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Why underage youths want to join the LTTE

“War itself is a major determinant. Economic, social, community and family structures are frequently ravaged by armed conflict and joining the ranks of the fighters is often the only means of survival. Many youths have reported that desire to avenge the killing of relatives or other violence arising from war is an important motive.

Poverty and lack of access to educational or work opportunities are additional factors - with joining up often holding out either the promise or the reality of an income or a means of getting one. Coupled with this may be a desire for power, status or social recognition. Family and peer pressure to join up for ideological or political reasons or to honour family tradition may also be motivating factors. Girl soldiers have reported joining up to escape domestic servitude or enforced marriage or get away from domestic violence, exploitation and abuse.”

The environment that prevails in the Northeast has many push and pull factors that make the children seek out the LTTE. The vast majority of children seeking to join the LTTE are in a condition of forced child labour either within or outside the family. Others face some form of abuse. Below are just three sample stories among hundreds of similar cases. UNICEF ought to be fully aware of this situation.

 Steven’s mother died when he was four years old and he was not cared for by his father who left him with a businessman who used him as free child labour in the GoSL area of Vavuniya. The boy joined LTTE, lying about his age, in 2005. A complaint was lodged with UNICEF, SLMM and NESOHR by his father that Steven was forcefully recruited by the LTTE. In spite of efforts made by concerned people to persuade the boy to study at ESDC he chose to go back to his condition of child labour because he was touched by his father who hardly cared for him until then coming to claim him.

 As the above quote by the Coalition emphasizes, many girls have also joined the LTTE to escape domestic abuse. Kamalini joined LTTE at 16. Her parents lodged complaint with NESOHR and she was released. She refused to go back to her home saying that she wanted to fight for her country. Economically her family was doing OK. She was doing well at school. Yet she refused to go. In all likelihood she was sexually abused. The services available are woefully inadequate to deal with this sensitive issue. In such cases the family, unaware of the real problem facing the youth at home, will vehemently fight to take her back home, while the girl will vehemently resist returning. These families will also lodge complaints about forced recruitment or abduction. Kamalini is studying at ESDC.

 Seetha has five older sisters who are all married and have young children. All her sisters are poor and go to work for daily wages. Seetha was expected to care for the young children. Seetha joined the LTTE. Being young she is studying at ESDC. Her family, mother and sisters, are persisting to take her back, so that her services can be used. The family fails to appreciate the vocational training Seetha is receiving at ESDC.

Also see:
http://www.ltteps.org/?view=1440&folder=2
http://www.ltteps.org/?view=1437&folder=17

09 July 2006

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