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UNICEF and LTTE agree to review Action Plan

“UNICEF concur with the LTTE that the Action Plan needs to be reviewed in the light of changing social necessities and we would strive to get the services of a consultant to undertake recommendations based on in-depth discussions at the district level and research of moot points that impeded the full implementation” said Ms. JoAnna Van Gerpen, the new Country Head of UNICEF in a meeting with Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan, Head of the LTTE Political Division at the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi today 11 October 2005.

At the outset, Mr. Tamilselvan assured the Country Head that the LTTE is fully committed to work with UNICEF and other partners interested in the welfare of children and made a fervent request that the plight of children from war and tsunami affected families be not allowed to be hijacked by people with political agenda to discredit an organization fighting for freedom of an oppressed nation of people. Tracing the failure of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) to deliver the peace dividend to the war affected people, P-TOMS stalled on a Supreme Court injunction and the consequent poverty, Mr.Tamilselvan said that it is essential to look deeper into the problem of children seeking refuge with the LTTE, not just symptomatically but with a realistic causative perspective.

“UNICEF has a challenging job in this area to muster support from partners to provide livelihood for the families of children and also to venture into gainful vocational training plans for youths and we will provide full support to implement projects for the betterment of children whether it be in areas of health, education or employment through vocational training” optimistically said Mr.Tamilselvan. He also said that the increasing numbers of youths volunteering to enrol are from the military occupied areas and is an indicator to the unbearable conditions of military harassment in those areas. “Unlike in the past, we have put in place a remuneration scheme for those between the ages of 18 and 40 and these are the recruits that are provided with military training and there is no necessity to take in under-age children, but we have to look into the compelling circumstances that motivate these children to seek enrolment” clarified Mr.Tamilselvan.

Expressing appreciation of the work done by the Local Representative Ms. Penny Brune, Mr.Tamilselvan said that the other district representatives too should strive to understand the complexity of the problem of children seeking enrolment with the LTTE, the time requirement for verification of age, wrong information and the family conditions. “Political resolution of the conflict notwithstanding let us work sincerely to provide to the war and tsunami displaced families some form of livelihood which will in turn benefit the dependant children at large” concluded Mr.Tamilselvan. He also thanked the UNICEF Country Head for her immediate and positive response to review and re-activate the Action Plan for affected children.

11 October 2005

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