The LTTE is continuing the forcible recruitment of children in the North and in the East. Many Children in the two provinces say their education is obstructed by the LTTE.

These facts were transpired from the statements of some of the young LTTE cadres who had surrendered to the Police road block at Kallar, Serunuwara.

Seven LTTE cadres, including five minors surrendered to the Police road block at Kallar, Serunuwara on 25 October. They had escaped from Kadiraveli camp. One of the surrendees is 15 years of age. Tarkihan, the schoolboy who surrendered said he was studying for the Advanced Level examination. He said LTTE cadres who came to his school, abducted four students. They forced him to join the LTTE. The four students were given military training at the camp. He emphasized that he did not like war. He escaped because he wanted to continue his studies.

Thilakan, another young surrendee revealed he was abducted by tigers while he was studying at school.

Gandhi Ganeshan said he went to the refugee camp with his sister when the Army captured Sampur. LTTE cadres who came to the refugee camp forcibly took him to the camp after beating him and his sister. He escaped because he could not endure the hardships.

According to these statements, the LTTE is continuing the forcible recruitment of children. LTTE activities have obstructed the education of children. This is a gross violation of the United Nations Charter of Children's Rights. Further, the LTTE had ordered the students to donate blood to the LTTE. Every candidate must at least donate half a pint of blood, otherwise they will not be permitted to sat the examination.

Seven LTTE cadres including two minors who were forcibly recruited to the LTTE escaped the Kadiraveli training camp and surrendered to the police road block in Kallar in Serunuwara on 25 October.

Among the seven surrendees one cadre was 15 years old and four were 17 years of age.

Their statements were are follows; 

• Dinush - LTTE gave us weapon training. We could not endure the training. That is why we escaped. 
• Anpalahan - I am from Trincomalee LTTE cadres who came at night, abducted us. There are about 75 boys of our age; nobody is willingly staying in the camp. 
• Gandi Ganeshan - When the Army came to Sampur, my sister and I went to the refugee camp. LTTE cadres who came there forcibly took us to Kadiraweli camp. Then they beat us. Since we could not endure, we escaped. 
• Tharkihan - I was studying for Advanced Level exam. The LTTE cadres, who came to our school, forcibly took us. They forced us to join the LTTE. They trained us at Kadiraweli camp. We do not want to fight a war. We escaped because we want to continue our studies. 
• Thilakan - I studied in year 10 at Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Kattaprachchan. I was forcibly abducted by the LTTE while I was going to school. I tried to escape. I was taken to Kadiraweli camp and chained and tortured. When I said I wanted to go home, they harassed me. When I could not endure their harassment any more. I escaped. There are 85 recruits being trained. 35 had escaped before me. I have a sister. I have to look after the family. 
• Selveraga Harishankar - I have studied up to Ordinary Level. The LTTE forcibly took me to Kadiraweli camp on a motor bicycle. They gave me military training. When my parents came to see me they had said I was not there. I am sad though youth of my age are happy. 
• Pranash - I work on paddy fields. When I was going to the field, two persons came and forcibly took me to Kadiraweli camp. After 05 days, I escaped. They captured me and tortured me. We were starving. The youth in the camp are frustrated.

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