South Indian fisherman M. Jegadeesh (30) was among the fishermen who were stoned allegedly by Sri Lanka Navy personnel while fishing near the Kachchatheevu island in Sri Lankan waters last week.
Jegadeesh, speaking to The Hindu newspaper in India, had said a sharp stone hit him. He had received injuries on his right leg. The boat’s windshield had also been damaged in the incident.
When we were fishing near Kachchatheevu, the Sri Lankan Navy men threw stones on the boats. We could not escape as they targeted us from a very close range, Jegadeesh had said.
He had added that their fishing nets and gears of several boats had also been damaged in the attack.
The attack on Indian fishermen last week created an uproar in South India over the alleged use of force by the Sri Lankan authorities on Indian fishermen who encroach on Sri Lankan waters.
The Sri Lankan and Indian authorities are yet to formulate a mechanism to address the growing maritime dispute between the two countries.
The political settlement to the ethnic issue apart, the fishing row between India and Sri Lanka plays a key role in the bi-lateral relations of the two neighboring countries.
The Indian government has always taken up the issue of safety of Indian fishermen as a priority area for discussion with the Sri Lankan government.
Although the fishing dispute has been in place for several decades, the incidents of fishermen from the two countries crossing maritime borders have increased since the end of the war in 2009.
Tensions between the Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen were low during the period of the war due to the restrictions imposed by the Sri Lanka Navy on the local fishermen and the constant patrolling by Sri Lankan naval vessels in the country’s territorial waters.
However, the relaxing of fishing restrictions and reduction in naval patrols has resulted in continuous clashes between the Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen.
Interestingly, the issue of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters has been given much more prominence than the long-standing fishing dispute between India and Pakistan.
Several hundred Indian fishermen are reportedly in Pakistani custody. The Indian authorities and media however have constantly been focusing attention on the dispute between Sri Lanka and India.
The Tamil Nadu state government continues to put pressure on the Central Indian government calling for stern action against Sri Lanka over the Sri Lanka India fishing dispute.
The Indian fishermen who encroach on Sri Lankan waters are mainly from the state of Tamil Nadu. According to Indian media reports, over 530 fishermen have been killed in the last 30 years.
The fishing row between India and Sri Lanka was highlighted again last week after the Sri Lanka Navy allegedly attacked an Indian fishing boat.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy also apprehended 42 Indian fishermen and six boats last Tuesday (24) when they had entered Sri Lankan waters. The 42 fishermen were, however, released last week and sent back to India.
Both these incidents once again sparked off the maritime dispute between the two countries. The South Indian state of Tamil Nadu has come out hard against the two incidents. Issuing a strongly-worded statement, DMK chief in Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi has stated that the attacks had taken place after the External Affairs Minister, S. M. Krishna, had assured that there will be no problems for Tamil Nadu fishermen soon after his visit to Sri Lanka.
While his assurances have gone with the wind and attacks seem to be a continuing affair, people of Tamil Nadu have been forced into a situation which they cannot tolerate anymore.
Before things take a turn for the worse, the Centre should intervene without delay. I warn neither the delay nor attacks by Sri Lankan fishermen and its Navy can be tolerated, Karunanidhi had said.
The attack has the potential of provoking’ the people of the state, he added.
During the Indian Foreign Minister’s visit to the country, the fishermen’s issue was raised with Krishna saying it was an emotive issue and emphasis ed the need for the matter to be handled with care on both sides.
As we explore possible solutions, we must ensure that there is no use of force against the fishermen and that they are treated in a humane manner, he had said.
A Joint Working Group (JWG) constituting Sri Lankan and Indian officials has been working on modalities for the prevention of use of force against the fishermen and the early release of confiscated boats, as well as exploring the possibilities of working towards bilateral arrangements for licensed fishing.
The JWG met on January 13th and 14th, but is still in the process of formulating a workable mechanism.