CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Alf. Libombo, APB, South Africa, October 1998
THEME = CHILDREN
Thousands of youngsters are being conscripted into the Mozambican
army
but not everyone agrees with this
While the government believes the conscription programme is enjoying tremendous success, it still admits that some children have been taken to neighbouring Malawi by their parents to escape conscription. This non-cooperative attitude by parents is seen as a sign they are not happy with the policy which enjoins that youngsters of conscription age must register for military service.
A campaign to discourage former child soldiers who fought during the country's civil war, from re-enlisting, is currently being waged by a federation of non-governmental organisations (NGO)s known as the Hope Rebuilding Association.
Fidelino Anselmo, a Defence Ministry spokesman, believes everything is on course. According to him, 5, 228 youngsters were registered in one week recently. He says the Defence Ministry is doing its best to ensure the public understand the importance of military service. "Turnout could have been higher were it not for the lack of mobile units which oblige youngsters to travel long distances to the existing registration posts. But during the next recruiting season, mobile units will be sent to schools, markets and other places where there is a high concentration of youngsters of conscription age".
However, the fact that some children are being sent to Malawi to escape conscription is a pointer to the unpopularity of the concept of military service and a clear indication that Mozambique's citizens reject the militarisation of the country.
Mozambique's civil war ended in 1992 with the signing of the General Peace Accord between the government and the former rebel movement, RENAMO. In spite of this, there are still outbreaks of fighting, and this has compelled the government to seek new recruits for the armed forces, especially among the younger generation.
The federation of NGOs dedicated to children's welfare, has petitioned the government and parliament to legislate against conscription of former child soldiers. (There has never been any formal demobilisation of government or RENAMO child soldiers following the signing of the peace accord in 1992).
The Hope Rebuilding Association is determined to prevent children from being recruited into the armed forces and intends to make people aware that children suffer psychological, social and moral ills when they experience violence and when they are encouraged to inflict violence on others. "These children suffer serious psychological problems. They can no longer trust those adults who force them to handle weapons," says campaign coordinator, Boia Efraim Jnr.
"However", says the Association, "If there is no way out of preventing children from being recruited into the armed forces, then at least they should be given alternative duties rather than handling weapons".
So far the government has not responded to the Association's efforts, but Efraim remains optimistic about the campaign. "We are taking our campaign onto the streets and we intend to collect signatures supporting our aims, to be presented to Parliament". The Hope Rebuilding Association will continue to strive for the rights of children so that never again will they be forced to bear arms.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement