By Aamna Mahboob and Easwaran Rutnam
More than 1800 children were recruited by both the LTTE and the Karuna faction by the end of last year, the UN Child's rights group UNICEF told the Daily Mirror adding that the actual figure is estimated to be much higher but goes unreported. Despite commitments by both sides to release the child recruits little progress seems to have been made and the UN will take up the matter when a report on Sri Lanka is studied at a security council working group session early next month.
UNICEF is however of the view the LTTE, which promised to release all under aged youth by the end of this month, is making progress on the issue, although according to the police the LTTE abducted at least 42 youth last week. They are being held in Kokadicholai, Batticaloa.
"The LTTE are making progress on the issue of releasing child recruits and importantly they continue to remain engaged on the issue", Gordon Weiss the communication Chief of UNICEF in Sri Lanka told the Daily Mirror. According to UNICEF data there were reports of at least 1685 cases of child recruitment by the LTTE till the end of December 31, 2006 out of which 683 are still under the age of 18 while the rest have passed that age although underage at the time of recruitment. The Karuna faction, UNICEF claims, has recruited more than 165 children by the end of last month but the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report the breakaway LTTE group had abducted and recruited well over 200 children in the east. "UNICEF is having discussions with the TMVP regarding child abduction" Weiss told the Daily Mirror. Most underage recruitments go unreported owing to threats to the families by the two rebel groups. There are fears the escalating three way conflict between the LTTE, Karuna and the Amy will result in many of the child soldiers being put on the front line to fight against their enemies and suffer the ultimate price.
More than 1800 children were recruited by both the LTTE and the Karuna faction by the end of last year, the UN Child's rights group UNICEF told the Daily Mirror adding that the actual figure is estimated to be much higher but goes unreported. Despite commitments by both sides to release the child recruits little progress seems to have been made and the UN will take up the matter when a report on Sri Lanka is studied at a security council working group session early next month.
UNICEF is however of the view the LTTE, which promised to release all under aged youth by the end of this month, is making progress on the issue, although according to the police the LTTE abducted at least 42 youth last week. They are being held in Kokadicholai, Batticaloa.
"The LTTE are making progress on the issue of releasing child recruits and importantly they continue to remain engaged on the issue", Gordon Weiss the communication Chief of UNICEF in Sri Lanka told the Daily Mirror. According to UNICEF data there were reports of at least 1685 cases of child recruitment by the LTTE till the end of December 31, 2006 out of which 683 are still under the age of 18 while the rest have passed that age although underage at the time of recruitment. The Karuna faction, UNICEF claims, has recruited more than 165 children by the end of last month but the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report the breakaway LTTE group had abducted and recruited well over 200 children in the east. "UNICEF is having discussions with the TMVP regarding child abduction" Weiss told the Daily Mirror. Most underage recruitments go unreported owing to threats to the families by the two rebel groups. There are fears the escalating three way conflict between the LTTE, Karuna and the Amy will result in many of the child soldiers being put on the front line to fight against their enemies and suffer the ultimate price.
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