By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

CHHATTISGARH, India – For the past two decades, Maoist guerrillas have run a parallel government in the region of Bijapur and Dantewada.  The Maoists strive to liberate the red zone, the area of southern India to the border of Nepal.  In 2005, Salwa Judum, a civilian resistance emerged which later gained the support of the Indian government.  As a result of this conflict, 436 people including 200 policemen died in 2007.

Currently, all parties to the Chhattisgarh conflict are recruiting child soldiers to their ranks.  The Naxalites, a Maoist rebel group, admit that they have recruited children as young as 12 years old to “gather intelligence, for sentry duty, to make and plant landmines and bombs, and to engage in hostilities against government forces.”  Salwa Judum have used children in village attacks.  Chhattisgarh state police also concede to employing children under the age of 18 to serve as special police officers who participate in government security forces.  Eyewitnesses have seen children dressed in police uniforms armed with rifles.

Human Rights Watch children’s rights advocate Jo Becker states, “A particular horror of the Chhattisgarh conflict is that children are participating in the violence.  It’s shameful that both India’s government and the Naxalites are exploiting children in such a dangerous fashion.”

The conflict has not only placed children at the forefront of violence, but has also affected the children’s education.  Children are removed from school or are abducted for recruitment.  Children have dropped out of school in fear of being abducted.  School buildings have been destroyed due to acts of terror or hostilities with the Naxalites.  Many have fled to outside the region or the country itself but the language barrier of a foreign nation has prevented children from attending.

India is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s optional protocal on the involvement of children in armed conflict. Pursuant to the protocol, 18 years old is the minimum age for participation in hostilities, for government forces and non-state armed groups. In cases such as this, the protocol advises the Indian government to assist in the rehabilitation of children who have been recruited and used in armed forces in violation of international law.   However, the state government have yet to take action.

For Human Rights Watch’s report on the use of children by all parties in the conflict, click here.

For more information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – India:  All Sides Using Children in Chhattisgarh Conflict – 5 September 2008

India eNews – Maoists Forcibly Recruiting Child Soldiers in Chhattisgarh – 2 September 2008

The Times of India – Maoists Training Children as Guerillas – 17 August 2008