2009   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   2003

International Childrens’ Day in the Tamil Homeland

International Childrens’ Day was celebrated in all the districts of the Tamil Homeland with children from all the villages and those without parents sheltered in homes run by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).

In Kilinochchi children from pre-schools, primary schools and homes run for children whose parents are killed in war or disappeared and not accounted for by the military that arrested them, were taken in procession to the Cultural Hall and honoured. In a meeting attended by a large gathering of people from all walks of life, Tamil National Alliance Members of Parliament Messrs. Joseph Pararajasingham, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and P.Chandrasekaran of the Upcountry Peoples’ Front greeted the children and participated in the events held in commemoration of the International Childrens’ Day. A sports event also took place in the Kilinochchi Rodrigo grounds where inter-house sports competition of the several childrens’ homes was a special feature.

TNA legislator Mr. Joeseph Pararajasingham recalled with sorrow the killing of school children in Nagarkovil in the Jaffna District a decade ago by the Sri Lankan Air Force by bombing the village school. Senior citizens who addressed the gathering made specific reference to the plight of the children made orphans both by war and by tsunami and paid a glowing tribute to the TRO for its commitment towards the welfare of the children. It was indeed a pleasant sight to see the kids from homes run by TRO and other Civilian Based Organisations enjoying the day as if they have nothing to worry in the world.

Though deprived of many facilities childen in other parts of the country enjoy, children living in parts of the Tamil Homeland that are freed from military occupation, do not suffer from abuses that the children in other areas are subject to. It is the care and commitment that are in place in the Tamil Homeland that provide the children security and freedom from child abuse. In fact child abuse is something that the Tamil children in liberated areas do not suffer from, for the society as a whole abhor such abuses and the administration ensures childrens’ protection.

It is a long way to go, said a parent of a child who participated in the parade, for them to get back to their homes that are in the High Security Zones and earn a livelihood enabling them to provide to the children the necessary requirements for their education and betterment in the future. Serious concern was also expressed in the lack of initiatives taken by the international community to provide sufficient avenues for vocational education since the government has been and is discriminating the Tamil children.

01 October 2005

Print this

Email this