All child soldiers go free by May

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Government will release all child soldiers who are now being rehabilitated at rehabilitation centres by May 10 .

National Child Protection Authority Chairman Jagath Wellawatte said around 514 child soldiers under 18 years are undergoing rehabilitation meeting with international standards and norms .

The Government handed over 150 child soldiers to their parents and guardians recently. Another 273 children are continuing studies at a centre in Ratmalana.

He noted that 514 child soldiers had surrendered to the Security Forces as at May 22, 2009. All child soldiers were produced before a Magistrate and the court has ordered the Government to release the child soldiers after undergoing one year in rehabilitation. “We are taking steps to release all the child soldiers by May 2010,” he added.

There are some parents who did not want to accept their rehabilitated children. In such instances , the Government has to reproduce them before Magistrates and act on their instructions.

“What I believe is that the authorities must obtain a post rehabilitation evaluation of the child soldiers such as how they engage with society and put into practise their vocational trainings received at the rehabilitation centres,” Wellawatte told the Daily News.

Nearly 241 child soldiers comprising 174 boys and 67 girls were given job oriented vocational training to ensure them a bright future at centres in Ratmalana, Ambepussa and Vavuniya.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over around 712 rehabilitated child soldiers to their parents at the Manik Farm in Vavuniya on January 9.

The LTTE had conscripted underaged boys and girls into their outfit to fight against the Security Forces. After a short period of arms training in the jungle they were sent to the battlefield.