The Hindu : 76 fishermen detained after mid-sea clash

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

76 fishermen detained after mid-sea clash

By P.S. Suresh Kumar

Ramanathapuram March 4 . Following a violent clash between Sri Lankan and Tamil Nadu fishermen in mid-sea, 76 persons from the State were detained by authorities in the island nation late last night. Two Tamil Nadu fishermen, who sustained serious injuries, have been admitted to government hospitals, one in Mannar and the other in Anuradhapura. Two other injured, along with 13 persons who were released, returned to the Tamil Nadu shore. The State Fisheries Minister, M. Radhakrishnan, is in touch with the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka to obtain the release of the remaining 59 fishermen, who were handed over to the Mannar police by the Sri Lankan fishermen.

According to sources, Rameswaram fishermen ventured into the sea in 415 mechanised boats on Monday morning. In mid-sea, the Sri Lankan fishermen, who came there in more than 30 plastic boats, attacked them with wooden logs and other weapons before throwing petrol bombs. Four fishermen sustained injuries and one mechanised boat was damaged.

According to Mr. Radhakrishnan, talks were initiated with the Sri Lankan authorities through the embassy. While the authorities were willing to release the fishermen, they wanted to detain the boats for further investigation. However, the Tamil Nadu fishermen insisted on returning home only with their boats, as otherwise it would be difficult to retrieve them.

Tamil Nadu fishermen are often victims of attacks by Sri Lankan Navy personnel. More than 80 fishermen have been killed in the past one decade. But clashes with Sri Lankan fishermen have been rare.

Last year, the Sri Lankan Government lifted the ban on fishing in the northern Jaffna peninsula — imposed since 1983 (with the eruption of ethnic violence between Tamil militants and the Government) — in the wake of the ongoing peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Monday's clash is the fourth such incident in the last two months. In the first week of January, 36 fishermen were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan fishermen on the charge of trespass. In the third week the same month, Sri Lankan Navy personnel allegedly took away catch (prawns) worth Rs. 60,000 from the Rameswaram fishermen. A Sri Lankan Navy vessel reportedly hit a mechanised boat, owned by Rameswaram fishermen, as they were fishing near the international boundary line in the first week of last month. In yet another incident, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 16 Indian fishermen and seized four trawlers on the charge that they crossed the boundary line.

Fishermen in coastal areas of Ramanathapuram district have urged the Government to take immediate steps to retrieve Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka. Speaking to The Hindu, N.J. Bose, general secretary, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Fishermen Federation, said that under the 1974 agreement, Rameswaram fishermen should enjoy full rights to dry their nets on Katchatheevu, visit a local church and attend a festival, without having to obtain visas. But whenever the fishermen approached the waters around Katchatheevu, they were not only threatened and shot at by the island Navy, but also attacked by the Sri Lankan fishermen.

Meanwhile, the police have stepped up vigil in the coastal areas of this district to prevent any untoward incident on the Rameswaram island and also in the Mandapam transit camp.

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