Papua Children Holding Weapons

Papua Children Holding Weapons

The Papua Separatist group has a black record of various atrocities committed against fellow children of the nation. This certainly cannot be ignored, because it will potentially divide the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TNPB) has surprisingly recruited a number of children and adolescents to fight the Indonesian military forces. Such actions would have violated international conventions and violated children's rights to get a good education.

This is a propaganda, TNPB has intentionally documented the formation of child soldiers. In one photo seen teenagers with faces that have been painted black. They then wielded rifles complete with ammunition and wore military uniforms.

The separatist group assumed that these children would become fighters and opponents of the Indonesian colonial military. It said, around 12 underage child soldiers are currently fighting for their groups in various regions in Papua.

Of course this is not justified, because the UN working group has set out for children and armed conflict. In international human rights law, 18 years is the minimum age for legal recruitment and use of children in warfare.