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“Fishermen freed on humanitarian grounds”

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government is at pains to emphasise that its decision to release 38 Indian fisherfolk on September 14 without initiating any legal formalities is an example of its humanitarian approach toward fisherfolk who stray inadvertently into its territorial waters.

The fisherfolk, who were found in northern Sri Lankan waters in two separate batches, were handed over to the Indian Coast Guard Vessel “Kittu Chennamma” on the International Maritime Boundary Line North-west of Delft on September 14.

As per the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) they were found by the SLA patrol craft while trespassing in Sri Lankan territorial waters after having crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line .

“All the Indian nationals were brought to the Northern Naval Base at Kankasanthurai and were provided with food and accommodation along with immediate medical attention to the needy.

“The Navy did away with initiating legal action on humanitarian grounds and extended its fullest hospitality to the detainees to further strengthen the long-standing ties with its friendly neighbour,” the SLA said in a statement.

The first batch of eight fisherfolk, along with three minors, were apprehended on the September 11 on board two Indian fishing trawlers. Bearing the registration numbers TN/10/MV/741 and TN/10/Mv/1250, the trawlers were detected one nautical mile east of Kakarativu.

Five Indian dhows, bearing registration numbers TN/10/WV/1539, TN/10/WV/653, TN/WV/1130, TN/10/WV/790, and RMS – 3391 CV, were detected with another 24 Indian fishermen, along with three minors, on board approximately one nautical mile east of Palaitivu on September 13.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE in July 2006 the SLA is faced with the dilemma of balancing the interests of fishermen and potential exploitation of the situation by the LTTE to further its cause.

“Since the intensification of fighting the Sri Lanka government has been compelled to curtail the fishing activity of fisherfolk in the eastern and the northern provinces. We do realise the hardship of the fisherfolk whose livelihood is at stake. But we have little choice in the matter as we are engaged in a war thrust on us by the LTTE,” a SLA spokesperson said.

The SLA spokesperson said that though the Indian fisherfolk have no right to stray into the Lankan territorial waters and have been repeatedly urged not to do so, particularly in view of the prevailing security situation, the Sri Lankan government has always adopted a lenient approach in dealing with Indian fisherfolk who stray into our waters.

“We are very much conscious of the political sensitivities involved on issues related to the fisherfolk in Tamil Nadu and hence there are blanket instructions issued to the naval craft patrolling our waters to exercise utmost care and caution in engaging fisherfolk who stray into our territorial waters. In the last few months there we have demonstrated our sincerity on the ground any number of times.”

The SLA spokesperson said whenever reports of any deviation from the laid-down procedure are received a rigorous procedure is instituted by the Naval Headquarters in Colombo, in keeping with the ‘firm resolve of the government to deal in a humanitarian manner with fishermen apprehended in Sri Lankan waters.’

Further the spokesperson emphasised that the Sri Lankan Naval vessels operated only on the Sri Lankan side of the IMBL and the Area Commands at all times controlled the operations of the Naval units deployed under them.

“The standing instructions issued to the Commanding Officers of all Naval craft include the need to treat crew of detected/apprehended fishing vessels in a humanitarian manner, There have also been several instances where pursuant to these instructions, Sri Lankan Naval craft have rendered assistance to Indian fishermen in distress, which has been publicly acknowledged and appreciated by those fishermen and their families,” the spokesperson said.

“It is important to remain mindful that there is a track record of the LTTE attacking Indian fishermen. One such incident attested by the Press Release issued on 27th April 2007 by the Director General of Police of the State of Tamil Nadu, relates to the massacre of five Indian fishermen from Kanyakumari on 29th March 2007 by an LTTE vessel operating under the name “Maria,” the spokesperson said.

The LTTE, the spokesperson added, hoped to derive a double advantage by staging such attacks. “Firstly, it seeks to place pressure on innocent fishermen to associate themselves with the nefarious activities of the Tigers. Secondly, it endeavours to falsely implicate the Sri Lanka Navy, with a view to damaging the excellent bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.”

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