Jayalalithaa seeks PM’s help in releasing fishermen

The recurring instances of arrests of fishermen while they are engaged in their “peaceful avocation” of fishing in their traditional fishing waters in Palk Bay by the Sri Lankan Navy and their prolonged detention is causing great unrest amongst the fishermen community across the state, she said. “Sri Lankan strategy of not releasing the boats of the fishermen is causing long-term economic loss to TN fishermen. Eighteen fishing boats of TN fishermen continue to be in Sri Lankan custody for more than 3 months and in addition, 14 fishermen along with their 3 boats apprehended on June 1st, 2015, are yet to be released,” the letter pointed out.

“The unconstitutional agreements of 1974 and 1976 of the Union Government, which unilaterally ceded the islet of Katchatheevu, is depriving our fishermen of their traditional and historic right of fishing in their traditional waters. I have challenged the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in my personal capacity, in the Supreme Court, on extremely valid and legal grounds, and the government of Tamil Nadu has also subsequently impleaded in the petition.

“In the memorandum I had presented to you on 3.6.2014, I had outlined some of the measures for a permanent solution to this vexatious problem, including the retrieval of the Islet of Katchatheevu, and measures to diversify fishing activity from the shallow Palk Bay and near shore waters to the under-exploited oceanic waters, by sanctioning a financial package of Rs 1,520 crores and a recurring grant of Rs 10 crore per annum for maintenance dredging,” the letter said.

“We are yet to receive a favourable response to these issues. In the meantime, I urge your personal intervention in the matter and request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities at the highest level to secure the immediate release of 31 apprehended fishermen and their 23 fishing boats from Lankan custody,” the letter urged.