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CM comes down on devious Sri Lanka tactics

CM wrote a letter to PM that the Lankan Navy had started detaining fishermen and their boats
Chennai: Following the most recent abduction of 57 fishermen from TN who have been apprehended by SL navy over the last 24 hours, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote yet another letter to the PM on Thursday seeking a ‘firm, clear, unequivocal and unambiguous message’ to be sent out by the Centre to the island nation.
Pointing out that SL navy’s attitude had hardened of late and that they were adopting harsher and more devious tactics to cause permanent and long standing economic damage to poor and innocent Indian fishermen, Jayalalithaa said that the trends have to be reversed to protect the livelihood of the poor and innocent fishermen from TN.
“This is possible only if a firm, clear, unequivocal and unambiguous message is sent out to Sri Lanka that these hostile acts against Indian fishermen will not be tolerated and should cease forthwith. Such a message needs to be delivered to those at the highest level on the SL side as the impulse for such a cruel and ruthless strategy against TN fishermen appears to flow from the very top,” Jayalalithaa said.
Referring to a recent interview given to an Indian newspaper by the Sri Lankan President, reported on Thursday, in which he said that the impounded fishing boats from TN would not be released, Jayalalithaa urged the PM to urgently take up implementation of longterm measures to find a permanent solution to this issue.
The first and foremost measure, to secure a permanent solution to the problem would be addressing the issue of the status of Katchatheevu, according to Jayalalithaa.
“This is clearly central to the problem as the most recent incident has also occurred close to this islet. By agreements entered in 1974 and 1976, Katchatheevu was unconstitutionally and wrongfully ceded to Sri Lanka and the Tamil Nadu fishermen have been obstructed from exercising their fishing rights in their traditional fishing areas ever since,” she pointed out.

( Source : dc correspondent )
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