Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110755440300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Fishermen call off indefinite strike

Staff Reporter

State-level campaign to be taken from November 17

PUDUKOTTAI: Fishermen of Pudukottai district, who launched an indefinite strike on Wednesday demanding the immediate release of 18 fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Naval personnel, called off the stir on Friday. The fishermen, who had ventured into sea for fishing from Jegadapattinam on Monday, were scheduled to return the next day. The Sri Lankan Naval personnel arrested them and seized their five boats.

The president of Jegadapattinam Fishermen Welfare Association, G. Ramakrishnan, told The Hindu over telephone on Friday that the decision to call off the strike was taken, following an assurance by the State government that steps would be taken to get the fishermen released.

Mr. Ramakrishnan, however, said that a State-level three-day campaign in support of this demand would be taken from Rameswaram on November 17. Fishermen from different parts of the State would organise a campaign in the coastal villages and converge at Chennai on November 20 where a memorandum would be submitted to the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi.

He said that apart from demanding security to the lives and property of fishermen from the Sri Lankan Naval personnel, the campaign would also press the demand for enhanced off-season relief for fishermen and stepping up the quantum of annual diesel subsidy from the present 1,500 litres to 2,000 litres.