The ‘humanitarian’ bait
During last weekend’s Indo-Lanka virtual summit, the Colombo Government seems to have creditably stuck to its still undecided position on the way forward with the 13th Amendment dealing with Provincial Councils. However, it seems to have caved in to pressure from New Delhi on the continuing issue of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
That the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing ( IUU) in the Palk Straits and the Gulf of Mannar is at least on the agenda of summit talks is a good thing even if it did remain unresolved. The South Indian fishing armadas that brazenly make thrice-weekly incursions into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters and take away their catch while ruining the environment are not only violating UN Law of the Sea Conventions but local laws such as the Fisheries (Regulation of Fishing Boats) Act.
The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation (TNFDC), an Indian state entity, reports that the state’s recommended per capita requirement is less than what it should be. “With the increase in the demand for fish, there is a need for augmenting the overall fish production of the state substantially from all available fishery resources,” the report states. Unfortunately, this reference to “all available fishery resources” seems to include violating the sovereignty of a neighbouring country and stealing its fisheries resources.
The Indian Government keeps maintaining the issue is a “humanitarian” one affecting fishermen’s livelihoods. While it certainly is, it ignores the fact that it is exactly that which affects Sri Lankan fishermen from the Northern districts of this country for whom the Indian Government otherwise sheds’ crocodile tears’ calling for the full implementation of 13A.
The Sri Lankan side at the summit was unable to push the issue beyond the threshold of it being a “humanitarian” one. This is not a matter that involves the livelihood of poor Tamil Nadu fishermen. It involves big boats owned by big business backed by Tamil Nadu politicians.
The TNFDC’s own official annual report for 2018-2019 records that the state earned Indian Rupees 5591.49 crore. i.e. Rs. 56 billion (US Dollars 763 million) or Sri Lankan Rupees 140 billion from the export of 1.29 lakh metric tonnes out of a total of 6.9 lakh metric tonnes of marine products. Tamil Nadu state ranks fourth in total fish production in India.
With this kind of earnings, partly from what belongs to Sri Lanka, giving Sri Lanka extended financial packages seems poor compensation for the rape of its maritime and financial resources on its side of the International Maritime Boundary Line drawn between the two countries and upheld by Indian courts and its Parliament.
The previous Government pussyfooted on this issue under New Delhi’s pressure. Arrested fishermen and boats in custody were released when telephone calls were made. The incumbent President bravely said in his Policy Statement just last month that foreign fishing vessels will not be tolerated in Sri Lankan waters. It seems easier said, than done.