LTTE in new ruse to attract sympathy

(March 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara yesterday said that the latest ruse adopted by the LTTE was to make their women cadres, who have been recalled after marriage, bring their children and family members to the frontline bunkers.

"Their motive is to tarnish the image of the troops in case those children or family members perish in our attacks on bunkers," he said during yesterday’s defence briefing.

Troops had recovered the bodies of three female Tiger cadres, aged between 15-17, killed in a confrontation with the Army, close to the Vilankulam-Adampan road, he said.

Nanayakkara said that when the troops conducted a search operation following an attack on an LTTE bunker line in the Mannar theatre last week, to their surprise the soldiers had found toys, children’s garments, school books etc.

The LTTEwas trying to mislead the international community with such tactics at the expense of children, he said.

Nanayakkara said the Tigers were using teenagers as human shields at the battlefront and it was forcibly conscripting children in spite of vehement protests by their parents.

"A large of number disillusioned cadres have left the LTTE and the depleted organisation is now facing a major crisis as they don’t have enough man power to fight the troops," he said.

"The Tigers are compelled to depend on child combatants and they have intensified conscription of children," he said.

(Image: Toys, children’s garments and school books found in a captured LTTE bunker. Pic from Sri Lanka Army)

- Sri Lanka Guardian