News
Lankan, Indian organisations come forward to help jailed fishermen
The National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS) and the International Transport workers’ Federation (ITF) along with their Indian counterparts will set up a joint mechanism to assist fishermen in jails in both countries, it was revealed this week.
NUSS President Palitha Athukorale told the Sunday Times that joint discussions had already taken place.
“The joint exercise is necessary since both governments have failed to effectively assist the fishermen and their families.
“For a start we will work with donors and other sympathisers where the government will also be encouraged to assist in whatever way they can,” Mr. Athukorale said.
He said last month a local ITF representative visited a jail in Chennai where more than 100 Sri Lankan fishermen were being held without trial. More than 30 multi-day fishing vessels have also been seized by Indian authorities.The ITF representative reported back that the Sri Lankans were being held in appalling conditions and restricted to a single meal a day consisting of rice and a vegetable.
Following this visit a representative from an Indian fishermen’s union came to Sri Lanka earlier this week to visit the Indian fishermen being held in local jails. A. Arulanandan from the Alliance for the Release of Indian Fishermen (ARIF) also met trade unions and boat owners.Mr. Arulanandan told the Sunday Times that when he returned to India he would visit the Sri Lankan fishermen being held in India with the assistance of the Sri Lankan Mission in Chennai.
“In recent days there have even been demonstrations in various costal areas in South India demanding the release of the Indian fishermen and urging the central government to take up the matter,” Mr. Arulanandan who is also an active member of the South Indian Fishermen Federation (SIFF) said.
However, he added, that a permanent solution could be reached only by the two governments.