Human Rights Watch tells LTTE:  

Stop extra-judicial killings, attacks on civilians and recruitment of children

[Monday, August 06, 2007 - 8.32 GMT]

Human Rights Watch in a new report titled Return to war, Human Rights under siege published on August 3, 2007 calls upon the LTTE to stop extra-judicial killings, attacks on civilians, extortion, intimidation and mistreatment of opponents and recruitment of children. It has the following recommendations to the LTTE:

• Cease extrajudicial executions of civilians, including members of Tamil groups and political parties. Discipline as appropriate any member who commits human rights abuses.

• Cease all indiscriminate attacks on civilians, stop preventing civilians from leaving areas of active fighting, and provide humanitarian agencies safe passage in areas under their control.

• Stop extortion, intimidation, and mistreatment of persons who are perceived to be against the LTTE.

• Stop all recruitment of children, including voluntary enlistment as well as recruitment effected by abduction or other force or coercion, and cease the use of children in military operations. Cease the forced recruitment of all adults.

• Release all children from LTTE forces and give those recruited before age 18 the option to leave.

• Cooperate with UNICEF in ensuring the safe return of all child soldiers to their families.

• Take all appropriate steps to ensure LTTE commanders and other cadres do not recruit children under the age of 18 into LTTE forces and provide the international community (through UNICEF or the UNCHR) with documentation of disciplinary actions taken against LTTE cadres responsible for such recruitment.

• Allow UNICEF, the SLMM, and domestic and international humanitarian and human rights agencies access to all LTTE camps—military and otherwise—to assess the age of recruits, and identify children for demobilization.

The Report also has certain recommendations to the government and the Karuna Group too. 

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Last Updated Date: August 06, 2007 - 8.32 GMT