Relations between India and Sri Lanka have never been better. Yet the recent killings of two Tamil Nadu fishermen, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, have cast a negative light on bilateral ties. While the Sri Lankan Navy has denied responsibility for the deaths, there is anger in Tamil Nadu, and New Delhi has lodged a strong protest with Colombo. Unacceptably, miscreants have attempted to take diplomacy into their own hands by attacking a Sri Lankan Buddhist priest in Chennai. It is the responsibility of the Tamil Nadu government to ensure such incidents do not occur. The latest turn is surprising considering that in October 2008 the two sides reached an elaborate understanding to put in place “practical arrangements to deal with bona fide Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.” For the first time, both sides acknowledged and accepted that fishermen crossed the international boundary, and had to be dealt with in non-lethal ways. The steps included designation by Sri Lanka of sensitive areas along its coastline that Indian fishing vessels could not venture into even if they crossed the IMBL. The governments also agreed there would be no firing on trespassing vessels, which would have a valid registration or permit; the fishermen were to carry government-issued identity cards. These measures led to a remarkable drop in the number of arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan authorities, from nearly 1,500 in 2008 to just 34 in 2010. There were no incidents of killings in 2009 or 2010. The January 12 incident in which a fisherman was allegedly shot by the Sri Lankan Navy was the first of its kind since the 2008 arrangements.
Significantly, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has hinted at a rethink on the two-year-old understanding, remarking to the press that the end of the war against the LTTE and the peaceful situation in northern Sri Lanka necessitated a revision in the existing arrangements. Clearly, there is an apprehension in Sri Lanka that Indian fishermen are now taking advantage of these arrangements to cross the IMBL regularly and in greater numbers, threatening the livelihood of fishermen on the other side. While these concerns are real, it is extraordinarily difficult physically to prevent fishermen from crossing the international maritime boundary. Fishing communities in Tamil Nadu need to be sensitised to the imperative of respecting the sanctity of the IMBL but the penalty for trespass cannot be death. India and Sri Lanka, which have excellent political and economic relations, are surely capable of resolving the livelihood-centred problems that have surfaced among their fishermen in the post-LTTE era.
Keywords: Tamil Nadu fishermen issue, Sri Lankan Navy, LTTE, Rajapaksa government, International Maritime Boundary Line
Wouldnt it be very simple to have joint patrolling by boats of the two navies and a line of buoys to mark the boundary and prevent cross overs. Wonder why no authority is thinking along those lines.
The bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka should continue to flourish. Both the government should ensure that such incidents do not happen in future.
Merciless killing of Indian fishermen in SL naval boundaries is an issue which can strain the healthy political and economical relationships between the two countries.International marine space violation by the Indian fishermen is too minor a crime for getting gunned down by SL marine forces,even when there is an active agreement between the two nations regarding the marine conduct.Such a heinous act can only invite furore not only from the fishermen community but also from general society.The matter of the gruesome killing was hardly off the news, when for the second time in two months, fisherman from southern state was awarded death penalty for alleged trespassing of international boundaries.To add to the plight of the community, SL govt has denied all responsibility for the ruthless killing and their only reaction on this act is to revise the exisiting international arrangements.This is a clean mockery of existing treaty for international naval conduct and Indian govt need to act aggresively and should seek accountability from the SL govt.If the govt. fails to make any impact and the lodged protest with colombo fizzles slowly, one can expect similar treatments to SL community from miscreants in the various states.
Both sides India & Sri Lanka should take a serious note of trespassing. Careful instructions should be issued to fishing community regarding IMBL. Spoiling relations & raising tensions is in neither interest.
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