The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rameswaram tense as fishermen plan blackflag demonstration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rameswaram tense as fishermen plan blackflag demonstration

C. Jaishankar

District administration holds meetings with police, Navy and Coast Guard

RAMESWARAM: A high alert has been sounded along the 271 km long coast of Ramanathapuram following the decision by a section of the fishermen to hold black flag demonstration at the inaugural function of the Sethusamudram project in Madurai, in which the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, lays the foundation stone on July 2.

Though the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project Opposition Movement, an umbrella organisation of various fishermen associations and NGOs, which are opposing the project, has announced that fishermen would observe `Black Day' on July 2, the particular announcement pertaining to showing black flags against the Prime Minister has put the police and other security agencies on tenterhook.

The district administration held a series of meeting, in which top officials of the Coast Guard, Navy, police, Coastal Security Group, Intelligence Bureau, `Q' Branch and others participated. Though there was no official communication from the district administration, sources said they discussed ways and means to prevent the Rameswaram fishermen, from holding the demonstration at the Prime Minister's function .

Sources said the security agencies received information that some protestors had planned to depute fisherwomen to the venue to show black flags, as they could easily conceal black flag with them.

The district administration also held a meeting with various fishermen groups functioning from Rameswaram Island and other areas. Though sudden invitation was sent to various fishermen bodies, some associations, which are opposing the project, stayed away from the meeting.

An uneasy calm prevailed in Rameswaram Island, as the countdown began for the Sethusamudram project inaugural function on Saturday. Most of the fishermen association functionaries, who are opposing the project, have reportedly gone into hiding, fearing preventive arrests.

S.P. Royappan, president of the Country Boat Fishermen Welfare Association, said July 2 would be a black day for the fishermen, as on that day the Union Government was going to lay the foundation against fishermen's livelihood.

The Coast Guard, Navy and Coastal Security Group have intensified their patrolling operation along the Ramanathapuram coast to prevent the `possible' intrusion of Sri Lankan mercenaries at the Prime Minister's function at Madurai, which is just 120 km from the coast. The police also visited the refugees' camp at Mandapam.

Directions were given to the authorities not to allow the refugees to move out the camp till the function was over. "The police would closely watch the movements of anti-social elements, trouble mongers and others. We will initiate action depending on the developments," said A. Alexander Mohan, Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

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