Fishermen go on strike

Fishermen at a coastal security meeting in Rameswaram. File photo

Over 10,000 coastal fishermen in Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts began an indefinite strike on Friday, demanding the release of all the 43 fishermen languishing in Sri Lanka prisons, and their mechanised boats.

The fishermen stayed away from routine operations, their representatives told The Hindu . “We will continue the strike till the Central and State governments intervene and find an early solution,” said N. Kuttiandi, president of the Jegadapattinam Mechanised Boat Owners Association.

Both Jegadapattinam and Kottaipattinam coastal tracts in Pudukottai district were known for yielding large-sized crabs which are exported. The strike could thus hit exports, the sources said.

In Rameswaram, a 4000-strong contingent of fishermen struck work, angered at their fishing season which began only recently, getting sullied by the actions of the Sri Lankan Navy who frequently arrested the fisherfolk on charges of straying into their waters.

Sesu Raja, leader of the Fishermen’s Association in Rameswaram, said the strike was total as all the mechanised boats remained anchored at the fishing jetty. I

The president of the ‘Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen,’ U. Arulanandam said that while the fishermen were on an indefinite strike, “both the Indian and Sri Lankan governments should sit and resolve the issue permanently.”