Thai militants 'using child soldiers'

The comprehensive report by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers provides information on the treatment of child soldiers captured or rescued by government forces and armed groups in more than 190 countries worldwide. The coalition's last report was in 2004.

"Southeast Asia still has a poor record on protecting its children from conflict," said Ryan Silverio, coordinator for the Southeast Asia Coalition.

In a worrying development in southern Thailand, there is increasing evidence that non-state armed groups used boys for propaganda purposes. They were used to distribute leaflets and write graffiti as well as in arson attacks and on some occasions to plant bombs, the report said, citing confidential interviews in February last year.

"Although reliable information was scarce, there were credible reports of the use of children in operations by separatist armed groups in southern Thailand. The most active of the separatist groups, the National Revolution Front-Coordinate (Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi, BRN-C), had a youth wing with over 7,000 members, which, together with units organised into cells, was reported to be responsible for much of the violence," the report stated.

Meanwhile, on the northern border, former child soldiers who have escaped from the Burmese armed forces (Tatmadaw) are finding it extremely difficult to be under protection on Thai soil due to restrictions imposed by Thai authorities on international organisations, the report stated.

The coalition revealed that several child refugees in Mae La refugee camp in Thailand's northern border province of Mae Hong Son were reportedly recruited by the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council.

In Burma, driven by a system of incentives and punishment, both military and civilian recruiters either abducted or coerced street children and children at bus and train stations and other public places to fill their quotas, it said.