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 LTTE
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