20b.jpg

[JoaMei]

You must Remember that Germany had soldiers of this age during WW2 and right nasty little sods they were too. They often fought to death and they inflicted very heavy casualties on the Allied Troops around Cean. Out of one battalion of the youngster just two of them survived to be taken prisoners the rest died at their posts, so don't underrate them.

Most of them already had years of training in the Hitlerjugend. Those Kids were used in defending german towns, but not in France. Are you talking about Caen? The 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" was a regular SS Unit and not child soldiers.

[sjsoon]

as soldiers. Not that they are trained or anything. Soldier never meant that you have to be trained. ONe of the defenitions of the word is
An active, loyal, or militant follower of an organization

so are HAMAS or whatever group suicide bombers or insurgents known as soldiers as well?

[Dalleer]

Yes , the concept of child soldiers is truly gruesome. Here's a few pictures I found:

http://www.worldrevolution.org/projects/webguide/images/CatPics/ChildSoldierThailand.jpg

http://www.essex.ac.uk/armedcon/images/people/child_soldier_myanmar.jpg

http://www.cfob.org/images/photos/1.jpg

http://www.cfob.org/images/photos/14.jpg

Maybe not all of the people in this picture are children but it's surely got at least two who can be qualified as child soldiers.

[EvanL]

as soldiers. Not that they are trained or anything. Soldier never meant that you have to be trained. ONe of the defenitions of the word is
An active, loyal, or militant follower of an organization

so are HAMAS or whatever group suicide bombers or insurgents known as soldiers as well?
by that defenition yes they are.

[el_kab0ng]

The two Additional Protocols of 1977, applying to international and internal armed conflicts respectively, impose on the parties to a conflict the obligation “to take all feasible measures in order that children who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities” and to “refrain from recruiting them into their armed forces.” The 1998 Rome Statute for an International Criminal Court lists as a war crime conscription or enlistment of children under the age of fifteen into a State’s armed forces or using them to participate actively in hostilities.

Human rights law also addresses the issue of children in armed conflict. The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which has gained nearly universal acceptance—the holdouts are Oman, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States—is the primary instrument. The convention defines a child as a person below the age of eighteen, but sets fifteen as a minimum age for going to war. Some States want to set eighteen as the minimum age for combatants, but the proposal has not received wide support, least of all from those countries affected by internal conflicts of the sort most likely to see the use of child soldiers. In such countries, particularly in Africa, typically half of the population is under the age of fifteen.

[Bluezoo]

sad very sad. :(

[McLane]

sad & sick :|

[Silent 6]

there's no soldiers in these photos. All I see is cannon fodder!

Children being exploited by some 3rd/4th world a$$hole for their own benefit. It makes me sick!

[hauptman]

sad & sick :|

x2 :|

[ABiH]

http://www.zarez.hr/51/images/15a.jpg

http://www.iskon.hr/2004/11/17/0313007.17.jpg

http://www.iskon.hr/2004/11/17/0314007.17.jpg

http://www.iskon.hr/2004/11/17/0315007.17.jpg

http://www.iskon.hr/2004/11/17/0316007.17.jpg

http://www.iskon.hr/2004/11/17/0317007.17.jpg

http://www.iskon.hr/2004/11/17/0318007.17.jpg

http://www.iskon.hr/2004/11/17/0319007.17.jpg

http://www.caritas.org.au/images/newsroom/newsfromthefield/childsoldiers_3.jpg

http://www.caritas.org.au/images/newsroom/newsfromthefield/childsoldiers_1.jpg

http://www.caritas.org.au/images/newsroom/newsfromthefield/childsoldiers_2.jpg

http://www.caritas.org.au/images/newsroom/newsfromthefield/childsoldiers_4.jpg

http://www.caritas.org.au/images/newsroom/newsfromthefield/childsoldiers_5.jpg

http://www.dadalos.org/srbija/Images/images_MR/Kindsoldat.jpg

Sad :(

[flanker7]

Very sad! "People" who put small children to do their fighting should die a slow and painfull death.

It's also tragic to have to fight against these children. I mean as an organized army. Like imagine yourself being part of a UN mission and being attacked by small children :( . Even if it's against all your morral believes, you have to fire back, to protect your self and your fellow soldiers.......... War is always hell, but sometimes it's "more" hel than others

[Paracaidista]

Very sad! "People" who put small children to do their fighting should die a slow and painfull death.

It's also tragic to have to fight against these children. I mean as an organized army. Like imagine yourself being part of a UN mission and being attacked by small children :( . Even if it's against all your morral believes, you have to fire back, to protect your self and your fellow soldiers.......... War is always hell, but sometimes it's "more" hel than others

And then to have some f*** leftist to denounce you as a war criminal. Better to have a helmet-mount camera to record everything :roll:

[MacDaddy]

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/front2453649.1354166665.html

[sjsoon]

as soldiers. Not that they are trained or anything. Soldier never meant that you have to be trained. ONe of the defenitions of the word is
An active, loyal, or militant follower of an organization

so are HAMAS or whatever group suicide bombers or insurgents known as soldiers as well?
by that defenition yes they are.

sh*t. they are soldiers.. grr...

[Apathy]

its one of the saddest chapters of human history, using children to do things grown men wouldnt even do if their life depended on it.

Actually children are much more willing to go to war, than grown men. This is because children are ignorant and think that war is some kind of game. They think that they're just going to march around in their uniform and fight in glorious battles. They don't really think about the enemy's family or his dream.

Wheres that pic with the "Lets go to school" bookbag? That one is definitely a powerful image.

[toki]

You must Remember that Germany had soldiers of this age during WW2 and right nasty little sods they were too. They often fought to death and they inflicted very heavy casualties on the Allied Troops around Cean. Out of one battalion of the youngster just two of them survived to be taken prisoners the rest died at their posts, so don't underrate them.

Most of them already had years of training in the Hitlerjugend. Those Kids were used in defending german towns, but not in France. Are you talking about Caen? The 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" was a regular SS Unit and not child soldiers.

Let's not split hair. Pressing 10 year olds (or much younger) to fight is just like creating animals without any common sense. If it's by drugs/force(african rebels) or very early training/brainwashing(HJ) doesn't make a difference to me.

One of the worst crimes i can imagine. Because those kids never had a choice to change their fate (Not to speak of their victims)

:(

And Para don't say "don't underrate them". Of course they're the most ruthless fighters, but just because they never had the chance to develop any morale. It sounds like you measure any 'achievement' they reached.

[the_janitor]

sad **** indeed ...

[b.scheller]

Child soldiers, are not cannon fodder. Many are ruthless, on the basis that they have nothing to return to, everything that they could dream of, had been taken away from them. They were ostracized by their own community (for whatever means or actions they had done), thus they turn to drugs, that many of them already were hooked on and continue killing.

-b.scheller

[shadower]

http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-06.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-08.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-10.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-11.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-21.jpg
http://www.nkolo-mboka.com/images/PHOTO-ITURI-26.jpg
Chipe, a ten-year-old Hema militia member chases a woman out of a house by gunpoint in the market in the northeastern Congolese town of Bunia, Sunday, May 18, 2003. The Hema militia control most of Bunia and include men, women and children in their ranks. Hundreds of residents streamed to their homes in the troubled northeastern Congolese town of Bunia as calm returned to the town after more than a week of tribal fighting, looting and killings. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo)