Karuna writes to PM on Lanka’s reported move on military base

Incidents of harassment of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy continues unabated despite repeated requests by the state government and assurance given by the Sri Lankan authorities to India,Karunanidhi,whose DMK is a key partner of the UPA Government at the Centre,said.

Tamil Nadu fishermen have often come under attack allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy in and around Katchatheevu. This issue has been seized by AIADMK and some other political parties to demand the retrieval of the island.

Karunanidhi said after the annual ban imposed by the state government on mechanised fishing boats and trawlers ended on May 29 last,fishermen put out to the sea off Rameswaram hoping to conduct fishing “in a peaceful manner” with the political situation in Sri Lanka changing.

“To their shock,the Sri Lankan Navy continued its tirade against the poor fishermen by damaging their boats,seizing the fish catches and harassing and intimidating them in mid sea,” he said in the letter,a copy of which was released to the media here last night.

Karunanidhi said that in the latest incident on June 15,the fishermen who went to sea for fishing near Katchatheevu had been rounded up by Sri Lakan patrol boats,were threatened and their nets and prawns seized and chased away. In the process,a boat had been badly damaged and sunk,putting the lives of fishermen in danger,he said.

The incident,he said,”has shaken the Rameswaram fishermen and created a sense of insecurity,helplessness and frustration among them.”

Recalling the October 26 last joint press communiqué by both the countries that they had agreed to put in place practical arrangements to deal with bonafide fishermen crossing the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) and to work out a fishing arrangement,he said it was shocking to know new developments were taking place near Katchatheevu.

He requested the Prime Minister to impress upon the Sri Lankan Government not to violate the decisions taken at the diplomatic levels and stop harassing the Tamil Nadu fishermen.

“As the livelihood of fishermen is involved in this sensitive issue,I request you to kindly take up the issue with appropriate authorities in Sri Lanka at the earliest,” he said in the letter.

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