The South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (SAFF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for the welfare of fishermen, has urged the Union and State governments to take immediate steps to rescue stranded fishermen in Ajman in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In a petition submitted to the Collector here on Wednesday, its general secretary Rev. Fr. Churchill said that 25 fishermen from Kanyakumari districtwere engaged in fishing in the UAE along with fishermen from Dubai from October 2013.
The Dubai-based fishermen fell into the sea on April 13, 2014, and died after efforts of Indian fishermen to rescue them ended in vain.
In spite of Sharjah police having freed themafter an enquiry, their sponsors detained them for over 50 days. They were denied fishing activity and also forced to live without sufficient food.
The fishermen families in Kanyakumari were informed that their passports were seized by the sponsors.
Meanwhile, the fishermen were chased away and beaten up on February 4, 2015.
Due to the intervention of Fisheries Secretary, Tamil Nadu, the authorities of Indian Embassy in Dubai arranged for accommodation and food for the fishermen who were abandoned by their sponsors on February 4, 2015. The fishermen, Fr. Churchill said, needed the support of the Indian High Commission to pay the room rent and for legal assistance. On March 4, the identity cards of these fishermen werecancelled, which paved way for the sponsors to promote new fishermen without making any allowance for the fishermen in distress.
“The 25 fishermen wish to unite with their families. Though there is no direct complaint on our fishermen, yet the authorities in Ajman are not permitting them to return to their native place,” the petition said.
The petition was jointly submitted to the Collector by Fr. Churchill, Michael, president, All India Fishermen Federation, and Fr. John Rose, parish priest, Puthenthurai.
“Though there is no direct complaint, the authorities in Ajman are not permitting them to return to their native place”