Chennai, Feb 23 (UNI) Observing that arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the
Sri Lankan Navy have risen alarmingly in recent times, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin
on Sunday wrote to External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar reiterating
his earlier request to convene the Joint Working Group (JWG) to find a permanent
solution and take strong diplomatic steps to secure the release of all the arrested
fishermen and their boats from Lankan custody.
In a Demi-Official letter to Dr Jaishankar, copies of which were released to
the press, he said the arrests of fishermen from the State by the Sri Lankan
Navy have risen alarmingly in recent times and was still continuing in large
numbers despite his repeated pleas to prevail upon the Lankan government
to prevent them.
"I write this letter with a sense of deep anguish as the number of incidents of
apprehensions of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have risen
alarmingly in the recent times", he said.
In the latest incident, 32 fishermen, who had ventured for fishing from the
Rameswaram fishing harbour on Saturday, have been apprehended by
the Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday along with their five mechanised fishing
boats.
"The apprehensions of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy are
still continuing in large numbers inspite of my repeated requests to prevail
upon the Sri Lankan Government to prevent such arrests", he said.
Mr Stalin said in this year alone, 119 fishermen and 16 boats have been
apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in eight separate incidents.
"Hence, I once again reiterate my earlier request to convene the Joint
Working Group immediately to find a permanent solution to this long
pending issue", he added.
"This is especially crucial since the livelihoods of our fishermen families
are impacted severely, due to these apprehensions", he said.
In view of the above, I request you to take strong diplomatic efforts to
prevent the arrests of our fishermen and to secure the release of all the
apprehended fishermen and their fishing boats from the Sri Lankan
authorities at the earliest", he added.
UNI GV 1658