The Hindu : Kerala News : Providing a helping hand to protect coastline

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Thursday, Jan 08, 2009
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Providing a helping hand to protect coastline

The National Fishworkers Forum, a federation of fish workers’ organisations in the country, has offered the services of its members to keep an eye on the coastal waters and alert the authorities to suspicious developments. Do you think it will work? If not, what other suggestions do you have for monitoring the long coastline of the country? Our readers respond:

A potent tool

Our vibrant coastline was once a protective intervention to the country and a facilitator for nurturing a distinctive sub-continental culture. But the scenario has totally changed now as the Mumbai attacks of 26/11 have unveiled. The warped coastal line has turned out to be an Achilles’ heel. Grapevine is a potent tool to gather intelligence. Members of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) are conversant with the contours of the coastline by the dint of their routine activities.

However, the services of the NFF constitute only a tributary strand in our efforts to ensure the safety of the coastline. A comprehensive surveillance, comprising efficient men, effective equipment and adequate infrastructure, has become imperative. The littoral States should be roped in to monitor seafarer activities.

N. Sadasivan Pillai

A.P

Involve all citizens

Terrorism, unlike war, is where the enemy is almost invisible. Involvement of all citizens is a prerequisite; hence even fishing trawlers can be of much valuable service, because if they are able to detect insurgents on the coastal front, they can communicate the same to the authorities concerned. The people must understand that every citizen has an important role in fighting terrorism. But then, as in the case of the recent Mumbai attacks, internal logistic support provides terrorists with the catalyst to undertake their nefarious activities.

P.M.G. Pillai

Mannar

Welcome with pride

We should welcome with pride and pleasure the offer made by the National Fishworkers Forum to extend a helping hand to monitor the coastline and to alert authorities about any untoward developments on the sea front.

Their familiarity with the location and the large amount of time they spend will certainly enable them to provide valuable information.

In any case, involvement of a large section of people will bring in great awareness and lead to positive results. This alone is not sufficient. It has to be complemented and supplemented by governmental machinery like coastal guards, surprise patrolling by military and paramilitary forces. N.R.U.K. Kartha

Thiruvananthapuram

Helping authorities

The advent of sea-borne terrorism has added a new dimension to maritime security. It is virtually impossible to police the long coastline of the nation. Co-opting the fisher folk in the task of coastal surveillance will help authorities to keep track of the movement of foreign vessels and any suspicious or unlawful activities in the seas. Equipping fishermen with electronic satellite-based equipment and training them on their use will enable security agencies to pre-empt hostile enemy operations.

The fishermen can also seek help in case they face stormy conditions. The Coast Guard should normally be the first line of defence on the waterways. Its existing constraints in respect of manpower, firepower, sophisticated patrol vessels and adequate number of coastal stations should be addressed.

V.N. Mukundarajan

Thiruvananthapuram

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