|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 8 October 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Security | |
| News Business Features Editorial Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Ranga Jayasuriya Scandinavian truce monitors yesterday called Saturday's abduction of children in Valachchenai a breach of international law and said they were trying to secure their release. "It is a serious breach of international law which is the foundation of the ceasefire agreement," SLMM deputy chief Hagruph Haukland told the Daily news. "The ceasefire agreement has no word about underage recruitment, but it is covered by the international law which all parties are obliged to respect". The exact number of abductions is not yet verified. The SLMM is in the process of verifying the exact figure. The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) put the number at 13, while local sources said it was 15. SLMM spokeswoman Agnes Bragadottier said truce monitors have received two complaints. "Monitors visited the school and met the parents, but it will take some time for the parents to make up their minds and lodge a complaint," she said. She said Batticaloa based monitors tried to contact the LTTE local leadership during the last two days. But their attempts were futile. "We are continuing in our efforts to secure the release of children," she said. Meanwhile, UNICEF which is working together with the Tigers to demobilise LTTE "baby brigades" said the abduction was "completely unacceptable". UNICEF said it had verified five cases of abduction. "Numbers are not the issue - the recruitment of just one child is a serious violation of children rights," it said in a media statement. "The continued recruitment of children is completely unacceptable and this type of action undermines the work and commitment of the LTTE towards making the Action Plan for Children Affected by War a success." Parents and schoolchildren on Monday took to the streets in the Eastern town of Valachchenai demanding the release of children abducted by the LTTE. Some 250 schoolchildren and residents blocked roads in Valachchenai chanting slogans in protest to kidnapping. The Tigers have been routinely accused of abduction and conscription of children. However the latest episode came a day after 49 child combatants -27 girls and 22 boys- were released by the Tigers after a four-month rehabilitation programme jointly administered by the UNICEF and the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
