WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today issued the following statement after President Barack Obama decided to uphold military aid sanctions against Myanmar (Burma) for the use of child soldiers.
The President’s decision follows a letter Sens. Booker, Gillibrand (D-NY) and Harkin (D-IA) sent urging President Obama to proceed with military aid sanctions against Myanmar under The Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008, which prohibits several categories of U.S. military assistance to governments using child soldiers. The Child Soldiers Prevention Act gives the President the authority to waive sanctions for national security purposes. This year, Myanmar did not receive a waiver from such sanctions.
“For too long innocent children in Myanmar have been forcibly recruited and senselessly exploited in armed combat. While I welcome continued U.S.–Myanmar diplomatic relations, the Myanmar government's recruitment of child soldiers is intolerable. I am pleased that the President has chosen not to waive restrictions on military aid to Myanmar and instead decided to hold Myanmar's government accountable.”
In June 2014, the State Department issued its fifth annual list of governments that recruit or use children as soldiers. For the fifth year in a row, Myanmar appeared on this list. While Myanmar’s military released 108 child soldiers last week, forced recruitment of children continues and it is unknown exactly how many children remain in the country’s armed forces.
The letter Sens. Booker, Gillibrand and Harkin sent to President Obama can be viewed here.