Rohingya boy aged 14 forced into Burma war by Arakan Army
Family says child taken from home is being sent to front lines, as concerns grow over forced recruitment of Rohingya minors by armed group
YANGON, Burma (MNTV) — A 14-year-old Rohingya Muslim boy who was forcibly recruited by the Arakan Army in western Burma is reportedly being sent to the front lines of the country’s civil war, prompting an emotional appeal from his uncle over the use of children in armed conflict.
The boy was taken from Buthidaung Township earlier this year and is now being sent to Sittwe, where the Arakan Army is fighting Burma’s military for control of territory.
According to Rohingya Monitor, the child’s uncle, who identifies himself as Pacifist Farooq on Facebook, disclosed his nephew’s situation in a social media post on October 25, describing the anguish of seeing a child forced into a war he does not understand.
Instead of carrying schoolbooks and attending classes, the 14-year-old is now carrying a gun, Farooq wrote, questioning why his nephew was being made to risk his life in a conflict that has already devastated Rohingya communities.
He questioned whether the boy understood the reasons behind the fighting or what he would be sacrificing his life for if he were killed.
Farooq also challenged the armed group’s treatment of Rohingya Muslims, questioning why a child from a persecuted minority should be forced to fight for an organization that refuses to recognize his community’s ethnic identity.
The uncle expressed fears for his nephew’s safety and said he could only hope the boy survived and eventually returned to a normal life.
This incident adds to growing concerns over the recruitment of Rohingya minors by armed groups operating in Burma’s conflict-ridden Arakan State, also known as Rakhine State.
Rohingya Monitor says it has documented similar information involving hundreds of children forcibly recruited from different communities. Some have reportedly been deployed to front lines, while others have been assigned security duties in villages under Arakan Army control.
The Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine armed organization fighting Burma’s military, has expanded its territorial control across much of western Burma, bringing large Rohingya populations under its administration.
Despite living in the region for generations, Rohingya Muslims have faced longstanding discrimination, restrictions on movement and denial of citizenship rights.
The recruitment of children has raised further concerns about their safety and the absence of effective protections for vulnerable communities living under armed rule.
Under international humanitarian law, recruiting or using children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities constitutes a war crime. International standards also prohibit nonstate armed groups from recruiting or using children under 18.
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