Rights group criticises SLanka over child soldiers

COLOMBO, Nov 28 (Reuters) An international rights group said today it had clear evidence that Sri Lankan troops were helping to abduct children as soldiers for a group of renegades to battle Tamil Tiger rebels.

The allegation by US-based Human Rights Watch came after a UN envoy had also accused elements of the military of helping to abduct children as soldiers for a band of breakaway rebels led by former top Tiger commander Colonel Karuna.

''We have clear and compelling evidence that government forces are helping Karuna forces abduct boys and young men,'' Jo Becker, children's rights advocate at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement issued in New York.

''The government should stop the abductions and help kidnapped children go home.'' President Mahinda Rajapakse's government earlier this month dismissed similar findings by Allan Rock, special adviser to the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict in Sri Lanka, accusing him of misleading financial donors.

''Official surprise at Ambassador Rock's allegations is not genuine,'' Becker said. ''The government has known about Karuna abductions at least since June, if not earlier, and it has failed to stop the kidnappings or investigate the culprits.'' Government defence spokesman and cabinet minister Keheliya Rambukwella again denied the latest allegation.

''There is no involvement,'' he said.

''Human Rights Watch should give us this credible evidence that they're talking of. Once we have that, we can pursue it,'' he added.

''We will certainly take necessary action to control it and completely take the perpetrators to justice.'' UNICEF lists around 1,600 outstanding cases of under-age recruitment by the Tigers, around 650 of which are still under the age of 18. The agency also lists over 140 outstanding cases of under-age recruitment by the Karuna group.

Fierce fighting between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has killed around 3,000 civilians, troops and rebels so far this year.

Yesterday, the rebels declared they were resuming their independence struggle, which analysts say means Sri Lanka should brace for an escalation in a conflict that has killed more than 67,000 people since 1983.

REUTERS SP PM1222