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[29 jANUARY 2008] - A group in the three southernmost provinces in Thailand is inducting "child soldiers" into the local self-defence force, the Working Group on Justice for Peace said.
The non-government organisation chaired by Angkhana Neelaphajit condemned the training of youngsters aged 8 to 10 years in the use of weapons by the Ruam Thai Team. The RTT was violating the rights of children by training them as "child soldiers", the statement said. It called on the agencies tackling southern unrest and private and state organisations protecting children's rights to investigate the matter. The working group was reacting to reports the RTT - formed by a group of residents in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and some border districts in Songkhla - has expanded its defence-force training to include about 300 children. The RTT is headed by Pol Col Pithak Iedkaew, a former investigation chief of Yala police station and now superintendent of the Krasae Sin district police in Songkhla. It comprises people from all walks of life and age groups. The RTT began providing weapons training for Buddhist and Muslim residents in the deep South in 2005 following a string of attacks that took the lives of innocent civilians and local officials. Â Further information
pdf: http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Jan2008_news99.php