Special Assignment

31st October 1999

Presidential baby brigade

By Faraza Farook, Nilika de Silva and
Tania Fernando

Human shield or symbolising national unity?

Questions are being asked as to the safety of school children being used in the Presidential Campaign launched by the People's Alliance.

After the PA's grand celebrations marking its five years in office in August, President and PA's presidential candidate Chandrika Kumaratunga was seen accompanied by children dressed in ethnic costumes walking to the stage at anniversary ceremonies in places such as Hambantota, Badulla and Kurunegala.

PA sources say that the President was stressing the need for national unity when she was seen with children of all communities at state festivals.

But it was once again the familiar scene last Saturday at Anuradhapura where the PA's campaign launch also coincided with the government's anniversary show.

While only four children, representing four main communities, were used in the very first instance in the August ceremony in Colombo, about 50 children accompanied her at the Anuradhapura meeting. The figure was 150 at the Kurunegala ceremony a week earlier.

Are these children being used as a human shield by a President who is the prime target of the LTTE? This is the question many concerned citizens who watch presidential coverage on TV or attend presidential functions ask.

A Kurunegala school principal said he believed the children were being used as a human shield. This was obviously a tactic the presidential security division employs to ward off any LTTE threat, he said.

Some political observers said the use of children was a campaign gimmick while party supporters said it symbolised the president's commitment to national unity.

Minister Alavi Moulana, dismissed allegations that the President was using children as a human shield.

"Children represent the entire nation and carry the message of peace, that is why the President is accompanied by children," he said.

Mr.Moulana asked if the thousands accompanying her at May Day rallies were also considered to be human shields.

Meanwhile, Presidential Security Division sources who wished to remain anonymous said, the use of children at meetings was purely for aesthetic purposes. They said having the President surrounded by children augmented the President's maternal image, and it had nothing do with any security aspects.

According to provincial ministry sources, orders to release students for the meeting were issued to principals of selected schools by the Chief Minister's Office through the Zonal Director.

Meanwhile, a teacher from one of the selected schools said they picked only students living close to the school to be sent to presidential functions.

According to North Western Provincial Council Chief Secretary A.M. Karunaratne, the children participated voluntarily at the Anuradhapura meeting.

The Sunday Times learns these children in the age group 10-12 years were provided only refreshments for their participation and nothing else.

J. Ratnayake, principal of Sir John Kotelawala Maha Vidyalaya, Kurunegala, said 50 children from year 6 were selected for this event.

Other children who participated at the Kurunegala meeting were from Hindu College and Hisbullah College.

Most parents The Sunday Times spoke to believe that to be seen with the President is a privilege. That they were putting their child's life in danger is not in their mind.

"It's an exciting experience for the children," K. Weerasooriya whose child participated at the Kurunegala meeting said.

Many other parents also shared similar views and gave little thought to the risk involved.

Mr. Raheem, a teacher in Kurunegala said he wouldn't mind sending his child for the campaign if he was asked. "It is a rare opportunity. If anything disastrous happens, it is the child's bad luck," he said.

Tissa Wijeratne was another parent who was awaiting an opportunity to send his child to get onto the stage with the President. "It is a moment of pride, and we are only too glad to send our son if we are asked," he said.

When asked about the child being exposed to security risks, Mr. Wijeratne said he was confident that with tight security there was very little opportunity for any incident to take place.

"The stage is 50 metres away and therefore the risk of being attacked is minimal," said another parent.

However, some parents in Colombo showed deep concern about allowing their children to appear on stage with the president.

"I would not be happy to send my child for such a meeting," said Sriyalatha from Maharagama.

"I would be afraid to allow my grandchild to participate in such an event," a grandmother from Ratmaldeniya who accompanies her daughter's child daily to Dharmapala Vidyalaya in Pannipitiya said.

However, one father said he would not hesitate to let his child join. Hilda Perera of Kotahena said that allowing children to be with the President was the most idiotic security advice one could give a head of state, especially when nothing was considered sacred for the LTTE.

"Why cannot PA politicians send their children or grandchildren to the stage," she asked. "Have we forgotten how late Gamini Dissanayake and 53 others were killed by an LTTE suicide bomber at Thotalanga, in 1994? The suicide bomber is no respector of persons, they don't care whether one is young or old," she said.

A Jayasundera of Nugegoda asked what was the earthly use of taking children onto the stage with the President who herself claimed that she was under LTTE threat.

"God forbid nothing untoward should happen, but given the attitude of the LTTE, none could imagine what would happen the next moment. We still have not forgotten the number of leaders of this country and others who have been killed by the LTTE. When the government is shouting at all international forums that the LTTE is using children to fight the security forces, then why is the head of state taking children onto the stage. What logic does this make?" another parent asked. He said the LTTE could turn back and tell the world that the President was also using children as a human shield.

"After the Aluthgama incident we as mothers are not even willing to send our children out to play," said Ms. A. Cader of Wellawatte. "Accepting a bouquet from a child is understandable, but keeping hundred and fifty children who do not know the A,B,C, of politics for more than an hour on stage, is just foolish," she stressed.

Reflections

Editorial/ Opinion Contents