More
than 700 child soldiers yet to be released - UNICEF Chief
[February
3, 2003 - 10.00 GMT]
 “There
are 730 reported cases of child recruitment on the UNICEF coordinated
database which are yet to be resolved,”
Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy said in Colombo Saturday.
“To
date the LTTE have returned about 350 children to their families since
November 2001,” she said.
Addressing
a media conference at the end of a three day visit to Sri Lanka Bellamy
said, “There are no guarantees in life and I cannot assure if the
assurance the LTTE gave us would be met. But, we are hopeful and we could
consider it as a positive sign."
The
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission recently reported that child recruitment by the
LTTE is still continuing.
“We
strongly urge them not to do any recruitment. No matter where in the ranks
it is,” she said.
President
Chandrika Kumaratunga recently directed
the IGP and the Army Commander to take immediate steps to arrest those who
engaged in child abduction.
During
her visit, Bellamy had meetings with President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime
Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and several other ministers.
She
also visited Killinochchi and met the LTTE's political wing leader Thamil
Selvan.
The
UNICEF Chief said that the LTTE has agreed to meet with the UNICEF after the
5th round of peace talks in Berlin to set out the concrete steps to
implement the LTTE's commitment to ensure no children are recruited to their
armed forces and to release children who have participated in armed
combat.
“During the meeting, the LTTE delegation
proposed to establish transit centers for children who had joined the LTTE,”
she said.
Ms. Bellamy said that UNICEF was prepared
to offer support to such centers provided they were in the best interests of
the child and only a temporary solution.
“I am hopeful that there will be further
commitment and action by the LTTE on addressing the issue of child
recruitment following the Berlin peace talks,” Ms. Bellamy concluded. “I
further encourage both parties to embrace this opportunity to create a
protective environment for all children in Sri Lanka, one that safeguards
them from exploitation and abuse.”
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Last Updated
Date: February 03, 2003 - 10.00
GMT. |
