Human rights organisation say that the tigers had released some of the children. "On 18 June 2007 the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) released 135 child soldiers and pledged to rid its ranks of all children

	LTTE often denies having any under age combatants

over 1500 still in Tiger ranks

In this statement Amnesty International demands the Tamil Tigers to, "immediately return all remaining child soldiers to their families and engage in transtparent procedures with UNICEF to reunite remaining child soldiers with their families".

The statement quotes UNICEF records of a significant drop in LTTE recruitment of children, but they say still many child soldiers remain in their ranks.

UNICEF, which has had direct talks with the LTTE on the release of underage soldiers, said at least 1,591 still remained at the end of May 2007

Giving out the latest figures, the statement ask the Tamil Tigers for a commitment. "UNICEF, which has had direct talks with the LTTE on the release of underage soldiers, said at least 1,591 still remained at the end of May 2007".

under 18 recruits now grown up

"The figure included 506 who are under the age of 18, and 1,085 who were recruited when they were under 18 but who have now passed that age".

Amnesty International say that the LTTE has a long history of recruiting minors as soldiers. According to the statement, "prior to the 2002 ceasefire agreement, the LTTE routinely used children in combat, including high profile battles in which children often suffered high rates of casualties".

The statement accuse the Tamil Tigers of forcible recruitment of children. "In the past the LTTE have enforced a one family, one child” policy in areas under its control instructing Tamil households that each family was obliged to provide a son or a daughter for “the cause.” There is no excuse or acceptable argument for using children as combatants".

one family, one child” policy in areas under its control instructing Tamil households that each family was obliged to provide a son or a daughter for “the cause

One child from each family

"In April 2007 Amnesty received reports that the LTTE were active in recruiting children in Madhu in Mannar District in preparation for future military battles in the North".

However, the organisation also say there are other forces actively involved in child recruitment. "The LTTE are not the only armed political group recruiting children in Sri Lanka. Amnesty International has also received reliable reports of increased recruitment by other groups such as the Karuna faction".

Karuna faction which is fighting against the Tamil Tigers is one of the main offenders. "The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mechanism (SLMM) report for the period 11-17 June 2007 notes that 34 abductions in the space of a week were reported in the East in areas where the Karuna faction is active and this number included 16 youth".

war crime

The head of UNICEF’s Sri Lanka mission noted that, “at this point the pace of recruitment by the Karuna faction is actually higher than the pace of recruitment by the Tigers”.

	Young girl who said she escaped from the Tigers

AAmnesty International explains that, using children for combat is a war crime. "Children have no role to play in war. The recruitment of children is a war crime. The LTTE and all other armed groups must pledge not to use child soldiers, cease recruitment immediately and return the children to their families".