Get tough with tigers on child soldiers

In a highly welcome development the UN Security Council's Working Group
on Children and Armed Conflict has warned the LTTE of grave consequences
if it does not put an end to the recruitment of child soldiers.

This is the way the LTTE should be handled on account of its
intransigence and we do hope the UN body concerned would carry out its
threat of visiting the Tigers with grave consequences.

This is the moment to watch because the LTTE would be sparing no pains
to replenish its depleting combat units in the wake of the military
debacles it has suffered in Eastern Sri Lanka. The LTTE which has no
moral and other scruples would not hesitate to continue its outrageous
practice of recruiting underage children to its combat cadres.

This has, of course, happened in the past but is likely to intensify in
the future. If the international community intends cracking down on the
Tigers, this moment should be seized. It should be able and willing to
translate its threats into action before further atrocities are committed.