The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Floating mines off Sri Lanka against norms, says MP

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Thursday, May 29, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Floating mines off Sri Lanka against norms, says MP

C. Jaishankar

“They will pose danger to fishermen of India and Sri Lanka”

RAMANATHAPURAM: “Floating mines in the fringe areas of the International Maritime Boundary Line by Sri Lankan Navy are against international norms and mutual interest. They will pose danger to fishermen of India and Sri Lanka,” said M.K. Shivaji Lingam, Member of Parliament, Jaffna.

Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday after meeting fishermen leaders at Rameswaram, he said, “It is a serious issue. The Sri Lankan Navy claims that it has floated mines inside its waters. But chances are they might drift towards Indian waters due to strong winds and water current, as the reported floating areas are very close to IMBL.”

The Government of India should take up the issue with the Sri Lankan Government to impress upon it the need to remove the mines to safeguard both countries’ fishermen, failing which the Court of International Justice should be approached, he added.

At receiving end

Referring to the shooting of Tamil Nadu fishermen, Mr. Lingam said that they were at the receiving end due to the ongoing conflict.

It was unfortunate that the fishermen, who were in no way connected with the problem, were being victimised. As a Tamil MP, he had taken up the issue with the Sri Lankan Government to stop firing at innocent fishermen.

According to available information, he said, nearly 500 fishermen of Tamil Nadu had been killed or injured due to firing since 1983. There might be a few troublemakers here and there. But, targeting the entire community was highly condemnable and unacceptable.

“It is not easy to find the maritime line at sea. If the Tamil Nadu fishermen cross the boundary for fishing, there are established legal measures to deal with them. But resorting to the extreme measure of shooting is against human rights,” he added.

“There were several instances in which Indian fishermen crossed into Pakistan waters and Sri Lankan fishermen forayed into Indian waters. But, navies of India and Pakistan never fired at them. Instead, they were booked under the existing laws and released later. But, Sri Lanka was, probably, the only country opening fire at innocent fishermen for straying into its waters,” Mr. Lingam said.

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