Childsoldiersarevictimsnotperpetrators.

Amilitarycommanderfrom
ChadtoldHumanRightsWatch.Theydon'tcomplain,theydon'texpecttobe
paid,andifyoutellthemtokill,theykill.Thegundoesnotknowwhoisoldor
young.Killingbecameaseasyasdrinkingwater,"IshmaelBeahaexchild
soldiersharesastory,"Thiswomanhadababythatwastiedonherback.She'd
beenrunningawayfromthefightandthebabyhadbeenshotandkilledbutshe
didn'tknow.
Thechildrenareforcedintofightingandhavelittlechoiceover
whetherornottheyenlist.
Anineyearoldboycriedbecausehemissedtheir
motherandhewasshot.IshmaelcontinuesIwalkedintotheforest,tearsbegan
toforminmyeyes,Survivingeachpassingminutewasnothingshortofa
miracle.MycommanderthrewarocketpropelledgrenadeRPGtheexplosion
wasfollowedbyanexchangeofgunfirefrombothsides.
Drugsandalcoholmakechildrenmoreabletocommitactstheywouldnt
ordinarilycommit.Italsomakesitdifficultforthemtoleave,becausethey
becomedependentfordrugs,alcohol,moneyandfood.
Thechildrenbecome
brainwashedthroughtheuseofdrugsandalcohol.IshmaelBeahwas
brainwashed,druggedandforcedtokill,ashesaidbeforekillingbecameaseasy
asdrinkingwater.