Govt. to order high level probe regarding UN allegation of child recruit says Defence spokesman
[Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 8.00 GMT]

Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the government would immediately order a high level probe by the security forces into the United Nations allegation that some sections of the security forces were helping to abduct children from Batticloa as soldiers for the Karuna faction. The Minister however according to the Department of Government Information has also expressed surprise at Mr. Rock being able to arrive at such a conclusion after "touring a very limited area".

Yesterday UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict in Sri Lanka Allan Rock in a release said security forces were helping to abduct children as soldiers for the breakaway Karuna faction.

The Military in a statement called Rock's observations "regrettable and misleading" and vehemently denied any "involvement with the LTTE breakaway group for abductions in Batticaloa"

Allan Rock concluded a 10 day mission in Sri Lanka yesterday to ascertain the ground situation in the North and East. He met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees last evening, during which he briefed the
President on his meeting with LTTE representatives. Rock who is a special Advisor to Dr. Radhika Cooomaraswamy UN Special Rapporteur for Children and
Armed Conflict also met Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and heads of agencies involved in Child welfare

According the United Nations release Mr. Rock visited Vakarai and called on all parties to respect obligations under International Humanitarian Law with regard to attacks on civilian areas.

He called on the LTTE not to use civilians as human shields and said the LTTE had given him an assurance they would work with UNICEF, to accelerate the release from their ranks all children. The objective is to complete the process by January next year.

The envoy drew attention to efforts made by former UN Special Rapporteur on Children Olara Otunu and the failure of the LTTE to release child soldiers in their custody, as agreed.

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Last Updated Date: November 14, 2006 -8.00 GMT