Parents flee SLA death threats, 6 children with UNICEF in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 September 2006, 09:40 GMT]
Six children below 15 years of age from a family threatened by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Madduvil, Thenmaradchi, were taken to UNICEF by the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission officials as the parents had fled the area following alleged death threats from the soldiers, according to NGO sources in Jaffna Saturday. Meanwhile, residents in Madduvil said women and children in the area were sexually abused Thursday night when the soldiers launched a cordon and search operation. Around 15 families fled the village and their houses have been plundered.

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) in Jaffna recovered the children and handed them over to UNICEF Saturday.

Residents were assaulted by the soldiers who claimed they had discovered arms and ammunitions in the area.

Only one family managed to file a complaint at the SLHRC office in Jaffna.

However, reports of rapes by SLA soldiers during the cordon and search operation, were yet to be confirmed by any formal complaint.

Madduvil is located 18 km northwest of the Muhamalai entry point.