Ten youths from UNICEF list sent to Kilinochchi Transit Center

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 2004, 18:04 GMT]
A Committee, appointed by the Liberation Tigers (LTTE), while reviewing the UNICEF underage list has so far found four boys and six girls to be under 18 years old, LTTE's media co-ordinator, Daya Master, told TamilNet. The youths are being sent to the Kilinochchi Children Transit Camp today. They were all found to have feigned their ages by submitting false papers when they joined the movement, Daya Master added.

Photo: LTTE Peace Secretariat Website

A 3-person committee led by Mr.Kanthan is examining the UNICEF's underage list of 1187 names given to the LTTE on 2 December 2003 to ascertain ages of those who do not have their birth certificates using other supporting material.

LTTE Head of Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan directed the Committee to expedite the examining process, said Daya Master. He expects the Committee to identify other underage youths in the next several weeks.

Tamil Rehabilitation Organization runs a Transit Camp for children with the support of UNICEF.

Underage children will spend up to 3 months of rehabilitation before being handed over to their parents or helped to "learn a trade to develop their skills," according to LTTE peace secretariat website.