Paramilitary releases 15 young recruits in Batticaloa
[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 January 2009, 15:46 GMT]
Due to the pressure exerted by UNICEF on TMVP Pillayan faction (Tamil Makal Viduthalai Pulikal) to release the children abducted and given military training by it, 15 of them were released in the presence of UNICEF officials Thursday in Batticaloa. The released children were produced in Batticaloa magistrate court through Batticaloa police where the magistrate directed the police to place them in the protective care of the ‘Sarvodaya’ in Chaththurukko'ndaan until 29 January, Batticaloa police said.
The children will be handed over to their parents after 29 January according to the magistrate’s order. TMVP men had abducted and forcibly conscripted at least 143 children in the period between 2006 and 2008 to be trained as soldiers, according to a report released by UNICEF. TMVP Pilayan group, however, said that there are 40 children of the above category with them and that they will be freed.
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