Sri Lanka: 11 child soldiers released

UNICEF has welcomed the release of 11 child soldiers by the pro-government Tamil militant group TMVP and called for the release of all under-age combatants.

“Whilst this is an encouraging development, we continue to look forward to the release of all children in the ranks of armed groups in Sri Lanka,” UNICEF chief here, Philippe Duamelle, said in a statement.

He urged the TMVP to pursue the release of all children in its ranks.

UN officials have accused the TMVP, led by Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan better known as Colonel Karuna, of enlisting boys and girls with the alleged support of government troops and police.

Sri Lanka has denied any collusion.

Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting Publisher of
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