SRI LANKA: DEATH OF CHILD SOLDIER IN LTTE ATTACK

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000630 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA, SCA/INS NSC FOR E.MILLARD PLEASE ALSO PASS TOPEC E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2014 TAGS: PTER PHUM CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEATH OF CHILD SOLDIER IN LTTE ATTACK UNDERLINES LTTE CONTEMPT FOR ANTI-RECRUITMENT CALLS Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead. 1.4(b,d) ¶1. (U) Summary. The death of an underage Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadre in a claymore mine explosion in North Vavuniya on April 13 has prompted an outcry from the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF),which has repeatedly asked the LTTE to free all child soldiers. UNICEF estimates the LTTE's combat forces include approximately 1,500 children under the age of 18. The Scandinavian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) also reported an increase in child abduction cases since the first round of talks in Geneva held in February. This latest death highlights the risks to children in armed conflict and demonstrates the LTTE's flagrant disregard of international human rights standards. End summary. ¶2. (C) According to an April 18 UNICEF media release and various press reports, a 17-year old LTTE cadre died in a suspected LTTE claymore mine explosion on April 13 . (Note: UNICEF representative Suzanne Davey told poloff on April 19 that a April 17 Sri Lanka Army report that three child cadres had been killed when a claymore mine they were transporting detonated prematurely was false, but that one Tamil civilian, age 16, had been killed in the explosion in Jaffna.) ¶3. (U) UNICEF estimates the LTTE has nearly 1,500 child soldiers in its ranks. The New York based Human Rights Watch also condemned the practice in a 2004 report, stating that since the 2002 cease fire, "Many Tamil families who expected a 'peace dividend' now expect an unwelcome visit form armed Tamil Tiger recruiters." The Tigers deny they continue to recruit children, claiming young people volunteer for LTTE political and administrative work. Nonetheless, the LTTE agreed to cease child recruitment at the February 22-23 talks in Geneva - an agreement that, according to international monitors - it has not made any attempt to fulfill. ¶4. (C) Indeed, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Batticaloa chief Leif Ohlson told PolOff on March 21 that abduction cases in the eastern district, which is homebase to the dissident Karuna faction, had increased in March. While there were no reports of abductions in January or February, the third week of March saw 13 abductions, a least half of which were alleged to involve underage Tamils. SLMM deputy in Trincomalee Helene Gortzen described a similar situation, telling poloff on March 22 that the number of Tamil families complaining of their underage sons being recruited by the LTTE had not stopped since the February talks, but had increased. She noted that actual numbers may be higher than reported, because not all families complain to the SLMM, and even fewer go to the police out of fear they'll be considered LTTE supporters. On April 6, SLMM spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir addressed this issue publicly, stating to the government-owned Daily News, "The SLMM has observed a marked increase in child recruitment in the East presumably by the LTTE." ¶5. (C) Comment. The LTTE's escalation of underage recruitment attempts since the February 22-23 talks in Geneva demonstrates the LTTE's disregard for the international human rights standards and offers little encouragement that the Tigers are contemplating abandoning terrorism to enter the political mainstream. The April 13 death of a child soldier in a guerrilla action against Sri Lankan forces is a chilling example of the deadly risks to which the LTTE exposes the children of its own community on a daily basis. LUNSTEAD