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The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are conscripting not just children and teenagers but also the elderly, without paying heed to age or fitness, sources said.Troops were shocked when a 56-year-old LTTE cadre surrendered at Kaithady recently, when soldiers were clearing the area between Jaffna Town and Chavakachcheri after a successful battle with the LTTE.Following the battle, troops also recovered 51 bodies of LTTE fighters of which 17 seemed to be of children in their early teens.The terrorists are now desperate in trying to fill their depleting armies and will recruit just about anybody to continue the war in North East.The LTTE’s recruitment of children is well documented and has come in for condemnation by human rights groups as well as the United Nations. But of late it has begun enlisting those who would be considered too old even for strenuous physical exercise, let alone combat.Military officials estimate that over 2000 LTTE cadres were killed in various battles last year alone. Even if the number were to be halved, it may explain why the LTTE is not unduly fussy about international norms on recruitment of combatants.The surrender of the 56-year-old father who had enlisted to protect his children has re-inforced the suspicion that the LTTE was pushing its older cadres into the frontline for which they are ill-trained.
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