Fishermen to stay off fishing for three days; condemn arrest of nine fishers by Sri Lankan Navy
Condemning the arrest of nine fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on Wednesday (July 22) night by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges
Condemning the arrest of nine fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on Wednesday (July 22) night by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching, the fishermen associations here have announced boycott of work for the next three days till Sunday. In a resolution passed at a meeting convened on July 23, the fishermen association representatives said that the Centre should immediately intervene into this issue and ensure a permanent solution. “To draw the attention of the new government in Tamil Nadu and those in the Union government, we have decided to stay away from fishing activities for the next three days (Friday to Sunday), said Jesu Raja, a fishermen leader.
Speaking to The Hindu, he said that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had, during electioneering, promised to not only protect the livelihood of the fishers, but also assured to take up with the Central government and solve the issue, if elected. “Now that the party is in power, the CM should give us a time and listen to our grievances,” he added. On Wednesday night, nine fishermen from the coastal district were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy along the Palk Straits on charges of poaching.
After the annual ban period was over in June 15, this was the first arrest of the fishermen from Tamil Nadu. “We have been praying to the governments for the last several years to consider our genuine pleas.... but so far, there seems to be no tangible solution,” Mr Jesu Raja said and hoped at least in the coming weeks, the Chief Minister would speak up with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister and others in this regard. The fishermen also blamed the fishermen from Karaikal for their non cooperation, which, they alleged, had precipitated the anger between the Sri Lankan fishermen and the TN Fishermen.
“The Karaikal fishers travelled over 100 miles and engaged in fishing in the international waters. Using banned fishnets and long trawlers irked the Sri Lankan fishermen. This should stop immediately and the TN government should deal with the Karaikal fishers in a tough manner, they said.
The BriefWire