LTTE child soldier outrage continuing

THE recent grenade blasts in Trincomalee which claimed the lives of five school boys who were apparently being used by the LTTE, and which injured two others, expose afresh the heinous and inhuman intent of the LTTE.

Reports indicated that the school boys had been coerced by the Tigers to fling the grenades at some members of the security forces who were on duty at the location in question. However, before the attack had been carried out, the grenades had exploded in the hands of those who were wielding them, accidentally perhaps or due to amateurish handling of the devices.

This latest report on the Tigers' inhuman treatment of children came close on the heels of another that the LTTE had apparently abducted some 65 children from camps for the tsunami displaced in the East. What all this establishes is that the LTTE is carrying on nonchalantly with dead consciences with the revolting business of forcibly recruiting children to their ranks - even combat ranks.

In doing so, the Tigers are treating with utter disdain the pledges made by them to the world community, particularly the UN Secretary General's Special Rapporteur for the welfare of children, Olara Otunnu, that they would be doing away with the ignominious practice of recruiting children to their ranks, particularly their combat ranks.

However, the evidence at hand is that the LTTE child soldier phenomenon is continuing with nary a care for world opinion. This being the case, on the question of the abuse of children too, the LTTE needs to be taken to task by the international community. Whither the LTTE pledge to respect child rights, we are compelled to question.

The LTTE child soldier phenomenon exposes a new dimension in LTTE intransigence. Not only is the LTTE paying scant regard for the Ceasefire Agreement but going right ahead with plans to expand its fighting cadres, completely violating in the process all international conventions on furthering the interests of children.

It is plain to see that the LTTE is preparing feverishly for war and destruction. If not why would it need to proceed with its child recruitment drive?

The big question is: what is the international community intending to do in the face of this revolting reality? Isn't it time world opinion took punitive measures against the Tigers for these unconscionable acts?

Blighting innocent lives and leading them astray is no way to prepare for peace. The LTTE has attracted the sympathy of some credulous circles abroad by spouting a barrage of disinformation but it is clear that the LTTE has been consistently acting with inhuman intent. The continuing LTTE child soldier phenomenon is clear proof of this.

The Government is ever willing to forge ahead with the peace process. It is not for war because war leads to the misery of all. However, it is anybody's guess as to what LTTE intentions are. We call on the LTTE to reciprocate the Government's good intentions by making up its mind about peace talks.