07-30-2004, 06:34 PM
Friday July 30, 5:44 PM
<span style='font-size:25pt;line-height:100%'>Sri Lanka Tigers release 34 child soldiers - U.N.</span>
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have released 34 child soldiers, the United Nation's Children's Fund said on Friday, but it added the rebels were continuing to recruit underage fighters.
The group, which included 21 girls and 13 boys between the ages of 14 and 17, was handed over on Thursday evening to a UNICEF transit centre in the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi.
"Every child freed is a step in the right direction," UNICEF said in a statement.
But it added: "Over the past three months, recruitment of children by the LTTE has continued despite commitments the organisation made to cease all underage conscription. This is simply unacceptable and must cease now."
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have used children as a vital part of their fighting force in their 21-year war for a separate Tamil state. They have continued to recruit despite signing a truce with the government in February 2002.
An estimated 1,000 children left their ranks in April following a split within the rebel movement and the emergence of a breakaway leader called Karuna, who disbanded most of his forces, including the child soldiers.
But UNICEF has expressed concerns that the Tigers could re-recruit some of those children.
Nonetheless, Friday's release was the first positive news on the peace process after a week of meetings held by Norwegian envoy Vidar Helgesen that he said brought the island no closer to resuming talks that stalled in April last year.
The government has said it is flexible on the agenda for talks, but the Tigers accuse it of helping Karuna's faction and using it to weaken them. Analysts say negotiations are unlikely to resume until the rebel split is resolved.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/040730/137/2f90l.html
Date : 2004-07-30
<span style='font-size:25pt;line-height:100%'>LTTE should stop all recruitment of children - UNICEF urge.</span>
Colombo, 30 July: Though Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has released Thirty four child soldiers in Kilinochchi last night, UNICEF insist that Tamil rebel outfit continues to recruit children for their armed brigades and urged the Tamil rebel outfit to release all those children currently held by them and to desist from recruiting anymore.
Over the past three months, recruitment of children by the LTTE has continued despite commitments the organization made to cease all underage conscription. This is simply unacceptable and all recruitment must cease now, said Geoffrey Keele UNICEF spokesperson in Sri Lanka.
However, UNICEF says that the LTTE has continued to recruit children across the North and the East of the country despite having made a commitment to put an end to this practice.
Keele, spokesperson further said: UNICEF looks forward to a renewed commitment by the LTTE to cease all child recruitment and to release those children currently in their ranks. He added: "Every child freed is a step in the right direction," he emphasised in a statement released today.
UNICEF Colombo office in a statement released today said Thirty four child soldiers were released to the UNICEF-supported transit centre in Kilinochchi last night by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
According to the press release the released 34 children include 21 girls and 13 boys ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old.
United Nations Children Fund said that it will begin work immediately with its partner NGOs to assess the situation of the children and to reunite them with their families.
Geoffrey Keele UNICEF spokesperson further said: UNICEF welcomes the release of these children. He added: All of these children will go home soon and we are very glad to assist them in reuniting with their families.
However, UNICEF says that the LTTE has continued to recruit children across the North and the East of the country despite having made a commitment to put an end to this practice and try to live up to their commitments.
- Asian Tribune -
http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10606
<span style='font-size:25pt;line-height:100%'>Sri Lanka Tigers release 34 child soldiers - U.N.</span>
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have released 34 child soldiers, the United Nation's Children's Fund said on Friday, but it added the rebels were continuing to recruit underage fighters.
The group, which included 21 girls and 13 boys between the ages of 14 and 17, was handed over on Thursday evening to a UNICEF transit centre in the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi.
"Every child freed is a step in the right direction," UNICEF said in a statement.
But it added: "Over the past three months, recruitment of children by the LTTE has continued despite commitments the organisation made to cease all underage conscription. This is simply unacceptable and must cease now."
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have used children as a vital part of their fighting force in their 21-year war for a separate Tamil state. They have continued to recruit despite signing a truce with the government in February 2002.
An estimated 1,000 children left their ranks in April following a split within the rebel movement and the emergence of a breakaway leader called Karuna, who disbanded most of his forces, including the child soldiers.
But UNICEF has expressed concerns that the Tigers could re-recruit some of those children.
Nonetheless, Friday's release was the first positive news on the peace process after a week of meetings held by Norwegian envoy Vidar Helgesen that he said brought the island no closer to resuming talks that stalled in April last year.
The government has said it is flexible on the agenda for talks, but the Tigers accuse it of helping Karuna's faction and using it to weaken them. Analysts say negotiations are unlikely to resume until the rebel split is resolved.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/040730/137/2f90l.html
Date : 2004-07-30
<span style='font-size:25pt;line-height:100%'>LTTE should stop all recruitment of children - UNICEF urge.</span>
Colombo, 30 July: Though Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has released Thirty four child soldiers in Kilinochchi last night, UNICEF insist that Tamil rebel outfit continues to recruit children for their armed brigades and urged the Tamil rebel outfit to release all those children currently held by them and to desist from recruiting anymore.
Over the past three months, recruitment of children by the LTTE has continued despite commitments the organization made to cease all underage conscription. This is simply unacceptable and all recruitment must cease now, said Geoffrey Keele UNICEF spokesperson in Sri Lanka.
However, UNICEF says that the LTTE has continued to recruit children across the North and the East of the country despite having made a commitment to put an end to this practice.
Keele, spokesperson further said: UNICEF looks forward to a renewed commitment by the LTTE to cease all child recruitment and to release those children currently in their ranks. He added: "Every child freed is a step in the right direction," he emphasised in a statement released today.
UNICEF Colombo office in a statement released today said Thirty four child soldiers were released to the UNICEF-supported transit centre in Kilinochchi last night by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
According to the press release the released 34 children include 21 girls and 13 boys ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old.
United Nations Children Fund said that it will begin work immediately with its partner NGOs to assess the situation of the children and to reunite them with their families.
Geoffrey Keele UNICEF spokesperson further said: UNICEF welcomes the release of these children. He added: All of these children will go home soon and we are very glad to assist them in reuniting with their families.
However, UNICEF says that the LTTE has continued to recruit children across the North and the East of the country despite having made a commitment to put an end to this practice and try to live up to their commitments.
- Asian Tribune -
http://www.asiantribune.com/show_news.php?id=10606
Truth 'll prevail