Kerala

Accept the offer by fishermen’s forum but step up vigilance on coastline

It is a welcome step that the National Fish Workers’ Forum has offered its help in monitoring the coastal areas. At the same time, this alone is not enough because fishermen have their own limitations in approaching the authorities as the present system of our State is, “If the thief is not caught, the man who is caught is the thief”. This is very important after the Mumbai terrorist attacks, whose perpetrators came via the Arabian Sea from Pakistan. As we have a vast coastal area to be covered, we should guard the areas with all our resources such as our Navy and fishermen. Sufficient number of guards should be deployed around these places as terrorists are trying to launch attacks through these areas, especially those from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. As fishermen are the people periodically going into the sea, their association’s help in informing the authorities about terrorists or suspicious activities is always welcome.

P. Sankaranarayanan

Petta

Why shouldn’t we accept the fishermen’s offer and why should we doubt whether it will work or not? If all the members of these associations are ready to inform the authorities on suspicious activities in the coastal waters, it is all for the good, because with their help the Coast Guard or the Navy can do much. We can see from Sri Lanka that the LTTE gets support from the Tamil group of fishermen in and around Sri Lanka and South India and that is the reason it is successful in the sea waters.

In addition to the fishermen’s help, we should do our best to prevent attacks by terrorists and pirates with the help of our Navy.

Sreelakshmi Sankar

Poonithura

We have a good Navy and the Coast Guard is doing its best to check infiltration through the sea. But, when the President of India was away on tour to Indonesia and the Coast Guard and Navy were busy with their own matters, terrorists from Pakistan intruded into Mumbai and 183 people lost their lives and many more were injured. We should strengthen our Navy, Army and the Air Force and prevent such incidents in future. Pakistan is trying its best to attack India through Mumbai, Kashmir and Punjab. The next attack may be directed at any coastal State. We should be thankful to the fishermen who are ready to inform authorities if they smell anything fishy anywhere.

S.N. Panicker

Ernakulam

It is indeed a Herculean task for the government machinery alone to prevent terror strikes and other anti-national activities coming from the seas, given the fact that India has 6000 km of coastline. The voluntary move by the federation of fish workers to act as guards in reporting illegal and anti-national activities along the coastline is laudable and has to be pursued earnestly, at the same time, taking care to see that there is no misuse of their role. People with proven integrity and responsibility residing near the coastal belt can also be roped in to provide intelligence inputs regarding suspicious activities along the coast. Naval ships and high-speed boats with adequate forces must not only patrol the high seas but also be stationed along the coast at regular distances. Police stations along the coast need to be strengthened with state-of-the-art arms and equipment. Ultimately, citizen groups must be made equal stakeholders in thwarting further terror attacks, be it from the sea or land.

R. Unnikrishnan

Edapally

Recent history has proved to us that our coastal waters are vulnerable to terrorists from foreign countries. Our defence forces, especially the Navy, and other coastal security agencies are expected to be alert and in readiness and are said to be capable of preventing any intrusions via the coastal waters. However, there may be times when small-scale intrusions take place unnoticed. Of course, the perpetrators of terrorism camouflage their activities under different guises – they even use local fishing boats and such other things confiscated from local people. Our securitymen should be more alert and vigilant in order to prevent such intrusions. They have been equipped with men and material, training and most modern and sophisticated equipment to face any untoward eventualities.

However, in circumstances of unnoticed and small-scale camouflaged intrusions into our territory through the coastal waters, the surveillance and services of the National Fishworkers’ Forum can become handy. Therefore, their offer of help should be accepted. In order to utilise their services more effectively, they should be better equipped and special training imparted at least to selected groups. Their accidental straying into foreign waters can also be prevented by making available to them better navigational equipment.

Onshore, more police stations should be set up with adequate men, and for patrolling modern boats and land vehicles should be provided. Consideration should also be given to issuance of identity cards and registration to all boatmen and boats respectively.

Ambalath Aboobackar

Pavaratty

When we don’t have enough force to guard the long stretches of coastline, we should utilise the voluntary service offered by the National Fishworkers’ Forum to keep constant vigil on possible infiltration of terrorists.

The fish workers can act as instantaneous informers and even proactive partners in policing the coastal belt. It should be modelled as a sort of community policing or people’s patrolling in the coastal belt. The experiment can utilise the professional expertise of the guards and the geographical knowledge of the fishing community, in keeping the coastline terror-free. This is a way of involving citizens in public governance. When we involve citizens in such activities, they will gradually become more concerned about their country’s security and will act accordingly. We cannot deepen our democratic process to stop terrorism without involving people in governance in some way.

K. Rajasekharan

Thrissur

Considering the long coastline of the country, it is a difficult task to monitor intrusion by terrorists from anywhere through the coastline. The offer from the National Fishworkers’ Forum is appreciated. But one question that comes to mind is why the forum wanted to make such a show of its offer. As citizens of this country, is it not their duty to inform the authorities if any suspicious activities in the coastline are noticed? By making the offer, the forum is not doing any special favour. Strengthening the Coast Guard by increasing the strength in number and providing the latest weapons and equipment to combat terrorists is necessary. There should be proper allocation of area for monitoring for each team of Coast Guard under the captaincy of one leader. The Navy should monitor the high seas. The latest communication technology should be made available to the Coast Guard and the police force guarding the coastal areas. With the terror attack in Mumbai, we must expect our coastline to be the target of the terrorists again. Terrorists resort to different methods each time. The modus operandi used in the 9/11 and the Parliament House attacks was not repeated. Hence the terrorists are likely to adopt another strategy where there is no adequate vigil. We learn lessons only after getting hit. A far-sighted approach in the security area is essential.

P. Surendranath

Palarivattom

The National Fishworkers’ Forum has done well to offer the services of its members in alerting the authorities to suspicious activities at sea. Their gesture not only reflects their patriotism but also their awareness about the perils of terrorism. If all sections of society volunteer to keep vigilance and inform the police in the same way, there is no doubt terrorism and anti-social activities will vanish or at least diminish. The proposed “Jagratha Samithis” (vigilance committees) for the protection of our coastal belt is sure to be effective, as they are constituted with fishermen and the coastal police, with the former remaining ‘connected’ to the police control room.

The Mumbai terror strikes have demonstrated the vulnerability of Kochi too. As such, we have to protect the coastal belt at any cost. The setting up of eight coastal police stations for which Rs.43.45 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre is another productive measure for combating terror from the sea. The supine attitude to crucial issues, characteristic of our leaders, is the impediment to attaining the desired results.

N.K.Vijayan

Kizhakkambalam

The offer of the National Fishworkers’ Forum is welcome but it is not a substitute for the Coast Guard or the newly formed Coastal Command. These two agencies should keep an eye on foreign vessels and boats in the west coast.

Ambady Padmanabhan

Vayalar

The offer is appreciated and our plaudits to them for their enthusiasm towards this noble cause. Our Defence forces as a whole, especially the Navy, have a vital part to play on this regard. We need to optimally mould our human resource within stringent time and cost schedules.

We have to support the latest government action to establish nine more Coast Guard stations. The move to provide radar coverage for the entire coastline will identify vulnerable areas where additional ships and aircraft may be deployed.

Over and above, each and every individual should have the feeling and responsibility to co-operate with the plans of the government, keeping the spirit of patriotism high.

Davis Vithayathil

Thripunithura

Our vast coastline was once a protective intervention to our country and a facilitator for nurturing a distinctive sub-continental culture. But the scenario has changed now, as the Mumbai calamity of 26/11 has revealed. The coastline has turned out to be the Achilles’ heel of our national security.

‘Grapevine’ is a potent tool to gather intelligence. Fishermen are conversant with the contours of the coastline by dint of their routine activities. So, they will be useful in scouring the coastal waters and pass on vital clues on possible security threats. And a timely clue is invaluable to preclude a catastrophe.

N. Sadasivan Pillai

Camp: Guntakal

Guarding the coastline by the National Fishworkers’ Forum as volunteered by it can well be considered. The Coast Guard can give training to a select few fishing vessel operators.

Cross-border terrorism to India is what LTTE guerilla warfare is to Sri Lanka. Terrorists enjoy better power and pelf and a safe heaven for their operations. Pakistan has openly come out with its scheme when its representative stated at an international forum that so long as the Kashmir issue remained unsettled India would have to face terrorism. No amount of money spent or vigilance towards eliminating this scourge will go waste.

Nonetheless, this is a highly sensitive area. What the fishworkers’ forum can contribute will only be a drop in the ocean. Even their activities should be put under the scanner. Any privilege granted is likely to be misused. Therefore, the forum should be made accountable to the Coast Guard.

Terrorism via the sea is a real threat as was evidenced in the Mumbai incident. We do have a long coastline but it is not an excuse to leave things to chance. It is, however, heartening to note that radar cover for the entire coastline is in the pipeline.

P.V. Divakaran

Thrissur

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