Two child soldiers surrender to the security forces
[March 9, 2006 - 8.30 GMT ]

Colombo: Two under aged boys who have been trained as child soldiers by the LTTE, surrendered to the security forces in Trincomalee on Tuesday (07).

These two boys were abducted by the LTTE and had been trained at the Sampur 32 armed training camp of the Tigers.

They were airlifted to Colombo yesterday. In Colombo the boys explained the atrocities and punishment meted out against them by the LTTE. They said they did not like to receive armed training.

Sixteen-year old Puvanesan Vinoharan said that on March 2, he returned from school, and while having his meals at 6.p.m. at home, a group of LTTEers forcibly taken him to Sampur Camp of the LTTE. He said he was given a new name-Arulvaanan. The LTTE leader who was in-charge of the area had warned him not to escape from the camp.

Seventeen-year old Chandrakumar, whose name has been changed by the LTTE as Aathiyan, said that he was abducted by Tigers on March 1, at Eechilampathai while working in his field and brought to Sampur Camp. He said he was the sole breadwinner as his father is disabled and he looks after his two sisters.

The two boys said that they spent only one week at the Sampur Camp.

When they were given a T-56 weapon and asked them to operate it, they operated, removed the gun into many parts and fixed it within a few minutes.

They were given training with physical exercises and in the evening they showed the battle of the LTTE with the Sri Lankan armed forces. The LTTE trainers at the camp told them that Trincomalee is their homeland and that they have to fight to liberate it.

At the camp these two boys were ordered to clear forests and fencing. The boys said that those who disobeyed the orders of the trainers were buried in the pits up to the chest and beat them with palm leaf.

The boys asserted that about 100 boys were at the camp and some of them are under-aged than them.

Puvanesan Vinoharan appealed the authorities that he wants to continue his studies without any threat.

Chandrakumar said that he wanted to work for his family with safety.

Both these boys appealed to the international community to take necessary steps to free hundreds of children languishing in LTTE training camps.

Source: http://www.news.lk
 

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Last Updated Date: March 9, 2006 -8.30 GMT