An Independent and Interactive Tamil Community Web Site

14-03-2006

Rebel child recruitment casts shadow over Sri Lanka peace talks

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lanka accused Tamil Tiger rebels of conscripting more child soldiers, heightening uncertainty over peace talks scheduled for next month.

The defence ministry accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of abducting two schoolboys in the restive eastern district of Batticaloa on Monday despite pledges to end the internationally-condemned practice.

"Despite all assurances given by the LTTE, their abduction and conscription spree continues," a ministry statement said Tuesday, adding that Scandinavian truce monitors had been informed about the latest abductions.

The two sides are due to meet in Switzerland on April 19 to discuss their 2002 ceasefire which came under pressure following a surge in violence that killed at least 153 people in December and January.

Even before the latest charges, the LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham said the talks were in danger after rebels came under attack despite assurances from Colombo to halt violence.

The LTTE on Sunday accused Colombo and its paramilitary units of launching a second assault against them since their last round of talks in Switzerland in February.

"The Geneva peace talks will face grave danger if the Sri Lanka government refuses to disarm Tamil paramilitary organisations and continues allowing them to launch offensive military operations against our positions," Balasingham told the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com web site.

"The LTTE leadership is watching the current developments after the Geneva talks with serious concern and dismay," he said.

The defence ministry has routinely denied that it supports rival militants to attack the LTTE.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, currently touring Europe, told his British counterpart Jack Straw on Monday that he was optimistic that Swiss talks will go ahead next month despite Tiger threats.

"Samaraweera briefed his counterpart on the current status of the talks and expressed optimism that the second round in April will lead to agreements on a wider range of issues," a foreign ministry statement said.

Scandinavian truce monitors last week underlined that the peace process was in jeopardy following the killing of two Tamil Tiger rebels in the first clash since the February talks in Switzerland.

Last week, the military said two boys below the age of 17 escaped from a Tiger training camp and sought refuge with the navy. The boys have since been placed under the care of an international relief agency, officials said.

The Tigers deny recruiting underage soldiers but say some lie about their age to join the movement.

The United Nations children's agency UNICEF has accused the Tigers of recruiting more child soldiers than they freed last year.

The conflict in the Sinhalese-majority island has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.

Source-AFP