HRW Calls for Sanctions on LTTE and TMVP

(February 22, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Human Rights Watch has requested the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on the LTTE and the Karuna group for failing to end the forcible recruitment of children.

HRW's Human Rights Lawyers claim LTTE is holding by force 1430 child soldiers. They have requested UN Security Council to freeze all LTTE assets, movements and other activities with immediate effect.

HRW has also charged the government of failure to end forcible recruitment of child soldiers by the Karuna Group, which has now split into two. The Karuna and Pullaiyan groups have continued with brutal LTTE tactics even after leaving the organization. However, the group is to enter the democratic mainstream at the ongoing elections for the Eastern Province.

Meanwhile, 3 more bodies of LTTE cadres killed in recent battles were handed over to the ICRC last evening at Vavuniya hospital.

Earlier in the day, a little after noon, seven bodies of dead tigers, most of whom were female, were handed over to the ICRC at the same location. The bodies all belonged to tigers killed during the last few days north and north east of Uylankulam by the 57 Division.