A United Nations official Monday accused Sri Lankan government security forces of recruiting child soldiers on behalf of an allied paramilitary group which is also fighting Tamil Tigers.
The special advisor to the UN Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Allan Rock, told reporters in Colombo that he had evidence of direct involvement of troops in forcibly enlisting children for the paramilitary group.
"Sri Lankan security forces rounded up children to be recruited by the Karuna faction," Mr. Rock said at the end of a 10-day mission to study the situation of children in the embattled island.
It is the first time the UN has made such a charge against Colombo.
"We encountered both direct and indirect evidence of... complicity and participation," Mr. Rock further said.
He said there was both eyewitness and anecdotal evidence to back up his claims.
He spoke of 13 and 14-year-old children kidnapped from villages, and no arrests or investigation being carried out by the security forces.
In a statement the Sri Lankan Armed forces said Mr Rock's claims that government troops were actively involved in the recruitment of child soldiers were "regrettable".
Sri Lankan security forces say they are "perturbed" by the "completely misleading" allegations, the BBC reported.
In a statement the Sri Lankan military said Mr Rock's claims that government troops were actively involved in the recruitment of child soldiers were "regrettable".
"Security forces... vehemently deny having any involvement whatsoever with the LTTE breakaway group for abductions in Batticaloa," the statement said.
Mr Rock said the fact that Sri Lankan troops were complicit in the recruitment of child soldiers meant that the Tigers would continue to do so, as it corroded the rule of law.
The Tamil Tigers have long been accused of under-age recruitment. Last month, the Tigers outlawed the recruitment of under-17s for military service.
UNICEF lists 1,598 outstanding cases of under-age recruitment by the Tigers, 649 of which are still under the age of 18. The Tigers have promised to release all under-age fighterss by Jan 1, 2007.
The special advisor to the UN Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Allan Rock, told reporters in Colombo that he had evidence of direct involvement of troops in forcibly enlisting children for the paramilitary group.
"Sri Lankan security forces rounded up children to be recruited by the Karuna faction," Mr. Rock said at the end of a 10-day mission to study the situation of children in the embattled island.
It is the first time the UN has made such a charge against Colombo.
"We encountered both direct and indirect evidence of... complicity and participation," Mr. Rock further said.
He said there was both eyewitness and anecdotal evidence to back up his claims.
He spoke of 13 and 14-year-old children kidnapped from villages, and no arrests or investigation being carried out by the security forces.
In a statement the Sri Lankan Armed forces said Mr Rock's claims that government troops were actively involved in the recruitment of child soldiers were "regrettable".
Sri Lankan security forces say they are "perturbed" by the "completely misleading" allegations, the BBC reported.
In a statement the Sri Lankan military said Mr Rock's claims that government troops were actively involved in the recruitment of child soldiers were "regrettable".
"Security forces... vehemently deny having any involvement whatsoever with the LTTE breakaway group for abductions in Batticaloa," the statement said.
Mr Rock said the fact that Sri Lankan troops were complicit in the recruitment of child soldiers meant that the Tigers would continue to do so, as it corroded the rule of law.
The Tamil Tigers have long been accused of under-age recruitment. Last month, the Tigers outlawed the recruitment of under-17s for military service.
UNICEF lists 1,598 outstanding cases of under-age recruitment by the Tigers, 649 of which are still under the age of 18. The Tigers have promised to release all under-age fighterss by Jan 1, 2007.
