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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fishermen blame Centre; to go ahead with rail blockade agitation in Ramanathapuram district
Blaming the Union government squarely for the arrests and impounding of trawlers by Sri Lankan Navy, the Tamil Nadu fishermen on Saturday said that they would intensify their agitations. The fishermen have not been venturing into the sea for the last week due to the 'continued' arrests under charges of poaching. On Independence Day, they observed a token fast in Thangachimadam with families and children. On Saturday, the Ramanathapuram district administration had invited the striking fishers for a talk. However, it failed, they claimed. Speaking to media persons, fishermen leaders Emerit, Jesu Raj and among others said that the Union government had not taken any tangible steps to solve the issue with Sri Lankan government over the last five years or a decade. As a result, hundreds of fishermen were arrested and trawlers impounded. Under such circumstances, they told the officials that without any assurance from the governments, they would not withdraw the stir. In the last two months alone, 64 fishermen were arrested. On top of it, the fishermen were also jailed for six months to two years depending on the charges of repeating the offence. Hence, they announced to go ahead with the rail blockade stir on August 19.
New Indian Express
11-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
7K Rameswaram fishers to go on indefinite strike from today, fast on I-Day
RAMANATHAPURAM: A day after the Sri Lankan Navy arrested seven Tamil fishermen hailing from Ramanathapuram district for alleged violation of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), Rameswaram fishermen associations on Sunday announced a series of protests, including an indefinite strike from Monday and a hunger strike on Independence Day, demanding the union government to take action to address their long-pending issues. After holding a meeting in Rameswaram on Sunday, they announced that over 7,000 fishermen will take part in the indefinite strike, with over 700 boats staying ashore. The fishermen will also stage a protest at Thangachimadam in Rameswaram, on August 13, ahead of the hunger strike on August 15. 'If the centre fails to address our issues by then, fishermen will stage an indefinite rail roko in Rameswaram on August 19 (evening hours),' the association said. In the wake of the continued arrests of fishermen, the associations demanded the union government to host bilateral talks with the SL government to retrieve the fishing rights near Katchatheevu island, and urged to secure the release of the Indian fishing boats confiscated by the SL Nnavy over the years. For those boats which could not be salvaged, the centre should provide relief, they added. According to R Jesu Raj, a fishermen association leader from Rameswaram, as many as 61 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the SL navy for alleged IMBL violation since June 15 (when the annual 61-day fishing ban ended), this year. Stating that all the arrested fishers have not been released yet, Jesu Raj urged the centre to take action to ensure the release of all Indian fishermen in SL prisons. Fishermen association leader R Sagayam said, 'If our issues cannot be addressed, then the centre should buy our boats and provide us with financial aid, so that we can give up fishing and search for other jobs.'
