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Colombo aiding Karuna: U.N.

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: In an indictment of the Sri Lanka Government, the United Nations on Monday accused a section of the armed forces of actively aiding and abetting the Karuna faction recruit child soldiers to battle the LTTE and said Tamil Tigers have failed to comply with their promises to the U.N. to stop child recruitment and release children within their ranks.

The special advisor to the U.N. Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Allan Rock, told a news conference at the end of his 10-day mission to study the situation of children in the conflict ridden country that "Sri Lankan security forces rounded up children to be recruited by the Karuna faction."

Tales of woe

Narrating the tales of woe of the terror-struck mothers and children, Mr. Rock said troops travelled to Tamil villages and photographed children who were later forcibly enlisted by the Karuna group, which worked closely with security forces in the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Ampara.

"We have heard accounts of mothers wanting to poison their children to escape the prospect of recruitment." Mr. Rock said he brought the findings of the mission to the notice of the Sri Lanka President, Mahinda Rajapaksa during his meeting with him on Monday. He said that Mr. Rajapaksa promised an "immediate" inquiry and to take action against any officer found guilty.

Expressing disappointment of LTTE to comply with its promises on child recruitment, the U.N. mission chief said the Tamil Tigers have promised to free all child soldiers in the ranks by the end of this year. Meanwhile, British MP Paul Murphy is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan leaders during a three-day visit and share his experience of the Northern Ireland peace process, the British High Commission said.

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