US embassy cable - 02COLOMBO1768

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001768 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, DRL; NSC FOR E. MILLARD 
 
NEW DELHI PLS PASS AMBASSADOR WILLS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL: 09-23-12 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, PHUM, CE, Human Rights, LTTE - Peace Process 
SUBJECT:  In positive human rights gesture, Tamil Tigers 
release large number of child recruits 
 
Ref:  FBIS Reston Va DTG 120241Z Sep 02 
 
(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Charge d'Affaires. 
Reasons 1.5 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  UNICEF has confirmed that the Tamil 
Tigers have recently released up to 85 child recruits. 
The Tigers apparently took this step, unprecedented in 
its size, in reaction to the pressure it has received on 
this issue from domestic and international sources.  The 
move may indicate a newfound receptivity by the Tigers 
to the notion of improving their abysmal human rights 
record.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) UNICEF has confirmed that the Liberation Tigers 
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have recently released up to 85 
child recruits.  According to UNICEF officials (see 
Ref), the LTTE apparently released the children 
gradually, over the course of several weeks in the late 
August through early September timeframe.  After receipt 
of a list of the childrens' names from the LTTE, UNICEF 
has interviewed more than 20 of them, confirming that 
they had indeed been forcibly recruited into the LTTE's 
military structure and then returned to their families 
of late.  UNICEF is confident that the rest of the names 
on the LTTE's list are also legitimate former child 
recruits.  UNICEF is working with the families on 
programs focused on reintegrating the children back into 
society. 
 
3.  (SBU) UNICEF has monitored the LTTE's release of 
smaller numbers of child recruits in past years, but the 
apparent release of the 85 is unprecedented in its size. 
UNICEF contacts tell us that they continue to closely 
work with the LTTE to ensure the release of other child 
recruits.  While UNICEF does not have an approximate 
figure, other contacts estimate that the LTTE may have 
well over 100 child soldiers still in its ranks, 
although the precise figure is not clear.  (Note:  There 
are occasional reports that the LTTE continues to 
recruit children forcibly, particularly in the eastern 
region.) 
 
4.  (C) The Tigers apparently took the step of releasing 
the child recruits in reaction to the pressure it has 
received on this issue from domestic and international 
sources.  In a meeting with polchief, Harim Peiris, a 
spokesman for President Kumaratunga, noted that the 
President has been publicly pushing for the LTTE to 
improve its dire record in this area for years.  Earlier 
this year, a visiting high-level Amnesty International 
team also urged the Tigers to take immediate steps on 
the issue in meetings with the group in the LTTE- 
controlled Wanni region of northern Sri Lanka.  M. 
Nizar, an analyst at UNICEF, noted to us that it was 
clear that the LTTE was taking the child soldier issue 
very seriously based on the fact that LTTE Political 
Chief Thamilchelvan began to take a personal interest in 
the issue over the summer.  Thamilchelvan, in fact, had 
noted to UNICEF representatives that the LTTE aimed to 
abide by the provisions of the Convention of the Rights 
of the Child. 
 
5.  (C) Comment:  The move re the child recruits may 
indicate a newfound receptivity by the Tigers to the 
notion of improving their abysmal human rights record. 
In the past, the group basically ignored the substantial 
criticism it received on human rights issues.  Perhaps 
with the peace process in full swing, the LTTE wants to 
clean up its act in order to look more respectable.  End 
Comment. 
 
6.  (U) Minimize considered. 
 
AMSELEM