{"id":30467,"date":"2014-06-08T23:19:34","date_gmt":"2014-06-09T03:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=30467"},"modified":"2014-06-08T23:19:34","modified_gmt":"2014-06-09T03:19:34","slug":"sri-lanka-navy-arrests-82-indian-fishers-poaching-in-waters-off-thalaimannar-andneduntheevu-and-seize-18-trawlers-and-fishing-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=30467","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lanka Navy Arrests 82 Indian Fishers Poaching in Waters off Thalaimannar andNeduntheevu and Seize 18 Trawlers and Fishing Gear."},"content":{"rendered":"


\nBY<\/p>\n

MEERA SRINIVASAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

With more Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching \u2014 the arrests totalled 82 on Sunday morning \u2014 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to \u201cstrongly and decisively deal\u201d with Sri Lanka on this issue.
\nEighteen trawlers of Tamil Nadu fishermen have also been seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, even as the arrests had been made in different places since Saturday evening. <\/p>\n

Forty one fishermen were taken into custody off Thalaimannar, 32 for alleged illegal fishing off the Delft Islands, and nine others off Thalaimannar in the early hours of Sunday, officials of the Indian Consulate in Jaffna said. A total of 16 trawlers were seized from the first two groups (eight from each), according to Sri Lankan Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya. Two trawlers were impounded from the third group. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Indian Consulate officials said the fishermen were likely to be handed over to the magistrate courts in Mannar and Jaffna on Monday. When reached by The Hindu, Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne said: \u201cWe will confiscate the trawlers and other fishing gear, but we will release the fishermen.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Chennai, dashing off a second letter to Mr. Modi in eight days on this issue, Ms. Jayalalithaa pointed to the Sri Lankan Navy arresting 82 \u201cinnocent\u201d fishermen from Tamil Nadu and said \u201ca permanent solution to this problem must be found by a decisive initiative under your leadership.\u201d India should send out a \u201cstrong and robust diplomatic response,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n


\n \u201cNew strategy\u201d shocks fishermen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even as 26 of the arrested fishermen were said to be from Karaikal and Pudukottai district, further south in Rameswaram, the latest arrest of 82 fishermen has come as a shock. Coming close on the heels of the repatriation of 33 fishermen arrested on June 1, fishermen leaders expressed dismay at Sri Lanka\u2019s \u201cnew strategy\u201d of confiscating trawlers and fishing gear while agreeing to release fishermen. \u201cTo confiscate boats and fishing gear of hapless fishermen who put out to sea for their livelihood\u201d smacked of an \u201cevil design,\u201d said U. Arulanandam, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen. <\/p>\n

Nine Indian fishermen have been detained by the Sri Lankan Navy off Thalaimannar early Sunday, on charges of poaching. Two trawlers in their possession have also been seized, officials at the Indian Consulate in Jaffna said.<\/p>\n

With this, the total number of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody has come up to 82 as of Sunday morning. As many as 18 trawlers, including two seized on Sunday, are in the Sri Lankan Navy\u2019s possession. <\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s incident follows two separate arrests of Indian fishermen off Thalaimannar and Delft islands (Neduntheevu). While a total of 41 fishermen were arrested off Thalaimannar, as many as 32 were caught engaging in allegedly illegal fishing activist off Delft islands. A total of 16 trawlers \u2013 eight from each group \u2013 were also seized, according to Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya.<\/p>\n

Officials at the Indian Consulate said the fishermen were likely to be handed over to magistrate courts in Mannar and Jaffna on Monday, for further legal action. They are in touch with the Sri Lankan Fisheries Department officials awaiting further details, they said. <\/p>\n

When The Hindu contacted Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne on Sunday, he said the government had decided to confiscate trawlers used by the fishermen. \u201cWe will confiscate the trawlers and other fishing gear, but we will release the fishermen,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

The Palk Bay conflict an important concern in Indo-Lanka relations over the last few years. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met in New Delhi recently and discussed the issue \u2014 besides other bilateral matters \u2014 they underscored the need to address it, for it affects livelihoods of fishermen in both countries. <\/p>\n

Fishermen of both countries have been engaged in discussions, but the second round of talks held in Colombo last month ended in a deadlock, as the fishermen could not arrive at a consensus over fishing methods and allegations of trespassing. <\/p>\n

COURTESY:THE HINDU<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY MEERA SRINIVASAN With more Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching \u2014 the arrests totalled 82 on Sunday morning \u2014 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to \u201cstrongly and decisively deal\u201d with Sri Lanka on this issue. Eighteen trawlers of Tamil …<\/p>\n

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