After a wave of protests affected life for eight hours in Rameswaram, normality returned to the island Friday. Fishermen decided to begin a strike till the five fishermen, awarded the death sentence by the Colombo High Court, returned home.
Leaders of 11 fishermen associations met here and resolved not to put out to sea till the five fishermen were released. “Fishermen of Rameswaram, Pamban and Mandapam will abstain from fishing,” said P. Sesu Raja, a fishermen leader.
He said the leaders also decided to observe a fast at Thangachimadam on Saturday, urging the Centre to take immediate steps to secure their release.
Bishop of Sivaganga J. Susai Manickam would lead the fast, a dioceses release said.
Mr. Raja said fishermen leaders of 13 coastal districts would meet on November 7 to decide on a plan to lay a siege to Parliament if the Centre failed to take concrete steps by November 6.
The police decided to register five cases for Thursday’s incidents. The island remained cut off since 3.30 p.m. Thursday as fishermen of Thangachimadam and Pamban went on the rampage.
The stir was called off around 11.30 p.m. after AIADMK MP A. Anwar Raja assured the protesters that the State would take immediate steps to get the order stayed and file an appeal in the Sri Lankan Supreme Court.
“Severe action will be taken against those who indulged in arson and road blockade,” Superintendent of Police N. M. Mylvahanan told reporters on Friday.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader M. H. Jawahirullah informed fishermen leaders that he would visit Colombo to find out what went wrong at the trial and when the appeal would be filed in the Supreme Court.
