Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa writes to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the plight of Indian fishermen "traditionally fishing" in contentious Katchatheevu.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to impress upon the Sri Lankan government the need to instruct its Navy to exercise restraint and refrain from harassing innocent Indian fishermen pursuing their livelihood in traditional waters.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, she drew his attention to another incident of harassment of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday.
Of about 704 mechanised fishing boats that had set out for fishing from Rameswaram on Monday, fishermen on 45 boats fishing near Katchatheevu were harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy, which chased them, cut the ropes and damaged nets of 10 boats, resulting in huge loss to the fishermen.
She said that the fishermen of Tamil Nadu had been traditionally fishing in the waters near Katchatheevu, notwithstanding geographical or political boundaries.
She had brought to the Prime Minister’s notice various incidents of attack on fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy/miscreants in the last 12 months and sought his intervention.
“This latest incident of harassment has shocked the State of Tamil Nadu and created a psychological fear in the minds of our fishermen,” the Chief Minister said.
Did anyone question about what Indian Navy has been doing in the seas? Are not they supposed to save and to provide security to the fisher-folks, when required. What I feel is that Srilankan Navy does exactly what it is supposed to do. Our armed forces are popular because they go into hibernation as soon as they are assigned with some tasks.
Indian coastguard should take every precaution in not letting these fisherfolk from TN straying into the waters of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is deeply suspicious of the activities of the TN government due to its past history. This is when TN actively encouraged and supported separatist terrorism.
Prior to 1974 Tamil Nadu fishermen had the right to fish in and around
Islet.When in 1974 the islet was ceded to GOSL still they went on
fishing uninterrupted due to almost over 30 years conflict the LTTE had
with GOSL. Now it is the time that Tamil Nadu should allow Sri
Lankan Tamil Fisherman at least to enjoy the benefit of peace dividend after so many years of hardship due to bloody war
Please Email the Editor