Jaya writes to PM over fishermen issue

6 June 2013 04:16 pm - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding the release of 49 fishermen from the state who have allegedly been captured by the Sri Lankan Navy, the NDTV reported.

She has also asked the Prime Minister to instruct External Affairs Ministry to summon Lankan High Commissioner, over the issue.

The full letter
"I wish to draw your attention to yet another outrageous incident of capture and arrest of 49 innocent fishermen from

Tamil Nadu who ventured out in 10 mechanised boats on 5.6.2013 for eking out their livelihood on the high seas. It is reported that 24 fishermen belonging to Rameswaram set out in 5 boats and they have been illegally abducted by the Sri Lankan Navy and taken away to Mannar in Sri Lanka where they are being held in custody. Further, another batch of 5 boats from Rameswaram with 25 fishermen on board have been captured in the high seas and detained by the Sri Lankan Navy at Kayts Island. Further, it was also shocking to learn that one boat, TN 10/MFB/1004 which was chased away ruthlessly by the Sri Lankan Navy actually capsized and five fishermen on board were rescued by their fellow fishermen and reached our shores safely.

I have repeatedly written to you about the travails of innocent Tamil Nadu fishermen who face harassment, abduction and assault at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy, which continues with its menacing and predatory acts in the face of pusillanimous responses and apathy by the Government of India. Things have come to such a pass that fishermen from Tamil Nadu are unable to access their traditional fishing waters for fear of being kidnapped or attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy. The entire fishermen community in Tamil Nadu is agitated, incensed and in a volatile mood.

Despite my repeated protests, the Government of India has taken no firm stance in the matter and has exerted little or no diplomatic pressure on Sri Lanka to bring about a permanent solution to the problem of harassment and arrests of innocent fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

I request you to instruct the Ministry of External Affairs to immediately summon the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi and lodge the Government of India's strong protest against this latest act of illegal and highhanded abduction of such a large number of innocent fishermen in the Palk Bay by the Sri Lankan Navy. The Government of India should convey in no uncertain terms its indignation at this latest act of abduction of innocent Indian fishermen and ensure that the Sri Lankan Navy is restrained from making such unprovoked assaults on innocent fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

May I also request you to firmly instruct our diplomats in Colombo to immediately take up the matter with the Government of Sri Lanka and secure the immediate release of the 49 fishermen and their boats?

I solicit your immediate action in the matter."

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Comments - 16

Mr. B. Wijeyasingha Thursday, 06 June 2013 04:39 PM

Maybe it is high time that this matter is taken out of Jayalalithaa's hands and addressed at a higher level with the SL gov that can prove that these fishermen have ventured into SL waters. Jayalalithaa's letter deftly avoids the location of the fishermen but only points out from where they set sail. The Indo/Sri Lankan relationship should be handled by more competent people than this woman.

Richard Thursday, 06 June 2013 04:52 PM

Have a life!

Saskia Thursday, 06 June 2013 05:27 PM

Waste of time writing letter to PM of India. You should write a letter to Obama and Hillary Clinton. Or to UN security council. This will support when the right time comes as proof against Srilanka.

Shane Friday, 07 June 2013 12:00 AM

y are Indians coming into SL waters. if they do cross the international maritime line they should expect to be driven away or arrested. via DM Android App

MI Friday, 07 June 2013 12:00 AM

Nowadays politicians do anything just to secure their post.. we fools believe them and keep voting via DM Android App

Tikshana Friday, 07 June 2013 12:00 AM

Stop your fishermen from poaching in Sri Lanka waters with destructive fishing methods and smuggling Kerala ganja to Sri Lanka. Those who stray in to our waters are not just innocent people. They rob the livelihood from the same Sri Lanka Tamil people that you are so loudly trying to save. Shame on you. via DM Android App

janatha Friday, 07 June 2013 04:16 AM

Go to Hell..........................

chandi malli Friday, 07 June 2013 05:15 AM

when no sri Lankan can't visit tamil nadu when your people breach the international maritime boundaries is it some wrong to capture illegal fisherman?

Hafs Friday, 07 June 2013 05:18 AM

please wash your mouth "friendly smiling" lankan.

Suq Madique Friday, 07 June 2013 05:38 AM

Why doesn't she write to the fishermen instead and ask them not to trespass in our waters.

Grace Friday, 07 June 2013 05:56 AM

No country will turn a blind eye when another country's people entering it's territory illegally

The cool guy Friday, 07 June 2013 08:04 AM

killing innocent fisher men who risk their lives for living is not braveness. Those fishermen fishes near Katchethivu. Katchethivu was gifted to SL by India few years back.

Ravi Friday, 07 June 2013 10:22 AM

There is something fishy about these TN fishermen! I beginning to believe, they are actually fishing in Lankan water, they must stop that or Lankan navy has no choice other than arresting them!

malkanthi Friday, 07 June 2013 10:31 AM

she is v rude and uppish no leadership qualities absurd

Suq Madique Friday, 07 June 2013 11:41 AM

Proof of what?? That Indians trespass in SL waters??

weir Saturday, 08 June 2013 11:03 PM

keep on writing till you get writers cramp ha ha

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Jaya writes to PM over fishermen issue

Comments - 16

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