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Tamil Nadu raises heat on Sri Lanka arrests of Indian poachers
View(s):By S Rubatheesan
Within 72 hours of the Indo-Lanka bilateral discussions held last Friday, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterating that the fishermen issue must be considered through a humanitarian approach, nine Indian fishermen were taken into custody for bottom-trawling off Jaffna’s Delft island.
The arrest of nine fishermen with two of their trawlers came after the Navy chased away a cluster of mechanised trawlers that were fishing in the Northern waters, according to the Navy.
In a separate incident on July 8, 15 Indian fishermen were nabbed along with two trawlers. All the arrested fishermen were released after being produced in the Kayts Magistrate courts with a warning not to venture into Sri Lankan waters.
Nearly three weeks later, the released fishermen reached home on Thursday (July 27) following the steps taken by the Indian Missions in Colombo and Jaffna.
Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda who was part of the Sri Lankan delegation said Sri Lanka once again stressed that the banned bottom-trawling practice will not be tolerated and a common understanding was reached between both parties on the issue as well.
“We have agreed to discuss further on this during the next Indo-Lanka Joint Commission on Fisheries meeting in the near future,” Mr Devananda told the Sunday Times.
In addition to the Indian fishermen issue, the Sri Lankan delegation also took up the issue of the right of innocent passage for multiday fishermen via India’s Exclusive Economic Zone to access the Arabian Sea. Currently, local fishermen had to undertake a 400-nautical-miles-long passage around the Maldives to avoid potential arrest by Indian Coast Guard or Indian Navy.
“The Indian side considered our request positively. These matters including the release of Sri Lankan vessels detained in India were discussed and we agreed to follow up in detail in the upcoming joint commission meeting,” Mr Devananda said.
Following the recent arrest, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raising concerns over the arrests [of Indian fishermen] that continue despite the issue being taken up at the two leaders’ meeting.
“I had hoped that this visit would provide an opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue and find a lasting solution that respects the rights and livelihoods of both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen. Despite the high-level interactions between the two nations, the situation on the ground remains unchanged,” Mr Stalin said in the letter, released to the media.
During the joint remarks following Indo-Lanka bilateral discussions held last Friday at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Modi reiterated that both parties, “discussed the issues related to the livelihood of fishermen and agreed that to proceed with a humane approach in this matter’’.
In a media briefing held shortly after the bilateral discussions, India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra also stressed that in addition to the pressing fisheries issue, “technical-level discussions are underway on specific areas of cooperation in agriculture, fishery development and the sharing of best practices in these aspects’’.
Responding to a question by three members of India’s Lower House of Parliament — Lok Sabha –last week on Indian fishermen being arrested by foreign authorities, State Minister of India’s External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said 74 Indian fishermen had been taken in by Sri Lankan authorities this year alone.
Between 2020 and 2022, 501 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities and released after being subjected to legal action, with Magistrate Courts handing postponed jail terms and a stern warning not to enter Lankan territorial waters again.
As soon as cases of apprehension of Indian fishermen and their fishing boats are reported, “immediate steps are taken by Indian Missions and Posts to seek consular access, ensure their welfare and also pursue their early release and repatriation along with their boats,” the state minister told the Lok Sabha.
“Given the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of this issue, the Government (India) remains continuously engaged for early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen along with the fishing boats and has put in place bilateral mechanisms to ensure cooperation and understanding between India and the countries concerned, to promote the safety and security of Indian fishermen,” the state minister said, explaining the process to secure the early release of arrested fishermen.
With state-level elections around the corner, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin is to attend a regional conference by Southern district fishermen associations in Ramanathapuram on August 18.
The main theme of the conference, organised by Tamil Nadu fishery groups, is to ensure their livelihood, and safety and call state and centre governments to prevent attacks and harassment by
Sri Lankan Navy in the mid-sea.
According to an official release from Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, the chief minister’s participation in the conference followed representations from fishery associations.
“The conference will be held in Ramanathapuram district to protect the fishermen’s livelihood, condemn the recurring incidents of assault on, and the arrest of, Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, and demand measures to prevent such incidents,” Mr. Radhakrishnan was quoted as saying by Indian media.
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