Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Conference urges Union Government to take back Katchatheevu

Special Correspondent

SAILING TOGETHER: Viduthalai Chirithaigal Katchi general secretary Thol. Thirumavalavan with Fisheries Minister K.P.P.Samy at the Tamil Fishermen Protection Conference in Chennai on Tuesday. Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian is in the picture. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: The Tamil Fishermen Protection Conference, held by the Viduthalai Chirithaigal Katchi here on Tuesday, asked the Union Government to take back the Katchatheevu and arm the fishermen of Tamil Nadu for self-defence.

One of the resolutions proposed by party general secretary Thol. Thirumavalavan at the conference said that besides launching attacks on Sri Lankan Tamils right from 1983, the Sri Lankan Government had let loose violence against fishermen of Tamil Nadu. Over 300 fishermen of the State had been killed by the Sri Lankan Navy in the last two decades.

There had been recurrence of incidents such as killing fishermen and confiscation of their nets, boats and catch while they were fishing in areas close to the Katchatheevu. Redeeming the island was the only lasting solution to the issue. Through another resolution, the conference urged the Centre to provide arms to the fishermen of Tamil Nadu and train them properly in the use of the weapons for self-defence.

The conference appealed to the Centre not to forge any military ties with the Sri Lankan Government. It also opposed supply of arms to Sri Lanka.

It pleaded with the Central and State Governments to secure the immediate release of fishermen detained in different countries for inadvertently crossing the international maritime boundary.

The conference thanked the State Government for setting up a separate welfare board for fishermen and the waiver of cooperative loans.

Fisheries Minister K.P.P. Samy and Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian highlighted the schemes implemented by the State Government for the welfare of fishermen, especially for those in the tsunami-affected villages.

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