BURMA/CHILD RIGHTS

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=8/28/97
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-37392
TITLE=BURMA/CHILD RIGHTS
BYLINE=DORIS THAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
/// NOT VOICED ///
INTRO:  AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNITED NATIONS, A HUMAN RIGHTS 
ORGANIZATION BASED IN THAILAND HAS INVESTIGATED THE STATUS OF 
CHILDREN IN BURMA AND ISSUED A REPORT.  DORIS THAN OF VOA BURMESE
SERVICE SAYS THE REPORT IS CRITICAL OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT.
TEXT:  IMAGES ASIA, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT 
DOCUMENTS AND DISSEMINATES INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS IN 
BURMA, SAYS THE CHILDREN OF BURMA ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE 
MILITARY GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. 
WHILE BURMA HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES IN THE 
WORLD, THE IMAGES ASIA REPORT SAYS THE PLIGHT OF THE COUNTRY'S 
CHILDREN HAS GROWN WORSE IN RECENT YEARS. MS. ALLISON MCLURE, THE
EDITOR OF THE ORGANIZATION'S REPORT, SAYS THE COUNTRY'S MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT IS TO BLAME FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO BURMA'S CHILDREN.
IN THE AREA OF HEALTH CARE, MS. MCLURE SAYS, THE MILITARY 
GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES HAVE HURT MANY BURMESE CHILDREN:
                       /// MCLURE ACT ///
         WE GOT A SITUATION WHERE THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IS 
         PUTTING A PRIORITY ON ARMAMENTS AND ON EXPANDING THE 
         MILITARY TO FIVE HUNDRED (SOLDIERS) BY THE END OF THE 
         DECADE. (BUT) VERY LITTLE IS BEING SPENT ON HEALTH 
         SERVICES AND ON EDUCATION.
                         /// END ACT ///
MS. MCLURE SAYS ABOUT 175 THOUSAND CHILDREN DIE EVERY YEAR IN 
BURMA . SHE SAYS MOST OF THESE DEATHS ARE FROM ILLNESSES, LIKE 
DIARRHEA AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES, THAT CAN BE CURED WITH THE 
PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT.
EDUCATION, ACCORDING TO MS. MCLURE, IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE YOUNG 
PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED.  SHE SAYS THAT THE BURMESE PEOPLE HAVE LONG
VALUED EDUCATION AND THE COUNTRY HAS A RELATIVELY HIGH LITERACY 
RATE. BUT MS. MCLURE SAYS THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF YOUNG PEOPLE 
IS DECLINING DRAMATICALLY.
                     /// 2ND  MCLURE ACT ///
         AT PRESENT ONLY 20 PERCENT OF THE CHILDREN ENROLLED IN 
         SCHOOLS EVER MAKE IT TO GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND 
         THAT FIGURE DOESN'T PROVIDE (ENABLE) CHILDREN TO GROW 
         INTO PRODUCTIVE SKILLED ADULTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORK
         FORCE. 
                         /// END ACT ///
IMAGES ASIA SAYS THE USE OF CHILD LABOR IS ALSO RAMPANT  IN 
BURMA.  FAMILIES ARE SO POOR THAT MANY CHILDREN HAVE TO WORK TO 
PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. MS. MCLURE SAYS CHILDREN ARE OFTEN  FOUND 
TO BE WORKING IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
                     /// 3RD MCLURE ACT ///
         THERE IS VERY LITTLE SAFETY PROVISIONS  FOR CHILDREN, 
         FOR EXAMPLE, IN BRICK MAKING,  DOING ROAD WORK AND OTHER
         TYPES OF HEAVY CONSTRUCTION. AND WHEN YOU SEE THESE 
         KIDS, WHO ARE MALNOURISHED IN THESE SITUATIONS, THEY ARE
         SO TINY, DOING HEAVY LABOR, IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY 
         DANGEROUS. 
                        /// END ACT ///  
ANOTHER MATTER OF GREAT CONCERN IS THE USE OF CHILD SOLDIERS. 
JULIE BERRY, WHO ALSO WORKED ON THE IMAGES ASIA REPORT, SAYS SUCH
SOLDIERS ARE A COMMON SIGHT IN BURMA. 
                     /// JULIE BERRY ACT ///
         CHILDREN HAVE BECOME INVOLVED IN ARMED CONFLICTS ALL 
         OVER BURMA. THEY'VE BEEN RECRUITED AS CHILD SOLDIERS AND
         ALSO TAKEN AS PORTERS AND TREATED BADLY BY VARIOUS 
         ARMIES IN BURMA.
                      /// END BERRY ACT ///
BURMA SIGNED THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE 
CHILD IN 1991. MS. BERRY SAYS U-N'S RIGHTS OF THE CHILD COMMITTEE
MET TO DISCUSS BURMA LAST YEAR AND EXPRESSED ITS CONCERNS TO THE 
BURMESE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. 
THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT, SO FAR HAS MADE NO RESPONSE TO THE 
REPORT.(SIGNED)
NEB/DT/KL/PT
28-Aug-97 7:34 PM EDT (2334 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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