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Unicef begins works on centre for child soldiers in Lanka
Colombo, Aug 07: The UN Children`s Fund began construction of a rehabilitation centre for underage combatants on today and warned it was imperative the Tamil Tiger rebels not recruit child soldiers.
Colombo, Aug 07: The UN Children's Fund began construction of a rehabilitation centre for underage combatants on today and warned it was imperative the Tamil Tiger rebels not recruit child soldiers.
The centre in Batticaloa district, 220 km east of the capital Colombo, is one of three now under construction and due to open in two months. The others are in the northern rebel-held town of Kilinochchi and near the eastern port town of Trincomalee.
“The centres will provide temporary care and accommodation for underage recruits released by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam. The children will stay in the centers for a maximum of three months prior to returning to their homes,'' a Unicef statement said.
The centres will be managed jointly by Unicef and the rebels, to provide education, health and vocational training. Unicef representative for Sri Lanka Ted Chaiban said that if the project is to succeed it is imperative that the rebel group stops child recruitment and people report such child-rights abuses to the authorities.
Human rights groups have accused the rebels of continuing to recruit child soldiers despite signing a cease-fire with the government last year that halted the island's two-decade civil war.
The groups say the rebels have recruited children as young as 12 to help fight for a homeland for Sri Lanka's minority ethnic Tamils.
The rebels have admitted recruiting children in the past, but say they have discontinued the practice.
Bureau Report
“The centres will provide temporary care and accommodation for underage recruits released by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam. The children will stay in the centers for a maximum of three months prior to returning to their homes,'' a Unicef statement said.
The centres will be managed jointly by Unicef and the rebels, to provide education, health and vocational training. Unicef representative for Sri Lanka Ted Chaiban said that if the project is to succeed it is imperative that the rebel group stops child recruitment and people report such child-rights abuses to the authorities.
Human rights groups have accused the rebels of continuing to recruit child soldiers despite signing a cease-fire with the government last year that halted the island's two-decade civil war.
The groups say the rebels have recruited children as young as 12 to help fight for a homeland for Sri Lanka's minority ethnic Tamils.
The rebels have admitted recruiting children in the past, but say they have discontinued the practice.
Bureau Report