1. IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH CRITICISM
THEY LEARN TO CONDEMN
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH HOSTILITY
THEY LEARN TO FIGHT
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH RIDICULE
THEY LEARN TO BE SHY
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH SHAME
THEY LEARN TO FEEL GUILTY

2. CHILD SOLDIERS IN LTTE
PRESENTED BY
FLT LT WPAH PERERA

3. PRESENTATION FLOW
1. INTRODUCTION
2. AIM
3. ORIGIN OF CHILD CADRES
4. KEY FACTORS TO BECOME A CHILD SOLDIER
5. TRAINING AND LIFE OF CHILD SOLDIERS
6. MEASURES TAKEN TO REHABILITATE AND
STOP FURTHER RECRUITMENT
7. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
8. RECOMMENDATIONS
9. CONCLUSION

4. INTRODUCTIO
N

5. • A CHILD SOLDIER IS ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF
18 ENGAGED IN DEADLY VIOLENCE OR COMBAT SUPPORT
• THE USE OF CHILDREN IN COMBAT ACTIVITIES IS
REVOLTING
• RECRUITING AND MAINTAINING CHILDREN IS COST
EFFECTIVE
• GROOMING CHILDREN INTO BECOMING SOLDIERS IS
NOT DIFFICULT
• DUE TO LESS EXPERIENCE, EMOTIONAL IMMATURITY
AND HIGH IGNORANCE, THEY ARE HIGHLY
VULNERABLE TO MANIPULATION

6. AIM

7. AIM OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO GIVE A
BRIEF IDEA ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF CHILD
SOLDIERS, FACTORS EFFECTED FOR
CHILDREN TO JOIN LTTE, TRAINING LIFE,
MEASURES TAKEN TO REHABILITATE,
STOP FURTHER RECRUITMENT AND TO
DISCUSS THE RECOMMENDATIONS,
RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE STUDY

8. ORIGIN
OF
CHILD CADRES

9. KEY FACTORS TO BECOME
A CHILD SOLDIER

10. • SEPARATED FROM PARENTS DURING
DISPLACEMENT AND UNABLE TO TRACE
PARENTS
• PARENTS KILLED OR ONE IS REMAINING
• PARENTS HAVE LOST THEIR LIMBS AND THERE
ARE NO BREAD WINNERS IN THE FAMILY
• PARENTS ARE IN DETENTION OR
IMPRISONMENT
• ECONOMIC DISRUPTION DUE TO WAR,
RESULTED IN STARVATION AND MALNUTRITION

11. • WITNESS TO DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTIES AND
MEANS OF LIVING
• LACK OF INCOME GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES
• DESTRUCTION OF EDUCATIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEPRIVATION OF
EDUCATION
• LACK OF RECREATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT
FACILITIES
• LACK OF VOCATIONAL OR OTHER SKILL
DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES RESULTING IN
NO AMBITION
• ARRANGE MARRIAGES

12. “About ten days before the day of the
marriage,
I started to plan to leave the house,
I waited, Tried to convince my parents,
they were very adamant and would not
listen to me. They never listened.
The day before the marriage everything was
ready. I ran away to escape a marriage
which I did not like. I ended in LTTE”
-A Girl Child Soldier

13. TRAINING AND LIFE OF CHILD SOLDIERS

15. A TRAINING DAY OF A CHILD SOLDIER
0500-0600 HRS MORNING ABLUTIONS
0600-0700 HRS PHYSICAL TRAINING
0700-0800 HRS BREAKFAST
0800-1200 HRS DEMANDING PHYSICAL EXERCISE
1230-1330 HRS LUNCH
1330-1600 HRS TRAINING ON SPECIAL SKILLS
1600-1630 HRS TEA
1630-1800 HRS PARADE
1800-1830 HRS GATHER TO SAY OATH
2000 HRS SENT TO BED

16. MEASURES TAKEN TO REHABILITATE
AND STOP FURTHER RECRUITMENT

17. • CHILD RIGHTS TRAINING
• MONITORING AND PREVENTION OF
VIOLATION OF CHILD RIGHTS
• MICRO-CREDIT FACILITIES AND
INCOME GENERATION
• VOCATIONAL TRAINING
• EDUCATION
• HEALTH AND NUTRITION
• PROVISION OF SOCIAL WORK
• PROVISION OF PSYCHO-SOCIAL CARE

18. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

19. 1. 20% OF THE YOUNG COMBATANTS
WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10-14
DURING RECRUITMENT
2. 60% OF THE DEAD LTTE FIGHTERS
ARE UNDER 18 AND ARE MOSTLY
GIRLS AND BOYS AGED 10-16
3. MANY YOUNG FIGHTERS ALTHOUGH
INSTRUCTED TO TAKE CYANIDE
CAPSULES DID NOT WANT TO DO SO
BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO LIVE

20. 4. MANY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE
RECRUITED AGAINST THEIR WISHES
AND MADE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY
WERE FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE WHEN
IN FACT THEY DID NOT KNOW
THE REAL TRUTH
5. CHILDREN SERVE LTTE IN
SUPPORTING ROLES AS COOKS
(SPECIALLY GIRLS), MESSENGERS,
SPIES AND AS SUICIDE BOMBERS
AND ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIR
RIGHT TO EDUCATION

21. RECOMMENDATIONS

22. • INTRODUCE PRINCIPLES RELATING
TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN
• MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN
THE CHILD SECRETARIAT AND NATIONAL
COMMITTEE FOR THE MONITORING OF THE RIGHT
OF CHILDREN
• GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE MEASURES
AGAINST COMBAT VIOLENCE OF CHILDREN
• IMPROVE HEALTH, EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE
FACILITIES IN EFFECTED AREAS
• CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN IN RAISING
AND STANDARDIZING THE AGE FOR CONTRACT
MARRIAGES

23. CONCLUSION

24. IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH ENCOURAGEMENT
THEY LEARN CONFIDENCE
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH PRAISE
THEY LEARN TO APPRECIATE
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH FAIRNESS
THEY LEARN JUSTICE
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH SECURITY
THEY LEARN TO HAVE FAITH
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH APPROVAL
THEY LEARN TO LIKE THEMSELVES
IF CHILDREN LIVE WITH ACCEPTANCE
THEY LEARN TO FIND LOVE IN THE WORLD

25. Q&A