New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said both Karuna group and the Tamil Tigers continue recruiting children onto combat despite repeated assurances to the international community.

	Both groups are accused of contunuing child recruitment

The HRW activists have witnessed armed children under 17 working in Karuna groups offices in Batticaloa. The Sri Lanka security force personnel have failed to take any action against the group, the watchdog said in a statement.

Sri Lanka government pledged to investigate after a United Nations special envoy accused elements of armed forces of supporting Karuna group's child recruitment.

Allan Rock report

Defence Affairs spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, repeatedly said the government would launch an investigation into Alan Rock's special report on child recruitment.

But the HRW says it witnessed many armed children working in the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) offices in eastern Sri Lanka.

The LTTE is a notorious repeat offender of child recruitment. It's a shame that government forces complicit with the Karuna group are now involved in the same ugly practice HRW Asia director Brad Adams

"When government troops at a military base look across the street at children standing guard at a Karuna office and do nothing, it's hard to believe the government is taking any meaningful steps to end this abuse," said HRW's Asia director, Brad Adams.

The Rights group says the group led by former senior LTTE leader Karuna have re-abducted some of the children after releasing them.

The record of the Tamil Tigers on child recruitment is not different tho that of Karuna group, according to HRW.

Sanctions against LTTE

Quoting UNICEF figures the rights group says while Karuna group has abducted 45 children since last December, the LTTE has forcibly recruited at least 28 since January.

Authorities at sacred Madhu church also accused LTTE of forcibly recruiting young adults who have sought refuge in the church.

	HRW says Karuna is doing 'the dirty work' for Sri Lanka government

"We have strongly told the LTTE not to come and recruit people here because this is shrine this is only for religious activities," Rev. Fr. Emilius Pillai told bbcsinhala.com.

Though there were no reports of child recruitment, young adults as young as 17 years have been forced to join the LTTE, according to Fr. Emilius Pillai.

"Access to LTTE-controlled areas remains difficult, but credible reports indicate that the group is increasingly recruiting and deploying girls as front line soldiers in the East," the HRW statement issued on Thursday said.

The HRW has called on the UN to impose targeted sanctions on Tamil Tigers as they have a "long history of recruiting children in violation of international law".

	HRW says LTTE has also stepped up child recruitment

The watchdog says both groups have repeatedly broken their pledges to stop the illegal practise.

"The LTTE is a notorious repeat offender of child recruitment," Brad Adams said. "It's a shame that government forces complicit with the Karuna group are now involved in the same ugly practice."

There is also strong evidence that the government forces are colluded with the Karuna group, according to the LTTE.

Karuna- SLA 'colaboration'

"In February, Human Rights Watch saw a Karuna commander named Jeyam riding atop a Sri Lankan armored personnel vehicle outside Valaichchenai. In Batticaloa town, residents have seen Karuna cadre patrolling jointly with the police," the statement said.

In February, Human Rights Watch saw a Karuna commander named Jeyam riding atop a Sri Lankan armored personnel vehicle outside Valaichchenai HRW statement

The HRW has accused the government of deliberately preventing family members of the abducted children when a one man commission travelled to Batticaloa in January.

The military also pressurised the families to say their children were taken away by "unidentified group," according to the HRW.

The watchdog urged Sri Lanka authorities to take actions against Karuna group's child abductions.

"The Karuna group is doing the government's dirty work," HRW said.