21 March, 2007 - Published 19:54 GMT

'Forced conscription' by LTTE

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers are accused of forcibly recruiting civilians who have sought shelter in sacred Madu church.

Rev. Emilius Pillai of Madu church BBC Sandehsya that nearly 10,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) have taken refuge in the church.

The IDPs are facing a stark shortage of food and other essential supplies but the government and the non governmental agencies have failed to support them, the priest added.

While the IDPs are suffering, the LTTE is trying to fish in the troubled waters, according to the church authorities.

Forced recruitment

"We have strongly told the LTTE not to come and recruit people here because this is shrine this is only for religious activities," Rev. Emilius Pillai told bbcsinhala.com.

Though there were no reports of child recruitment, the adults have been forced to join the LTTE.

"We have come across people who are in the age of 17 have been recruited".

Madu church authorities say they have evidence that Tamil Tigers forced IDPs to join the organisation.

"They do not enter the church but come around and sometimes take people by force also," Rev. Emilius Pillai said.

Protest to LTTE

Church authorities say they totally oppose the forceful conscription by the LTTE.

The matter has been taken up with the Tamil Tiger leadership and the international community.

"Madu shrine is a place of worship. Therefore I appeal to people in Sri lanka to help us so that we can maintain this as a peace zone," Fr. Pillai said.

There was no response from the Tamil Tigers.