Saddam's Son Drags School Children to Military Camps
Iraq Press | 10.07.2002 21:12
Dahouk, Iraq Press, June 26, 2002 - President Saddam Hussein's elder son, Uday, has sent tens of thousands of school children to military training camps, despite complaints from parents and relatives.
Military officers and members of the ruling Baath party train the children, aged 12 - 17, on light weapons and brainwash them through teaching and lecturing.
Residents say parents refusing to send their beloved ones to the camps are jailed and some have had their food rations suspended.
Military officers and members of the ruling Baath party train the children, aged 12 - 17, on light weapons and brainwash them through teaching and lecturing.
Residents say parents refusing to send their beloved ones to the camps are jailed and some have had their food rations suspended.
Saddam's Son Drags School Children to Military Camps
Uday has set up military training camps for the youngsters in the 15 provinces under the central government control. The children are made to stand under scorching sun with temperatures brushing 50 degrees centigrade.
During the three-week training, the children are forced to undergo tough physical exercises which many cannot stand. Residents said scores of children have died since Uday initiated the training five years ago.
Under U.N. conventions, it is illegal to send children to military camps but Uday has been doing it under the nose of hundreds of U.N. relief officials in Baghdad who monitor the distribution of food and medicine under the so-called oil-for-food program.
Parents and relatives are not allowed to visit their children until the end of their military training course.
Iraqi newspapers, radio and television, which Uday controls, are heaping praise on the training, describing the youngsters as "Saddam's cubs".
Uday commands the fearful and notorious force of Saddam Commandos, a paramilitary militia with sweeping powers. The force of about 30,000 men is equipped with mortar, machine guns and light artillery. It is main job is to quell the slightest sign of dissent against Saddam's rule.
During the three-week training, the children are forced to undergo tough physical exercises which many cannot stand. Residents said scores of children have died since Uday initiated the training five years ago.
Under U.N. conventions, it is illegal to send children to military camps but Uday has been doing it under the nose of hundreds of U.N. relief officials in Baghdad who monitor the distribution of food and medicine under the so-called oil-for-food program.
Parents and relatives are not allowed to visit their children until the end of their military training course.
Iraqi newspapers, radio and television, which Uday controls, are heaping praise on the training, describing the youngsters as "Saddam's cubs".
Uday commands the fearful and notorious force of Saddam Commandos, a paramilitary militia with sweeping powers. The force of about 30,000 men is equipped with mortar, machine guns and light artillery. It is main job is to quell the slightest sign of dissent against Saddam's rule.
Iraq Press
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http://www.iraqfoundation.org/news/2002/gjuly/3_militarycamps.html
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