GPO Box 485, Chiang Mai, 50000, Thailand

e- mail : hreburma@loxinfo.co.th website : http://www.hreib.com

“HREIB Welcomes the straight -1 8 policy by Chin armed group”

14 March 2009

The Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) welcomes the

Deed of Commitment released by the Chin National Front (CNF), which
clearly condemns the use of child soldiers. The CNF and its armed wing
the Chin National Army (CNA), based on the western Burma Border, have
pledged not to recruit or use persons below 18 years old.

“The deed serves as an important step towards the realization and

fulfillment of children's rights in Chin State” said Aung Myo Min, Director of
the Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) which is local
grassroots organization advocating to stop the use of child soldiers in
Burma.

This Deed of Commitment also expresses the CNF/CNA’s willingness to

work with nongovernmental organizations, the United Nations, and other
stakeholders to address the issue of child soldiers. “Efforts to end the
recruitment and use of child soldiers is a legal and moral responsibility of
all parties to the conflict, including armed opposition groups,” according to
Aung Myo Min.

The CNF/CNA joins two other NSAGs from Burma, the Karen National
Liberation Army and the Karenni Army, in signing a Deed of Commitment
and affirming their respect for the "straight-18" principle, which asserts
that children below 18 should not in any way be involved in armed conflict.

The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling junta in
Burma, has not signed the Optional Protocol on the Involvement Children
in Armed Conflict, prohibiting states from conscripting and forcibly
recruiting or using children in hostilities.

Consistent reports indicate that thousands of children are still being

recruited and used as soldiers in Burma, primarily by the government’s
armed forces. The UN Security Council Working Group on Children and
Armed Conflict called on the SPDC to release all children within its armed
forces and carry out an action plan to prevent further recruitment or use of
children in July, 2008.

The Chin National Front was formed on 20 March, 1988, dedicated to

securing the self-determination of the Chin people and to establish federal
Union of Burma based on democracy and freedom. For more information
see http://www.chinland.org/

The Human Rights Education Institute of Burma (HREIB) is a non-profit

organization, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, that facilitates a broad range
of training and advocacy programs for grassroots organizations and
community leaders. HREIB regularly conducts research and documents
human rights violations inside Burma. For more information see
www.hreib.net

For further information please contact Aung Myo Min, HREIB’s Executive
Director, +66-819925293 or myomin@cscoms.com or Mr. Paul Sitha,
General Secretary of CNF at +919612-153789. Pls see Original copy of
CNF’s Deed Of Commitment in attached file.