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It has been revealed that in order to transport over 200 school children conscripted from various areas of the Jaffna peninsula to the Wanni area to undergo military training, had been the hidden cause for the LTTE's declaration for a cease-fire. Parents of some of these children have requested the security forces to intervene to save their children, the Special Media Information Centre said yesterday. The civilians have urged the security forces not to abandon them, leaving them into the hand of the Tigers for fear of punishment and hardships. Children being used for combat by the LTTE terrorists have received condemnation and protests from various international human rights committees as well as the United Nations. Olara A. Otunnu, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict that has welcomed the United Nations Protocol on the Convention of the Rights of the Child in Sri Lanka last year on a special mission, met top government officials as well as the LTTE in the north. He had pointed out to LTTE's conscription of children into the fighting cadres and had requested the LTTE to discontinue the practice. But the LTTE with a history of going back on all their agreements also ignored the agreement with Otunnu and is still continuing the conscription of children into the armed cadres who are fighting in the north and east, depriving them of their education and their right for a normal family life with their families. Civilians coming from uncleared areas are confessing about their split families because of the Tigers fight for an Eelam and as far as they are concerned, they have given up hope for a normal family life as long as the LTTE remains in control. The government on Saturday, dismissed LTTE offer for a temporary cease-fire for 12 hours in the northern Jaffna peninsula stating that it was a hidden move in view of strengthening Tiger supplies and positions of the LTTE. The LTTE had announced for the cease-fire claiming to evacuate civilians from the battle zones of the Thenmarachchi division of the peninsula, around 25 kilo meters (16 miles) east of Jaffna City.
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