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Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger Rebel Group Defends Recruitment of Minors
Thursday, 15 February 2007 - 12:48 PM SL Time
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Sri Lanka`s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam group defended the recruitment of minors into its ranks and said it will continue to draft youths aged under 18.
The rebel group, which has been fighting for a separate homeland for two decades, rejected United Nations demands that it raise its minimum recruitment age from 17 to 18.
In a statement on its Peace Secretariat Web site, the LTTE said it`s not covered by international protocols barring ``armed groups`` from recruiting minors because it represents a ``de facto state`` in northern and eastern areas of the island under its control.
The UN`s Special Adviser on Sri Lanka, Allan Rock, reported in November that the Tamil Tigers hadn`t fulfilled a promise to release several hundred children from their ranks and had reneged on a 2003 pledge to stop recruiting minors.
The 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child permits the armed forces of a state to recruit children over 15 years old. The 2000 Optional Protocol to the convention says that ``armed groups that are distinct from armed forces of a state should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities persons under the age of 18 years.``
The LTTE ``provides extensive civil services in many areas of civilian life`` including health, education and child care, the group said, adding it`s no longer just an ``armed group.``
``A functioning, de facto state like the LTTE is entitled to recruit those above the age of 17 but not send them to the battle front,`` the statement added.
The group said it was no longer bound by its 2003 pledge to raise the recruitment age to 18 as other parties had also ``abrogated their obligations`` under the peace process.
Civil War
A cease-fire, brokered by Norway in 2002, halted the civil war in the south Asian nation. The peace process collapsed last year as fighting erupted in the north and east and two rounds of peace talks in Geneva between the government and LTTE failed to make progress. The conflict has killed more than 60,000 people.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa last year ordered the creation of a commission to investigate abductions, killings and human rights violations during the conflict.
The 16-member commission, headed by former Chief Justice of India P.N. Bhagvati, met Feb. 12 and 13 and decided to investigate three cases, the government said in a statement on its Web site.
The commission will probe the August 2005 assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, who was shot by a sniper at his home; the killing of 17 aid workers from the French aid group Action Against Hunger in August 2006 and the killing of Muslim civilians in the northeastern town of Muttur, the Defense Ministry said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a3tSPHtExSuE&refer=asia
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Source(s)
• bloomberg.com
• Submitted By: Weliya
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ahmadineja
Joined: Dec 2006
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15 Feb 2007 07:00:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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I've posted this reply in the earlier thread too, with reference to this very article!!
Here I post it again...since the reply is more homely in this thread..
[...and in contrast, Karuna faction has publicly stated that they have 0 tolerence for child recruitment, deplored it and they are open for UN investigation....
Wow!...whoever who is/are legally advising the Karuna group, is/are doing a grand job of tactically tackling the UN challenge, while whoever who is/are legally advising the LTTE is/are helping it to plunge further nose down...!
what a contrast!!
Now let us wait and see what the UN says about this...
Congrats again to the LTTE for the nice blunders and -removed--ups!!
Keep'em coming....
Edited By - ahmadineja - 15 Feb 2007 07:06:18 GMT |
KOTIPETIYA
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15 Feb 2007 07:15:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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My goodness. It took good 50 years to accept the truth.
This is gonna be a major -removed- up!!
Minister accepts HR violations
The Sri Lankan government says it cannot deny responsibility for alleged human rights violations in the island nation.
Minister in charge of Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe, said the government should accept the responsibility on abductions and killings in the government-held territory.
'If these happens while curfew in place, we cannot deny our responsibility,' he told BBC Sandeshaya after a fact finding mission in Jaffna.
The minister was accompanying representatives from the United Nations and international aid agencies to investigate the human rights situation in the peninsular.
Minister Samarasinghe said he was informed by the National human Rights Commission (HRC) of abductions happening in Jaffna while curfew in place.
'I am going to work out a new arrangement taking into account what I gathered in Jaffna,' he told bbcsinhala.com.
International panel
Meanwhile, an international panel has begun investigate into human rights violations, the government announced.
The panel is headed by former Indian Chief Justice, PM Bhagwathie, Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told journalists in Colombo.
Experts from United States, UK, Australia and EU are representing the panel, he added.
The panel is to probe the murder of the then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, killing of 17 aid workers in Muttur and murder of 11 Muslims in Pottuvil, according to the minister |
KOTIPETIYA
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15 Feb 2007 07:24:50 GMT Report for Abuse
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***Padhmini acca is correct. It was not TMVP, it is the SLA doing it???.
Colombo, 15 February, (Asiantribune.com): Ms. Joe Becker, Advocacy Director, Children?s Rights Division,of the Human RightsWatch (HRW) and Ms. S. Padhmini. Secretary, Tamileelam Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), headed by V. Muralitharan (Karuna Amman) have locked horns on the issue of child recruitment.
Padhmini says that Becker is wrong in accusing TMVP of forcibly recruiting children. And Becker says that Padhmini is wrong in denying it.
***Below statement proves who they are????..
Arguing that the TMVP is neither for war nor for a separate state |
3forces
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15 Feb 2007 07:25:13 GMT Report for Abuse
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| SO LTTE are trying to cover up and pretended to be the white tigers??? if they stop conscripting children's then they will loose Vanni very soon!! |
3forces
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15 Feb 2007 07:29:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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SLA doing it !!!doing what???wiping out terra! According to UN LTTE have destroy 18000 their own kids for this war!! so who is denying education and basic facilities for tamil kids?????for 30 years?????
and look how south tamils kids ???are having all the facilities !! so how seem s to block basic rights of north & east kids education?????? |
Ragu2006
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15 Feb 2007 08:03:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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| All the Eelam children are protected by Eelam Government led by Hon. Karuna Amman and his government. Vanni LTTE terrorists organization should be chased from our mother land. Sooner we will bring world most wanted terrorist leader Prabakaran into Justice. Then Eelam Tamils can live peacefully with full benefit. Eelam Prime Minister Hon. Plliyan already passed the child protection law under article 16.3. Under this law, no one can use eelam children for combat. |
EEELamaya
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15 Feb 2007 08:53:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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In a statement on its Peace Secretariat Web site, the LTTE said it's not covered by international protocols barring ''armed groups'' from recruiting minors because it represents a ''de facto state'' in northern and eastern areas of the island under its control.
Thats the truth, whether UN likes it or not... and who cares about GOSL! Protecting the 'state' has the highest priority...and its the intension of our leader!
This is a very brave step by VP!
Edited By - EEELamaya - 15 Feb 2007 08:54:44 GMT |
Pera
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15 Feb 2007 08:55:56 GMT Report for Abuse
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Indeed, aa very brave step by VP
VP's minors are studying in Europe.
PERA |
Gaja
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15 Feb 2007 09:00:35 GMT Report for Abuse
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The rebel group, which has been fighting for a separate homeland for two decades, rejected United Nations demands that it raise its minimum recruitment age from 17 to 18
This is understandable. If UN had included the LTTE - they would have been obliged to take note.
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam from Australia |
tarquin
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15 Feb 2007 09:36:53 GMT Report for Abuse
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The UK sends 17 year olds to the frontline in Iraq.
Why hasn't the UN objected to this? |
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