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Non-recruitment of new young cadres to them and also the continuous desertion of areas by civilians in their hundreds, to protest against harassment by LTTE terrorists, are said to have posed a pressing problem to the terrorists.

Reports reaching Colombo on Thursday (13) confirmed that the LTTE hierarchy in Batticaloa, in the east of Sri Lanka had distributed hundreds of leaflets and pasted posters in Batticaloa suburbs calling for new recruits.

As parents of the young ones openly defied LTTE orders to surrender their loved ones for the LTTE's Ellapadai (Home Guard) training in their areas, LTTE terrorists had secretly began to abduct children who were returning from school. Several parents desisted the move and arrived at check-points.

Last month when groups of pilgrims from the South visited the Madhu Shrine in Mannar. LTTE terrorists lured some of those young into a trap by offering them with luxuries, incentives, gifts and many facilities in a bid to have them recruited to their cadres.

"These young pilgrims were brainwashed and made to feel that they were real heroes of the Tamil people living under the threat of their gun. They were shown sophisticated weapons, acquired by the LTTE and were assured training in weaponry. Video films had been shown to them to arouse feelings of heroism and gallantry. Audio cassettes with songs of bravery and also containing speeches of LTTE leaders had also been given to these lured youths," one of the returnees from the Shrine had told the security authorities.

It was also reported that an estimated total of 151 young pilgrims who had visited the Madhu Shrne during last August for its festival failed to return to the cleared areas. Reports later confirmed that these non-returnees had been lured into their cadres and taken away to uncleared areas, assuring them of a better life.

On Wednesday (September 12), LTTE terrorists conducted a poster campaign in Batticaloa and its suburbs calling upon the youth to join them. The poster carried the emblem of the Tiger organization and requested the public to help them realize their objectives.

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