“Wajau, do you remember me? I was in the minor seminary and you came to visit us one night. You talked about Pilemon. Then you taught us a song about Pilemon. Do you remember?” Sut Ja Naw asked me.
A few months after arriving in Myitkyina, I invited myself to visit the St. Columban Minor Seminary inside the church compound. About 50 to 60 young boys joined the night program, where I tried to speak in my limited Kachin, the language of the local people. Eight years ago, I met Sut Ja Naw, who was probably 10 years old at that time. Just a few months ago, he came with his older brother to register and join the Positive Youth Development Certificate Program of our Center. In September last year, he became part of the Batch 4 students.
Sut Ja Naw went home to his village every Friday night to spend time with his family. On Sunday night, he came to the city with his father. Internet connection can only be accessed in internet shops that have satellite internet connections. He assisted his father, who does not know how to access the internet or use the phone.
On their way back to the village, which is about 20-30 minutes out of the city, they were stopped by some men. Sut Ja Naw was forcibly taken from his father and was arrested to join the local ethnic armed group.
The following day, his older brother and two older sisters came to the center to ask for help. They wanted to free their brother from the ethnic armed group.
Since the beginning of the conflict between the Burmese government and the Kachin Independent Organization and their army, every Kachin family has to give one family member to serve in the Kachin Independent Army. And in February 2024, the junta enacted a compulsory conscription law that took effect in April, which requires men and women aged 18-35 years old to serve the army. Since its enactment, hundreds of men and women were conscripted forcefully by the military army.
Many youth, especially young men including our center’s staff and teachers, have since left the country to escape the recruitment. Very few young people volunteered and joined the army. This had led to many abduction cases and forced recruitment cases not only by the Burmese Army but also by certain ethnic army groups. In some cases families have to pay around 500,000 Myanmar kyats to groups of men in civilian clothes who abduct these young people who send them to different “training camps.” These men will then be sent to the frontline.
On their way back to the village, which is about 20-30 minutes out of the city, they were stopped by some men. Sut Ja Naw was forcibly taken from his father and was arrested to join the local ethnic armed group.
An online news article mentioned that “The shadow National Unity Government, formed by prodemocrats ousted from power in the coup, says that 23,000 people have been conscripted against their will since the start of 2024.”
Another online article reported on child soldiers. In a Frontier News article, it was reported that the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) has also allegedly recruited minors, with the United Nations documenting 112 cases last year. However, other armed groups, both aligned with the junta and opposing it, have also used child soldiers, defined as being younger than 18, with the UN documenting a total of 235 such cases.
One of those conscripted by the military was Ko Aung Kyaw, who was taken in Sagaing in October 2022, aged 16. He was threatened with imprisonment if he did not join the army. He trained for six months and was then sent to an active place of conflict. He was able to contact the opposing ethnic armed group and eventually escaped to Thailand.
I once attended a meeting of the priest council and the youth leaders. The main agenda was how to protect young people from getting conscripted by the law. The law has some exceptions, but the Church cannot protect all of our young people.
Sut Ja Naw attends our PYDP Batch 5. In our first class activity, he completed the identity wheel. He describes himself as honest and kind. He is the youngest of four siblings. In Kachin culture, names are based on their birth order (male and female). His Kachin full name is Sut Jat Naw. “Sut Jat” means “increase in wealth,” and “Naw” means second in birth order among the sons. His favorite color is blue. His personal motto is “if you don’t do anything, you won’t get anything.” Sut Ja Naw is also musically gifted. He loves music and playing the guitar.
Forcibly taken to become a soldier, David is now facing a “Goliath.” The war is like Goliath to many young Davids — some driven by some form of love for their land and some not by their own will or choice.
A few days ago, there was intense fighting in Banmaw, a diocese where the first Columban missionaries to Burma lived. The Cathedral, the clergy house and the school were all burned. Many Kachins died in the fighting. There is now an even greater need for more young people to join the ethnic armed groups. I went to the local parish priest to ask for help and assurance that David would be fine. But he told me and David’s older brother and sisters that it would be difficult to get him back at this time.
I felt helpless. I could not do anything. In every war, nobody really wins. Everyone loses.
As of now we do not know Sut Ja Naw’s whereabouts. But I hope and pray he is safe. I hope God comforts him and looks after him. I cannot imagine the fear he must have.
Sut Ja Naw was baptized and given the name “David.” Forcibly taken to become a soldier, David is now facing a “Goliath.” The war is like Goliath to many young Davids — some driven by some form of love for their land and some not by their own will or choice.
And like David, I hope and pray God gives him the strength, courage and faith to fight this “battle.”
April 4, 2025 update from Fr. Kurt: Sut Ja Naw was released yesterday. From what I’ve learned, they were checked medically and he was able to show the officers that he had medical issues, so they released him. Thank God. He is one of the few who were released.
Columban Fr. Kurt Zion Pala lives and works in Myanmar.
