UNITED NATIONS, March 16 (UPI) -- The United Nations said it fears for the safety of one of its Sri Lankan employees who was forcibly recruited by the Tamil Tigers fighting the government.
The staff member was recruited by force in the government-declared "no-fire zone" where up to 180,000 civilians are seeking refuge from the clashes in the north, the United Nations said in a new release. The United Nations also expressed concern about and three of the employee's family members, including a 16-year-old girl.
"The U.N. in Sri Lanka has protested to the (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) that U.N. national staff, as well as children in general, are protected under national and international law from recruitment by armed groups, and has called for their immediate release," the Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sri Lanka said in a statement.
Another U.N. .national staff member was recruited two weeks ago, the office said, and has yet to be released.
