Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on
Monday sought the intervention of External Affairs Minister
Dr S Jaishankar to secure the immediate release of 55 fishermen
and their boats apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.
In a Demi-Official letter to Dr Jaishakar, copies of which were
released to the media here, he said the repeated attempts by
the Sri Lankan Navy to prevent the exercise of traditional rights
by fishermen of the State by intimidatory tactics must not be
allowed to continue further.
“I request the concerted efforts by the Government of India to
address this festering issue. I urge your intervention in this
matter and request you to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan
authorities to secure the immediate release of 55 fishermen and
73 fishing boats that are in the custody of the Sri Lankan navy”,
he said.
Mr Stalin drew Dr Jaishankar’s attention to two incidents of
apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy
that have occurred in the last 24 hours.
The 43 fishermen from Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram District,
were fishing in the traditional waters of Palk Bay, in six mechanized
fishing boats and were arrested on December 18 and taken to Mylatti,
Naval base, Sri Lanka.
In another incident on December 19, 12 fishermen in two mechanized
fishing boats from Mandapam were arrested and taken to Kalpatti,
Naval base, Sri Lanka.
Stating that he was saddened to point out that the incidents of arrest and
harassment of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy continue with
alarming frequency despite several letters sent by the state Government,
the Chief Minister also said in the year 2021 itself there were 19 incidents
of apprehension and attack of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
Though the fishermen were released, fishing boats, the source of livelihood
are still detained by Sri Lankan authorities.
Further, during the same period, there were two instances of attacks and five
fishermen were killed, he noted.
