The Hindu : Front Page : Karunanidhi seeks protection for fishermen from “unprovoked firing”

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Sunday, Mar 09, 2008
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Karunanidhi seeks protection for fishermen from “unprovoked firing”

Special Correspondent

Writes to Manmohan requesting for effective patrolling by Coast Guard, Navy

Says firing incidents causing law and order problems
Wants State’s concerns conveyed to Sri Lanka

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to instruct the Coast Guard and the Navy to carry out effective patrolling and surveillance to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen from “unprovoked firing” by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Expressing “anguish caused to him and to the people of Tamil Nadu” by the two shooting incidents near Katchatheevu on March 5, resulting in the death of one fisherman and bullet injuries to another, the Chief Minister in a letter to the Prime Minister on Saturday said such frequent firing incidents had created a sense of insecurity and unrest among the fishermen in Tamil Nadu. The protests and agitations staged by the fishermen against the firing were sometimes becoming unmanageable and creating law and order problems, he said.

Although the State government had asked fishermen not to cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), they were guided by the availability of fish in plenty near Katchatheevu. “Even in cases where the fishermen had strayed into Sri Lankan waters, they should be treated as per international laws and norms and not through violence and bullets,” the Chief Minister said.

In this context, the Chief Minister drew the attention of the Prime Minister to his letter on March 30, 2007 in which he had requested enhanced presence of Coast Guard and Navy for intensive sea and air patrolling with additional manpower and state-of the art vessels and aircraft. He had also called for a single command for the entire sea patrolling of the Tamil Nadu coast.

Stationing of an ocean-patrolling vehicle with a helicopter in Tuticorin under the exclusive control of the Eastern Command of the Coast Guard; providing funds for a seamless communication system developed by the State Fisheries Department; establishing a Coast Guard station at Kanyakumari with state-of-the-art patrol and interceptive boats; bringing the entire coast guard command to be put in position without any delay to substantially increase security for the Tamil Nadu coastline and the IMBL adjoining it were the other suggestions made by him in that letter.

The Chief Minister said that it was imperative that the Defence Ministry gave adequate attention to his suggestions and ensured the protection of the Indian Maritime Boundary as well as fishermen operating in that area. Mr. Karunanidhi wanted Mr. Singh to convey the concerns and sentiments of the State Government to Sri Lanka through the External Affairs Ministry with a request to ensure humanitarian treatment to the fishermen even if they inadvertently stray into the Sri Lankan waters.

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