Fishermen’s unions to file HR application

Sri Lankan fishermen’s associations are planning to file action in India over the shooting of one of their colleagues at a high security jail while on his way to visit four local fishermen detained for intruding Indian coastal waters. The All Ceylon Fisherfolk Trade Union representatives have demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident that claimed the life of Canicius Fernando, an active member of the union. They have also requested compensation from the Indian government.

The Association’s secretary M. Wijendra told The Sunday Times that they hope to seek the assistance of Indian associations who represent fishermen as human rights activists to help file action in an Indian Court. Wijendra said Fernando was in India to visit four local fishermen who had been taken into custody by the Indian coast guard three months ago. He had to make a personal visit to the jail to look into the release of the fishermen as government had not taken sufficient action on the matter.

“Our protests will continue until we get a fair inquiry and a reasonable compensation”, he said.

Since the incident eight fishermen detained by Indian authorities for intruding into the Indian waters have been released. Indian High Commission spokesman in Colombo told The Sunday Times that that a sub-division Magistrate in Madurai was currently inquiring into the incident and that a payment of compensation was being considered.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman told The Sunday Times that Government had requested the Tamil Nadu authorities to conduct an inquiry into the incident. He said the government had already obtained the assistance of a lawyer to represent the interests of Fernando’s family.

Conflicting reports about the death have been reported about the incident. The jailors claim that Fernando had entered the prison through an unauthorized entrance and had failed to stop when challenged. Sources close to the family claimed he was shot following an argument with a jail guard who had allegedly demanded a bribe.

Fernando had left the island at the request of family members of fishermen who had been detained in India in an effort to secure their release. Family members claimed that on earlier occasions too authorities had been successful in securing the release of both the fishermen and their boats which were taken into custody under similar circumstances.

Anton Perera Project Manager of the Joint Fisheries Union in Wella Veediya, Kudapaluwa said, Fernado who actively looked into the welfare of the other fishermen did not have a house of his own and was living with relatives. He said that Fernando’s daughter Stephani was grade a 11 student and his son Steevan was a student in grade 9. He added that Fernando was the sole breadwinner of the family and the family would need financial assistance to overcome the challenges which resulted from his unfortunate killing.