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LTTE child recruitment worries UNICEF
By N. Dilshath Banu
UNICEF warned that the issue of child soldiers would not be resolved unless there was a resumption of the peace talks. “This issue is not going to be resolved until there is a peace process that brings both parties together for talks. Peace is really the key to ending child recruitment once and for all,” said UNICEF spokesman Geoffrey Keele.

A three-fold increase of child recruitment by the LTTE was reported this month, especially in the East, according to UNICEF. 43 reports of recruitment was reported from the Batticaloa area, up from 18 cases in June in the same district.

According to UNICEF statistics, 245 children had been recruited this year. This month, 76 children had been recruited by the LTTE as against January (41), February (29), March (16), April (22), May (34) and June (27).

“We do not know why recruitment has suddenly increased. The first six months saw the lowest since UNICEF started monitoring reports. We were pleased to see the drop, but this latest increase is worrying us,” Mr. Keele said. The increase was reported while the UN Security Council last week passed a resolution to approve the setting up of a mechanism for monitoring, reporting on and punishing those responsible for child recruitment.
Meanwhile, Army spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake confirmed the increase in child recruitment.

“This is the LTTE’s recruitment period and in the last couple of weeks the LTTE had continued to recruit more people, including children. During these periods, the Army intensifies patrol and surveillance programmes,” said Brig. Ratnayake.

He said that to stop underage recruitment, all interested parties should pressurize the LTTE to stop using children while the international community should impose a ban on organizations which do so.

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