UN begins talks with Myanmar to stop use of child soldiers

Bangkok, June 29 (UNI) The United Nations has begun a first-time dialogue with Myanmar's military junta and rebels in the country to urge them to cooperate in ending the alleged use of child soldiers in army.

The UN Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy held talks with Myanmar's acting Prime Minister General Thein Sein and United Wa State Army, one of the Myanmarese rebel groups listed in the UN Security Council Report on child soldiers.

Ms Coomaraswamy wrapped up a five-day mission to Myanmar expressing satisfaction with the government's response, adding ''The Government responded favourably to an on-going dialogue with the United Nations.'' In a press statement from Yangon today, the UN said ''The Special Representative welcomes this opportunity to engage in dialogue with the senior leaders of the Myanmar Government on issues related to child protection and to clarify with them international standards and obligations related to childrenand armed conflict,'' In her meeting with the rebel group, the UN envoy urged them to cooperate with the UN representatives in Myanmar in preparing a strategy to stop use of minors in armed conflict and to reintegrate child soldiers back into the society.

Besides discussions with the leaders of the Government Committee for the Prevention of Military Recruitment of Underage Children, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yangon, the UN envoy also visited a military recruitment centre in the central Myanmarese city of Mandalay.

Myanmar's government agreed to assign a high-level official from the Ministry of Social Welfare to work with the UN Country Team and especially with UNICEF on all the issues related to children and armed conflict.

It also agreed to organise regular training sessions with the Ministry of Defence to protect children during armed conflict.

The UN envoy also discussed ways of involving the other rebel groups in the country who are listed in the UN Security Council report on child soldiers.

A Security Council panel on children and armed conflict will examine the UN Secretary General's report on the situation of children in conflict situations in Myanmar this November.

UNI