UNICEF slams Tigers over continuing child recruitment

The UNICEF yesterday said that the LTTE still had 1,300 children in its ranks.

In a progress report on a $ 14 million Action Plan drawn up last year by the government and the LTTE to assist the war affected children, the UN agency said they were particularly concerned about the use of children as soldiers.

Partners implementing the Action Plan include the Ministry of Social Welfare, Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), ILO, Save the Children in Sri Lanka. UNDP, UNHCR, and UNICEF.

New UNICEF figures in the report state that during 2003, 709 children were recruited by the LTTE. In the same period, a total of 202 children were released, either to the recently established transit centre at Kilinochchi or directly back to their families.

From reports submitted by families, UNICEF knows of at least 1,301 children are still in the LTTE. In a three month period during August, September and October, recruitment increased with reports of 304 children taken into the LTTE. In the last two months of the year, reported recruitment fell with 17 reported cases in November and 14 in December.

It said the average age was 15 years, while the youngest was only 10 years old.

At a meeting last weekend between the UNICEF representative to Sri Lanka, Ted Chaiban and the leader of the LTTE’s political wing, S. P. Tamilselvan, it was again stressed that the implementation of the Action Plan depends on an end to child recruitment and an accelerated release of all children in the LTTE’s ranks.

The agency emphasised that the Action Plan wouldn’t be a success unless the LTTE cease recruitment of children, release all child soldiers. The agency also urged the government to continue its efforts to ensure that the significant shortages in education, health and social welfare staff are urgently addressed to and that the basic infrastructure is rehabilitated.

"The UN agencies and NGOs must accelerate implementation of their programmes to support all components of the Action Plan and reach all children affected by war and increase advocacy on child rights. Donors support needs to continue and expand, both in terms of advocacy with the government and LTTE and with financial contributions to the implementing partners," the agency said.

It is estimated that 50,000 children in the affected region are out of school, around 140,000 have been displaced from their homes while landmines have killed 20 and maimed 17 children in 2003 alone. In the North East there is a serious deficit in education and health staff. More than 5,800 additional Tamil medium and 200 Sinhala medium teachers are needed.