Tamils - a Trans State Nation..

"To us all towns are one, all men our kin.
Life's good comes not from others' gift, nor ill
Man's pains and pains' relief are from within.
Thus have we seen in visions of the wise !."
- Tamil Poem in Purananuru, circa 500 B.C 

Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Representative for Children affected by armed conflict (SRSG/CAAC) has expressed deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka.

"The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant group continues to recruit and use child soldiers and the office has also received reports that the Karuna faction has abducted and recruited children under the age of eighteen. Besides recruitment of child soldiers, there are also allegations of other grave violations against children by all parties to the conflict�, declares Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy

Given the situation of concern the Special Representative is appointing Ambassador Alan Rock as Special Advisor to the office of the SRSG. He will undertake a field mission to Sri Lanka to ascertain first hand the situation on the ground.

The exact dates of the mission of Ambassador Allan Rock will be finalized in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka, UN partners and all other relevant actors on the ground. Ambassador Allan Rock has served as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations from 2004 to June 2006 and Chair of the Group of Friends of the Office of the SRSG/CAAC. He has consistently called for greater UN engagement in resolving humanitarian crises and promoted measures to improve human security and the protection of civilians. He was highly involved in the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission.

# # # For further information, please contact:

Ms. Laurence Gerard, Communications Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children Affected by Armed Conflict - + 1212 963 0984 ([email protected]) The bios of Ambassador Allan Rock and Ms. Coomaraswamy are available upon request.