Northern fishermen meet detained Indian fishermen; deliver food, tough message during New Year prison visit
In a New Year goodwill gesture, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and group of Northern fishermen yesterday distributed packs of dry ration among Indian fishermen detained in the Jaffna prison.
While expressing sympathy for the detained Indian fishermen, Jaffna Fishermen's Association President S. Annarasa said they explained to the Indians the difficulties Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen faced due to their illegal fishing activities in Sri Lanka’s waters.
He was particularly referring to bottom trawling or illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by the Indian fishermen.
“They understood our plight as we understand their situation. All of them work as daily labourers in those trawlers owned by powerful people. We told them that we were not against their release but we oppose the release of their trawlers,” Mr Annarasa said.
At least 68 Indian fishermen, including a 14-yearold boy, were arrested in three separate incidents last week for entering into Lankan territorial waters in the North and engaging in bottom trawling, an illegal fishing method banned in Sri Lanka.
On Monday, 13 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Navy along with two trawlers in the seas west of the Analathivu Island in Jaffna. Among the fishermen on board was the 14 year-old-boy who has been placed under the custody of the Jaffna Prisons Superintendent, following a directive issued by the Kayts Magistrate’s Court.
The Court remanded the other fishermen till January 4.
Last Saturday, 43 Indian fishermen were arrested along with six trawlers in the Southeast of Delft Island in Jaffna. The following day, 12 Indian fishermen with two trawlers were taken into Navy custody in Mannar. Both groups were remanded till January 3 and January 1 respectively by the magistrates’ courts.
With the number of arrests increasing, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has written to India's External Affairs
Minister S. Jaishankar seeking his urgent intervention to secure the release of 68 Indian fishermen and 75 boats detained in Sri Lanka
"The alarming frequency at which these incidents of apprehension and attacks are happening warrants urgent attention. The lives and livelihoods of our fishermen must be protected when they fish in the traditional waters of Palk Bay," Chief Minister Stalin said in the letter which was handed over to Mr Jaishankar by his party members in New Delhi last Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said no Indian trawlers would be returned to Indian fishermen as demanded but they would be declared state property after filing legal action against the detained fishermen and boat owners.
In Puthukottai, Thangachchimadam and Ramanathapuram of Tamil Nadu, Indian fishermen staged token fasts and protests throughout last week demanding the early release of the detained fishermen and trawlers.