Fearing reprisal attacks from the Sri Lankan Navy, fishermen in Tamil Nadu have called on protesters to refrain from targeting Sri Lankans in Tamil Nadu.
The Fishermen association in Rameshwaram condemned the attacks, saying that it would lead to further attacks from the Sri Lankan Navy, as has happened previously.
"The fishermen are worried and we believe that they will not venture farther due to these issues," said N Devadoss of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Association. He went on to say, "we strongly condemn the attacks on pilgrims and tourists from Sri Lanka and hurting them is wrong. The state and Centre should take stringent measures against these outfits."
Highlighting that many of those 'Sri Lankan nationals' who were targetted by protesters were Sinhala speaking Tamils, Devadoss said,
"the Tamil outfits, which want to take political mileage should have thought as to how Buddhist Sinhalese people will come to churches here and must have verified the facts thoroughly."
"We are supposed to go to Sri Lanka on September 15 to meet our fishermen association counterparts there and we also planned to meet the government officials. However, we are scared to go there though the permission has not been revoked by the Sri Lankan authorities,"
N J Bose, the general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Welfare Association, said,
"We appeal to these Tamil outfits to consider lakhs of Tamil fishermen in the coastal regions as well as Tamils in Sri Lanka and to keep away from such acts."
Bose, who was part of a recent delegation to the Indian Prime Minister's office said,
"We urged the Prime Minister to come out with an amicable solution to end the fishermen issue. We also represented other demands like creating a channel from Rameswaram to enable fishermen to go deep sea fishing, full diesel subsidy and jewel loans for fishermen at lower interests,"
"We are optimistic about the results as the PMO atmosphere was friendly and warm."
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TG Comment: The cycle of oppression The appeals of Tamil Nadu fishermen associations to stop all protests against Sri Lankans for fear of reprisal attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy is a tragic reflection of their terrorised plight and the Indian government's impotence on the issue. What should have been a demand on the Indian government to fulfil its responsibility and guarantee the safety of its civilians against the Sri Lankan navy, has instead been usurped by sheer terror. [more] |
