Mid-sea arrest a threat to livelihood: Chief Minister

In a demi-Official letter to Modi, copies of which were released to the media here, Jayalalithaa urged the Prime Minister to issue specific directions to the External Affairs Ministry to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities and secure the immediate release  of 64 fishermen and 77 fishing boats still in Sri Lankan custody.    

“This includes the 29 fishermen and their four fishing boats apprehended on Sunday,” she said and requested Modi to accord highest priority to this issue. Stating that 29 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and their four fishing crafts were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in two separate incidents on Sunday and taken to Thalaimannar and Kapitiya in Sri Lanka, she said the right to life and livelihood of the fishermen of the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, who carry on fishing in the traditional waters of the Palk Bay, was being continuously infringed upon by the Sri Lankan Navy’s recurrent actions of apprehension, attack and harassment of the innocent fishermen.’ 

Pointing out that the consistent stand of the State government was to find a permanent solution to this vexatious problem only by restoring India’s sovereignty over Katchatheevu thereby securing their right to fish in their traditional waters, the Chief Minister said the position of the IMBL itself was a matter which is subjudice in the Supreme Court as the constitutional validity of the Indo-Sri Lankan agreements of 1974 and 1976 has been challenged.

The Sri Lankan strategy of not releasing the apprehended boats and fishing gear even after releasing the fishermen has severely impaired the means of livelihood of several fishermen families causing great frustration and despondency amongst the fisherfolk of Tamil Nadu, she added.        

“As an immediate measure, I request your personal intervention to issue specific directions to the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with Lankan authorities and to secure the immediate release of our 64 fishermen and 77 fishing boats still in Sri Lankan custody. This includes the 29 fishermen and their  four fishing boats apprehended on Sunday,” she said.