The United Nations child agency, UNICEF, last week condemned abductions and forced recruitment of underage youth in the east by the Arm-backed paramilitary Karuna Group and called for an immediate halt to the practice.
The UNICEF statement came amid reports over a hundred youth had been seized from streets and homes last week in the Batticaloa district.
“UNICEF in Sri Lanka is calling for immediate action to halt the abduction and forced recruitment of children by the Karuna group,” said the press release.
“Over the past week, the agency has verified reports of thirty cases in Batticaloa district. Reports of abduction and forced recruitment of boys under the age of 18 from the area have increased since March of this year.”
“While calling on all armed groups in Sri Lanka to stop using child soldiers and to send all such victims of the conflict home, UNICEF is also appealing to the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate all abductions and ensure that children in affected areas are given the full protection of the law,” the press release said.
Reports said children had been abducted from the areas of Santhiveli, Kiran, Mankerni, Valaichchenai and Iruthayapuram in Manmunai North.
A week earlier, press reports said more than 125 underage youths had been abducted by the paramilitary Karuna Group during Sri Lanka Army and paramilitry launched cordon and search operations in the Batticaloa district.
The reports said the SLA would arrest the youths and hand them over to paramilitary cadres. Paramilitary cadres were also allowed to enter houses, beat up the underage youths and abduct them for training, the reports said.
More than 75 youths were abducted in Valaichenai area, 27 youths were abducted in a cordon and search operation in Kiran and another 23 youths were abducted at Santhiveli. The abducted youths were being taken to Thivuchenai in Batticaloa - Polonnaruwa border for forced recruitment in the Karuna Group, reports said.
The youths, studying at year 9 to year 12 at school, are also being abducted by paramilitary cadres riding around government-controlled areas in white vans without number plates.
Eighteen youngsters between the ages of 14 and 19 years were also abducted during cordon and search operations conducted by unidentified armed men o Palm Colony, Mankerny in the Batticaloa district.
Complaints of their abduction and disappearance were filed with Vaalaichenai police, with parents telling the police that their children were taken captive against their will. Despite their resistance and attempts to escape, the children were abducted with the use of force and coercion the parents said.
Armed paramilitary cadres of the Karuna Group were operating in the vicinity of the Mankerny SLA camp. The paramilitary cadres were subjecting civilians travelling within Kirimichchai, Kayankerni and the adjoining areas to constant searches and interrogation, are now engaging in the abduction and forced enlistment of youth into their ranks with the help of Mankerny SLA soldiers, residents alleged.
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The UNICEF statement came amid reports over a hundred youth had been seized from streets and homes last week in the Batticaloa district.
“UNICEF in Sri Lanka is calling for immediate action to halt the abduction and forced recruitment of children by the Karuna group,” said the press release.
“Over the past week, the agency has verified reports of thirty cases in Batticaloa district. Reports of abduction and forced recruitment of boys under the age of 18 from the area have increased since March of this year.”
“While calling on all armed groups in Sri Lanka to stop using child soldiers and to send all such victims of the conflict home, UNICEF is also appealing to the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate all abductions and ensure that children in affected areas are given the full protection of the law,” the press release said.
Reports said children had been abducted from the areas of Santhiveli, Kiran, Mankerni, Valaichchenai and Iruthayapuram in Manmunai North.
A week earlier, press reports said more than 125 underage youths had been abducted by the paramilitary Karuna Group during Sri Lanka Army and paramilitry launched cordon and search operations in the Batticaloa district.
The reports said the SLA would arrest the youths and hand them over to paramilitary cadres. Paramilitary cadres were also allowed to enter houses, beat up the underage youths and abduct them for training, the reports said.
More than 75 youths were abducted in Valaichenai area, 27 youths were abducted in a cordon and search operation in Kiran and another 23 youths were abducted at Santhiveli. The abducted youths were being taken to Thivuchenai in Batticaloa - Polonnaruwa border for forced recruitment in the Karuna Group, reports said.
The youths, studying at year 9 to year 12 at school, are also being abducted by paramilitary cadres riding around government-controlled areas in white vans without number plates.
Eighteen youngsters between the ages of 14 and 19 years were also abducted during cordon and search operations conducted by unidentified armed men o Palm Colony, Mankerny in the Batticaloa district.
Complaints of their abduction and disappearance were filed with Vaalaichenai police, with parents telling the police that their children were taken captive against their will. Despite their resistance and attempts to escape, the children were abducted with the use of force and coercion the parents said.
Armed paramilitary cadres of the Karuna Group were operating in the vicinity of the Mankerny SLA camp. The paramilitary cadres were subjecting civilians travelling within Kirimichchai, Kayankerni and the adjoining areas to constant searches and interrogation, are now engaging in the abduction and forced enlistment of youth into their ranks with the help of Mankerny SLA soldiers, residents alleged.
Grow up, p7
