Lanka: Indian LTTE terrorists use youth as cannon fodder

LTTE used youth as `cannon fodder`: Rajapaksa

Colombo, April 28: Sri Lanka has slammed the LTTE on the question of recruiting child soldiers, saying the rebel group had used the nation’s youth as “pawns and cannon fodder” in its “brutal operations” against the state.

“Sri Lanka has, for the past three decades, been faced with a threat by the most brutal terrorist organisation in the world — a terror outfit that does not hesitate to use our youth as pawns and cannon fodder in its brutal operations to attack the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country”, Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President, who was addressing the seventh meeting of the Commonwealth Youth Ministers here yesterday, said the government realised the danger warfare posed to children and youth.
the Lasting consequences of the brain-washing of child soldiers is such that even in adult life, many of them remain committed to violence and terror, he said.

“Therefore, it is our resolve not to give in to these forces of terror; to save our youth from the clutches of these forces of modern-day savagery”, Rajapaksa said.

Besides, steps were being taken to restore the child soldiers recruited by armed groups to their parents, he said.

“I believe that these children must be returned to their parents for there cant be anything better than parental love and care”, the president said, adding efforts were being made in this regard, including an extensive rehabilitation programme for child soldiers.
The Tamil Tigers have been accused of using thousands of child soldiers by organisations like Human Rights Watch and UNICEF in the past.