TNLA recruits child soldiers

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NP News - Nov 12

According to information obtained by The NP News, the TNLA (Ta’ang National Liberation Army) in northern Shan State has been escalating its recruitment of child soldiers.

It is reported that the TNLA terrorist group has been conducting 'Operation 1027' for an extended period, targeting various towns in northern Shan State, including Nawghkio, Kyaukme, and Hsibaw.

As reported by a displaced local from northern Shan State, the TNLA has experienced substantial losses and escalated its recruitment of child soldiers since the military launched counterattacks last month.

“They’re doing this more and more often these days,” the local explained. “It’s becoming really common. They’re even doing it to their own people. Not all Palaung people are involved, especially those in the south. They don’t support the TNLA. This is something they’re doing within their own group. They’re taking kids as young as 11 or 12. They’re collecting them early to keep as reserves. Once they’re old enough, they recruit them as soldiers.”

The TNLA armed group has previously been recruiting child soldiers, and according to the above news source, when children reach an age where they can carry weapons, they begin to experience military recruitment.

“If they don’t have kids, they take the father,” the local said. “When he comes back, the kids have to serve. It’s something they’re doing within their own communities. You can see it clearly in places like Kyaukme—young boys, practically child soldiers. It’s gotten worse recently. Both the TNLA and MNDAA are doing it. The TNLA has been doing this for a long time. If they can’t afford to raise a kid, they send them to a monastery. But when they get older, they take them out from the monastery. If a son becomes a monk or old enough, the parents force him to leave the monastery. They even go to monasteries to force monks to leave.”

A male refugee from Kyaukme stated that most of the child soldiers recruited by the TNLA are as young as 10 years old.

Similarly, the MNDAA armed group has also used child soldiers in 'Operation 1027,' according to recent social media reports. – Khit/Thant Zin

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