Fishermen to intensify stir during ban period

The stand-in-sea agitation by women at Pamban in Rameswaram island against the lack of action by state and central governments on the continuing arrests of fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy and seizure of boats marked Monday. 

The country boat fishermen and their women folk, a predominant group in Pamban, raised slogans against the state and central governments, demanding immediate release of the 78 seized boats and 68 arrested fishermen. They also condemned the lack of action in ensuring problem-free fishing in the Palk strait. 

There was a tense moment when an agitating woman fainted. But the agitation continued when she revived. The Pamban fishermen are on an indefinite strike on this issue over the last two days and nearly 300 boats have refrained from going to sea affecting the lives of nearly 3,000 fisher families. “Pamban fishermen joined the issue only after the Island nation’s navy seized country boats and arrested their men,” said a fisheries department official. 

While mechanized vessels owners’ association has already decided to contest as independent in the Assembly election in coastal districts, other fishermen communities have not agreed to the decision. The crux of the problem is Katchatheevu which ceded to Sri Lanka in the 70s. 

The matter is now in the Supreme Court and though Jayalalithaa regularly highlights this in her letters to the PM, the latter’s lack of response is only increasing the tension in the coastal districts. 

Meanwhile, Rameswaram fishermen are awaiting the 45day fishing ban which comes into effect in April, when they have planned a joint agitation of all fishermen communities in the area. As most are Christians, work related friction among different groups is sorted out by local churches, sources said.