An army of suffering

Troubled child soldier ‘not alone in FNQ’

A FORMER child soldier who allegedly built his own armour and attacked police may not be alone in his suffering.

Amara Jamal Lansana this week told Cairns Magistrates Court he had lived in a “living hell” after serving as a child soldier in wars in Africa.

“I don’t sleep at night,” Mr Lansana said this week from custody.

For reasons not yet revealed to the courts, he allegedly built a suit of armour and an improvised incendiary device before throwing rocks at police.

He has been charged with attempted arson, assaulting police, wilful damage and other summary matters.

Mr Lansana is currently in custody at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre awaiting sentence in the District Court.

Regional Co-ordinator for Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma, Ana Pocrnjic, said Mr Lansana was not alone in the Far Northern region.

“We definitely have these clients all through Queensland, for sure,” Ms Pocrnjic said.

“Each case is very unique. It is certainly not something that is strange to us.”

Ms Pocrnjic said it was difficult to identify former child soldiers unless they came forward.

“Sometimes they do not want to be identified as it carries shame and stigma,” she said.

“We find that people we work with who have had these experiences don’t disclose them for a long period.”

The FASSTT team regularly deals with victims of complex trauma in Queensland including torture and finds their clients often have trouble maintaining stable relationships and make informed decisions.

“Paranoia is definitely a possibility,” Ms Pocrnjic said.

“People have symptoms of mild depression to complex mental health disorders.”

“After 20-30 years people may have had treatment or support but get triggered by any form of emotional pain.”

She said that former child soldiers were mostly male, but other distinguishing statistics were hard to come by.

“Most would be refugees instead of migrants,” Ms Pocrnjic said.

Mr Lansana’s matter will be mentioned in Cairns Magistrates Court next month.