Tigers to be exposed at UN

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The Government is planning to present a comprehensive report on its recent findings on the recruitment of child soldiers at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday, in line with its Zero-Tolerance policy on using underaged children in armed conflict.

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told the Daily News that the Sri Lankan delegation would apprise the UN on the progress made so far by a committee appointed by him to inquire into abductions and recruitment of children for armed conflict.

The Minister appointed a high level Committee headed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and Law Reform, Suhada Gamlath to look into the matter in August 2007, following a commitment made to the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

According to the Minister the Committee mandated to initiate and monitor the investigations of allegations into abductions and recruitment is also given authority to monitor and make recommendations, to assure that the released children have access to adequate facilities for rehabilitation and reintegration.

The Minister said that the Committee had done yeoman work so far in consultation with other relevant Government and non-Government organisations. They had toured the East where they met all relevant parties before their departure to New York.

He added that the committee was reporting periodically on measures taken and on its progress to the Ministry which has helped initiate several constructive measures to arrest the problem.

He stressed that in addition to charges levelled against the LTTE all other allegations of misconduct by other armed groups too were closely monitored.

Recently the UN in a report singled out LTTE as being among the top six blatant human rights violators in the world. In the same meeting the UN adopted a text which was endorsed by all to end impunity for such violations and abuses.

While strongly condemning the practice the Council had also called for the full implementation of the monitoring and reporting mechanism on children in armed conflict called for in the 2005 resolution.

The Sri Lankan delegation which also includes Attorney General C.R.De Silva and Deputy Solicitor General (AG's Department) Yasantha Kodagoda in addition to Gamlath would make a thorough presentation on the progress to date.