LTTE Child soldiers

An article in an  English Daily  of Saturday(17) under the title "Church in SL decries use of child soldiers " states that the "Church in Sri Lanka is reiterating its plea  to leave children out of the forces fighting a civil war in the north of the island". The article continues:" The Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Jaffna"  sates in the report  that "both the LTTE and the security forces  are guilty of recruiting child soldiers ". The Security Forces of Sri Lanka  rejects the contention of the  Justice and Peace Commission of Jaffna   that the "Security Forces  are guilty of recruiting  child soldiers".

The Security Forces reiterates  that it is universally accepted by the UN and its agencies as the UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, as well as  affiliated Agencies as "Save the Child", Human Rights groups as AI, Human Rights Watch  that   the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)   forcibly recruits - from its inception- children below the age of 18 including girls as child soldiers .

The  Security Forces enlist ONLY  those over eighteen years of age .

Enlistment to the Security Forces are called for and given publicity in the electronic, printed media and in the Government Gazette , ONLY from those citizens over eighteen years . The notifications contain not only the conditions of service but also  pay and allowances, promotions  of All Ranks . It is also mandatory for all applicants although over eighteen years to  submit a certificate from the their parents or guardians that they have  consented  their children to   enlist in the Security Forces. 

Vacancies   have   neither secretly nor forcibly been filled in the entire history of the Security Forces in Sri Lanka. It must be stated however that it is the well known LTTE  practice to forcibly recruit children under 18 years of age against the wishes of parents or their guardians . The LTTE recruits children forcibly.  Many   children recruited by the LTTE  range from seven  to 14 years  while many are well below 18. Even the LTTE has accepted this fact publicly which the Jaffna Diocese ought to be aware.  Moreover it is the LTTE that suggested to  Human Rights agencies that they enlist those under 16 which was  rejected internationally.  However it is the LTTE that is  known worldwide for the  forcible recruitment  of children,  often  snatched away from their homes amidst wailing and traumatized parents, or  on their way to or returning  home from school, from functions, family gatherings  or on their way or returning from visiting Kovils or place of worship.  It is also well documented that LTTE recruiters also visit in particular schools including the  Killinochchi, and MULLAITTIVU districts to recruit children. The LTTE recruiters are on record of snatching children from centers for displaced persons.

The Justice and Peace Commission of the Diocese of Jaffna report in the media  has misquoted UNICEF statistics of 2007 regarding child soldiers which are applicable to the LTTE and NOT to  the Security Forces.