The LTTE is known to have used children between 16 and 18 years in combat and children below 16 years for services such as guard duty. The LTTE has also placed restrictions on children above 12 years leaving Tiger-held areas. Observers have welcomed the LTTE assurances, but are doubtful over implementation in view of the current military pressures.
LTTE leaders Anton Balasingham and SP Thamilchelvan also agreed not to impede return of refugees to home areas or interfere with humanitarian aid. The LTTE is accused of preventing the return of Muslims to their homes in the north and using food aid to control civilians.
As the Army and the LTTE accused each other of violating a two-day ceasefire announced by the Tigers, Mr Otunnu visited Jaffna and refugee camps in the Vanni and expressed concern over the lack of proper programmes for children growing up in conflict areas.
NGOs say 930,000 children in the north-east are affected by the war, including 180,000 in LTTE-held territory and 490,000 in contested areas. An estimated 220,000 children are displaced in the north-east and another 16,000 live in refugee camps in Puttalam District.
A number of factors, NGOs say, including food shortage and health problems, have increased mortality and morbidity in children, particularly in the Vanni. Around 10,000 children in the same area have no educational facilities. Massive effort is needed to rehabilitate the children but, observers say, restrictions in the context of war are impeding the work even of the few agencies that have been permitted to operate.
In a report titled Children in South Asia: Securing their rights, Amnesty International says that children are routinely picked up by security forces on suspicion of links with the LTTE and there is evidence of torture of children in custody. A number of children have also been killed in deliberate or indiscriminate attacks by the security forces and the LTTE. Amnesty says disappearances, including children, have been a long-standing concern in Sri Lanka.