Tamil Nadu CM calls for strong action against Sri Lanka on fishermen attacks

Chennai: The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jeyalalithaa today has said that the issue of safety of the state’s fishermen has fallen into ‘deaf ears of Sri Lanka’ and urged the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a ‘strong stand’ against island nation for its alleged attacks on the fishermen.

Ms. Jeyalalithaa in a letter to the PM had asked the Centre to take a “strong stand” against Colombo and “convey its serious apprehension through tough words and action”, Indian media reported.

“I request you to kindly take a strong stand against the government of Sri Lanka with regard to such attacks on our fishermen and convey your serious apprehension through tough words and action,” she has said.

The CM in her letter has said that the attacks should be viewed as a national issue and not as an isolated problem of the Tamil Nadu state.

Ms. Jayalalithaa has observed that there is a ‘definite pattern’ of attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy or some other party s to create a “fear psychosis” among the state’s fishermen to prevent them from making a living from their traditional resources in the Palk Bay.

“There is a deep feeling of unrest and concern among the fishermen community in particular and the entire state in general due to such incidents that have not stopped despite our repeated appeals to the government of India and diplomatic efforts of the government of India,” the Chief Minister has said.

She has noted that there had been over 22 incidents of attacks of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Lankan authorities since May this year and six major ones during the past one month.

Ms. Jeyalalithaa has said that although the Sri Lankan government has promised to investigate the fishermen’s claims, the concerns have not been addressed yet by the Sri Lankan authorities.

The Tamil Nadu fishermen have alleged on several occasions that the Sri Lankan naval personnel have attacked them when they were fishing in their waters.

However, the Sri Lankan Navy denies any attacks by its personnel on Indian fishermen.

India’s Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai who visited Sri Lanka last month sought a solution to the constantly nagging issue of fishermen from both countries crossing each other’s territorial waters.

Sri Lankan fishermen accuse Indian fishermen of crossing into Sri Lankan waters and stealing their livelihood.