Northern fishermen protest outside Indian consulate

Demand that Indian fishermen be prevented from crossing into Sri Lankan waters; families want fishermen held, freed

Hundreds of fishermen from Sri Lanka’s Jaffna peninsula and their families staged a protest in front of the Indian consulate this morning against the intrusion by Indian fishermen into Sri Lankan waters.

The protesters have called on the Indian authorities to take measures to prevent the Indian fishermen from stealing their marine resources and destroying livelihoods.

The protesters told the media that the fishermen are afraid to go into the areas they are permitted, due to the presence of the Indian trawlers.

“They (the Indians) destroy our nets and the fish breeding groups,” a protester was quoted by the media.

Yesterday, a group of fishermen in Jaffna has handed over a petition explaining the hardships they have to face due to the Indian fishermen’s actions to Jaffna Government Agent Emelda Sukumar and the Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe.

Meanwhile, staging a protest in the northwestern coastal town of Chilaw, families of Sri Lankan fishermen in Indian custody have demanded Indian authorities to release their family members.

The families of about 90 Sri Lankan fishermen detained by India have demanded the Indian authorities to reciprocate Sri Lanka’s release of 136 Indian fishermen on Friday.

A BBC report said although some fishermen have been released by the courts on bail they are not allowed to leave India.

Indian media reports, meanwhile, said Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday morning stopped about 2,400 Indian fishermen in 600 mechanised boats in the mid-sea when they crossed the maritime boundary line and asked them to return.           (www.colombopage.com)