The Sri Lankan Army has intimidated a fishing society to allow itself access to fish in Iranaimadukulam, reports Uthayan.
Troops in Mullaitivu are reported to have approached the Freshwater Fisheries Co-Operative Society on Tuesday afternoon to demand access to fish in the waters, claiming it was necessary for camp food stocks.
The Society said in a statement about the demands:
“[The Army] said that they need 100 kilos of fish for their daily cooking needs and that we should allow them to catch those themselves. When society members refused this and said we could sell them the fish, they were intimidated and threatened by troops of the 56th battalion.”
“Around 400 families in the surrounding areas – Santhapuram, Selvapuram, Dharmapuram, Vaddakachi, Ambalnagar – depend on fishing in Iranaimadukulam as their livelihood.”
“If the Army takes 100 kilos of fish a day what would happen to all these people? They would of course lose their livelihoods. This kind of action [on the part of the soldiers] is unacceptable and appropriate measures should be taken to set things right.”
