[image: Amnesty International logo] Escaping the "child-catchers" of the LTTE Dear Waliullah Ahmed,
Amnesty International is calling on the UN to set up an independent investigation into possible war crimes committed in Sri Lanka in the final months of the civil war which ended in May 2009. Both sides, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government’s armed forces committed human rights violations. The families who suffered deserve justice and if you want to know why, read Kamla’s story of how she escaped capture. *"Child-catchers" of the LTTE* The bullets and bombs were scary but what struck terror in Kamla’s heart, were the “child-catchers” of the LTTE. For months, Kamla and her 2 younger sisters managed to escape them by hiding in barrels buried underground in the backyard. The lid would be closed and soil sprinkled on top, with only a small tube fitted for breathing. [image: Last few months of the war. Civilians in between Kilinochi and Mullaitivu, May 2009]<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64126&qid=1519529> However, during the final months of the war, shelling became so bad that the family were displaced 14 times and ended up in a hut without any of their possessions. *Caught in the cross-fire* One morning, when Kamla came out of the hut she found the place surrounded by more than 20 child-catchers. She ran in terror, ducking and hiding behind huts and somehow managed to escape. That night, her family decided they couldn’t continue like this anymore. Along with 150 other Tamils, they began moving towards the Sri Lankan army controlled areas, risking one final confrontation with the LTTE. “Tigers fired wildly. Parents fought against Tigers and some were dragged away,” recalls Kamla. But after a night of battle, the Sri Lankan army saved them and sent them to the Vavuniya camp. A year after this escape, Kamla drew the picture above (she is in yellow, surrounded by “child-catchers” in black) to show what disturbed her the most. Help Kamla and her family discover the truth by calling for an independent investigation. Your signatures will be presented to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at a high level meeting in September during the UN General Assembly. (* Kamla's name has been changed to protect her identity.) Call on the UN to investigate human rights violations in Sri Lanka. [image: Take action Now]<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64126&qid=1519529> You can also take action on Facebook. [image: Take action Now]<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64127&qid=1519529> In Solidarity, Online Communities Team Alaphia, Buddha, Jennifer and Jeremy Join our Online communities Facebook African<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64128&qid=1519529>| Arabic<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64129&qid=1519529>| Asia Pacific Youth<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64130&qid=1519529>| Bangla<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64131&qid=1519529>| India<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64132&qid=1519529>| Latin American<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64133&qid=1519529> Twitter English<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64134&qid=1519529>| India<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64135&qid=1519529>| Spanish<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64136&qid=1519529> Amnesty International International Secretariat 1 Easton Street London, WC1X 0DW United Kingdom Become a member<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64137&qid=1519529>| Donate<http://www.amnesty.org/sites/default/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=64138&qid=1519529>| Take Action <http://www.amnesty.org/en/activism-center> -- W A Laskar Freelance Reporter and Human Rights Activist with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, http://bhrpc.wordpress.com 15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile, Guwahati-781037, Assam, India Cell: +919401134314 Visit my blog at www.rightspeaks.blogspot.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
