Dispute over jailed Indian fishermen: Boycott of Katchatheevu feast next week
Tamil Nadu's Rameshwaram fisherfolk have threatened to boycott the upcoming annual feast of St. Antony on Katchatheevu next week, demanding the immediate release of their fishermen, who were serving jail terms for illegal bottom trawling in Sri Lanka's territorial waters in the north.
On Friday, the Kayts Magistrate Court handed in a six-month jail term for two skippers of Indian mechanised bottom trawlers in addition to one-year imprisonment suspended for five years for engaging in illegal bottom trawling in Lankan waters on February 3.
Another Indian fisherman who was taken into custody for the second time was given a one-year jail term for committing repeated offences, while the other twenty fishermen were released after being imposed 18-month jail terms suspended for five years.
The twenty released Indian fishermen are awaiting their return passage via air.
The annual feast of the “Guardian of the Sea” in the Palk Strait is scheduled to be held on February 23 and 24 on the islet with the participation of some 8,000 devotees, of whom at least half are coming from various coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, including Rameshwaram.
Following the court verdict, Rameshwaram local fishermen unions, which met yesterday, passed a resolution to boycott the annual feast while calling for the immediate release of all Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan jails, including those who were convicted for committing repeated offences and the skippers.
Rameshwaram Mechanised Trawlers Union President P. Jesu Raja told the Sunday Times that both governments were playing with the lives of innocent fisherfolk and failed to resolve the issue through talks.
“However, we cannot accept the jailing of our fishermen in Sri Lanka and the seizure of our boats. Our fishermen go out fishing to support their families. Who is going to care for the families of jailed fishermen?” he asked.
Condemning the incident, the Tamil Nadu fishermen unions have also decided to stage a massive protest on Tuesday in Ramanathapuram, demanding the release of the jailed fishermen.