Sunday, July 13, 2008

Reports describes how LTTE conscripts children reaching 17 years and the death of 30 % of the recruits

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since 2007 has been conscripting boys and girls who had just reached 17 years of age as cannon fodder for war and by now 30 percent of those thus recruited have been killed, declares the a human rights body of the Tamils.

The University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), which has been constantly on the watch about child soldiers of the Tamil terrorist group says, "Assuming there are around 200,000 people or 40,000 families living under LTTE control, it places the number dead in this round of war roughly at the order of 5000. This would be fairly commensurate with other estimates from the Vanni, that about 30% of those conscripted in this round of war are, by now, are dead."

The report says those who have conscripted to fight by the LTTE are "virtual prisoners" of the LTTE and analysts say they could be extremely unwilling soldiers of a very low morale.

The bulletin describes how those recruits are taken by force to the LTTE army: "LTTE gangs frequently invade homes before dawn carrying details about the residents, looking for those who have come of conscription age. A boy or girl reaching the age of 17 and failing to report to the LTTE could expect LTTE gangs to turn up within two or three days. Others seen to be suitable are caught on the roads."

The report further digs into details about the LTTE’s recruitment methods: "A year ago, Killinochchi, AGA Nithyananthan was travelling on his motorcycle with his young daughter on the pillion. He was stopped by the LTTE and the girl was taken. Nothing more has since been heard of her.

"A Village Headman Pasupathy was asked for his daughters. He negotiated with the LTTE to take him and spare his two girls. The LTTE agreed and he went. Six months later the LTTE went to his home and took one of the girls. Not caring a thing for the father’s bitter feelings, the LTTE recruiters went around saying, "See now, this educated government officer Pasupathy has joined, why can’t you join?"

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/12188

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