Tigers as devourers of the
tsunami-orphaned
The Tigers are sinking their ravenous jaws into even
tsunami-orphaned children. Today, many such children are being used as
cannon fodder by the LTTE in their combat units, a US Government report
on Child Labour has revealed.
This is added proof that the LTTE holds nothing sacred. Nor does it
have even the slightest moral scruples. Following the tsunami
devastation of December 2004, a substantial proportion of Sri Lanka was
steeped in tragedy and despair. Thousands of lives were lost and a
tremendous amount of public property and natural resources vandalized by
the devastating tsunami waves.
While the rest of the country wept bitterly over the ineffable
tragedy which had befallen it, the Tigers were on a stealthy prowl for
those children who were orphaned by the terrible disaster. In other
words, they were greedily hunting for helpless and defenceless children
amid this sea of sorrow.
Trafficking in children became an LTTE speciality. They abducted the
children or bought them off money-hungry slave traders.
All this goes to prove that the world cannot be slow-footed on these
issues any longer. It is not news that the LTTE subjects children to a
plethora of abuses by using them as child soldiers. In fact the Tigers
bear a tremendous notoriety as child exploiters of the first order. The
UN is fully aware of this reality and has taken issue with the LTTE over
it.
The expectation of the peace-loving world was that the UN would crack
the whip unhesitatingly on the Tigers and hold them accountable for
their inhuman treatment of children. It is quite a few years since a UN
rapporteur on this issue visited the North and spoke to the LTTE about
it.
The world has waited with bated breath for UN action in this regard,
but nothing by way of taking the Tigers to task has happened so far.
Needless to say, this is most saddening. What it proves is that there
are no international procedures of accountability on grave crimes such
as the inhuman exploitation of children.
Humanity would be served well if the international community wakes up
to the crime of child abuse in all its dimensions, including that of
child soldiers. The LTTE is a notorious child abuser. This,
international organisations such as the UN, know very well.
What is left to be done is to bring the LTTE to justice. This vital
task cannot be postponed any longer if the international community is to
be taken seriously when it says that it is outraged over the phenomenon
of child abuse.
These renewed revelations over the LTTE's inhuman treatment of
children, should remind the international community, particularly the
major Western powers, that unless they bring exceptional pressure to
bear on the LTTE, it is unlikely to cooperate with the Lankan Government
in working towards a political solution. The Co Chairs in particular
should regard these developments as a fresh eye-opener.
They must crack the whip on the LTTE and that too without further
delay.
As for the State, it should lose no time in propagating among world
publics the heinous nature of the LTTE. This is a fresh opportunity to
unmask the Tigers fully. |
Reverse transcriptase:
Why we cannot beat HIV AIDS
"The world has been unconsciously slow. About 17
million women are now infected and it is especially disappointing to
see the world's lack of movement in fighting the spread of HIV in
women and girls," lamented Koffi Annan, Secretary General, UN. He
was addressing a special session of the UN General Assembly on
HIV/AIDS recently. HIV is the acronym for Human Immuno Deficiency
Virus.
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Democratic cities against racism
The international of coalition of cities against
racism is an initiative launched by UNESCO in 2004 to establish a
network of cities interested in sharing experience in order to
improve their policies and strategies to counter racism, xenophobia,
discrimination and exclusion for greater urban social inclusion.
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On My Watch
Sampur - striking the proper liberal note
Many of us are just now taking in the full
meaning of the security forces' success in taking over of Sampur.
There is cause for justified satisfaction at the success of the
operation to dislodge the LTTE from Sampur, both militarily and in
terms of the welfare of the people of the area, till then now held
in thrall by the LTTE.
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