Srilanka

EU asks Govt. to release Karuna recruits

Sunday, December 03,2006

COLOMBO: In a strongly worded declaration on Friday, the European Union has called on the Government to take immediate steps to release all children held by the Karuna group. The EU has also urged the Government to immediately commence "credible investigations" into allegations that some elements of the armed forces were helping Karuna recruit children. The declaration came despite Sri Lanka narrowly avoiding another EU-sponsored resolution against her at the UN Human Rights Council this month.

The EU presidency decided to postpone that resolution till March next year, allowing the government time to fulfill the pledge that it would investigate alleged human rights abuses.

Friday’s declaration by the EU presidency focused on the situation of children affected by the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. It urged the LTTE to immediately cease the "deplorable and inhumane practice of recruiting child soldiers, and release any children recruited in that manner without delay".

"The European Union is also deeply concerned that the Karuna group is also abducting children, that this is taking place in areas under the government's control, and reports that government security forces are involved.

"It urges the Government of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to release all children being held by the Karuna group, and immediately commence credible investigations of the alleged involvements of certain elements of government security forces, and bring to justice those responsible for these crimes."

The EU highlighted what it said was the "deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka" and said it had left children in a growing insecure situation.

"The recruitment of children to hostilities has continued as have abductions of children from their families in order to recruit them, both of which are in violation of applicable international law."




Sunday Island