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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fisherfolk block railway track at Thangachimadam; train delayed by an hour
Fishermen along with family members demanding immediate release of the fishermen languishing in Sri Lanka prisons, blocked the railway the track near Thangachimadam for about an hour here on Tuesday. As a continuation to the indefinite strike which started on August 11, 2025, following the arrest of seven Indian fishermen from Rameswaram by Sri Lankan Navy on August 9, the fishermen associations and families of fisherfolk community, as announced, blocked the railway track at Thangachimadam. Due to the blockade, the Tambaram-bound train from Rameswaram was delayed by about an hour, said police sources. However, the protesters, following talks with the District Revenue Officer and Superintendent of Police, dispersed. Jesu Raja, a fishermen leader, said the officials assured them that their grievance was already taken to the officials in the Union government. 'Also, we were informed that we would soon be given a date to meet Chief Minister M.K. Stalin,' he added. Though the motive of the protesters was not to disturb the public in any way, due to their inability to express their anger and grievance, they resorted to blocking the train, he stated. Their strike would continue in the following days until a unanimous decision was taken by the fishermen associations, he noted.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fishermen want 42-year-long fight to end; seek govt. support for their livelihood and safety in Palk Bay for fishing
Appealing to the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to wholeheartedly work to support their livelihood, the fishermen from Rameswaram, with their families, observed a day-long fast on Independence Day in the coastal district. The families, some among them, recalled the ordeals they have been undergoing due to the arrest of their kith and kin by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching. 'We are traditional fishermen from Tamil Nadu. We have been fishing along the Palk Bay from time immemorial. For the last 42 years due to various reasons, the fishermen are being arrested. We have no security at all. In our own country, we are treated like denizens. We wish the trauma ends with us and the next generation lives safe and secure,' said Jesu Raja, a fishermen leader. He said that the fishermen should be permitted to fish in Katchatheevu. 'We know, it has been given to the island nation long ago. The government, if it steps in sincerely, the issue can be sorted out in no time. Considering our livelihood, the Union government should impress its counterpart in Sri Lanka, he appealed. After the annual ban was lifted two months ago, the Sri Lankan Navy personnel, under the guise of poaching, had arrested 64 fishermen. The trawlers have also been impounded. Under the pretext of punishing repeat offenders, 24 fishermen were jailed for six months, one and two years under multiple charges. Hefty fines were also imposed. Under such circumstances, the fishermen had no other choice but to give up the profession and look out for alternatives, else spend the remaining days in poverty and debt for the rest of their lives. The members wore black badges and said that when the country celebrated its Independence, the fishermen in this region, were yet to get their freedom. As a mark of protest and to draw the attention of the governments, they announced the fast. The fishermen leaders said that the agitations would continue and in the next few days they would resort to rail roko agitation as well.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fishermen protest demanding immediate release of arrested fishermen
Urging the Union and State governments to initiate steps to put an end to the frequent arrests of fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, fishermen staged a protest at Thanganchimadam on Wednesday. Condemning the recent arrest of seven fishermen from Rameswaram, they raised slogans to put an end to the arrests and retrieve the traditional Katchatheevu fishing grounds. Karl Marx, a fishermen leader, said that they were fed up with pleading with the governments to find a solution to the ever-ending issue. 'Whenever the fishermen arrest happens we come to the street and protest. We are just given a namesake promise to withdraw the protest,' he added. Neither the arrested fishermen were released nor the Sri Lankan government have stopped arresting fishermen, he stated. 'As they have had enough, this time, to put an end to the situation permanently, in addition to the announcement of series of protests, have also restrained from entering the sea for fishing,' he noted. Also, they would go to any extent to pressurise the government to release the arrested fishermen, Mr. Karl Marx said. Jesu Raja, another fishermen leader, said that after the fishing ban period ended in June 15, in addition to the detaining seven mechanised boats and one country boat, more than 55 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. More than 20 fishermen were already in the Sri Lankan prisons as convict prisoners. 'With the addition of 50 more to the prisons, their health conditions were badly affected due to the poor conditions in the prisons,' he added. While several of them were diagnosed with serious health conditions, the Indian government should step in immediately to put an end to the inhumane treatment and arrest of Indian fishermen, he stated.
The Hindu
11-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rameswaram fishermen begin indefinite strike condemning frequent arrests
Rameswaram fishermen began an indefinite strike condemning frequent arrests from Monday. A unanimous decision was taken by members at the All Mechanised Fishermen Consultation meeting held here on Sunday. As part of the strike, the fishermen on August 13 would stage a protest at Thangachimadam. Following that, on the day of Independence Day, August 15, they would observe a one-day hunger strike protest. On August 19, from 3 p.m. onwards, they would go on a rail roko till the arrested fishermen were released, said the resolution of the meeting. Jesu Raja, one of the fishermen leaders, said that post-fishing ban period, about seven mechanised boats and one country boat were seized by the Sri Lankan Navy. The 57 fishermen on board the boats were arrested and lodged in prisons, he added. As already the families and associations were demanding the Union government to initiate a diplomatic negotiation to release the 24 convicted fishermen and the boats that were detained by the Sri Lankan government, the fresh arrests had renewed the fear of the entire community, he noted. 'The repeated arrests and attacks against the fishermen from Tamil Nadu had even made us think about discontinuing fishing job. Why should anyone work and earn money at the cost of their own lives,' he asked. Though several plans were chalked out to address the face-off between the fishermen of the two countries in the international waters, the confrontation was yet to be resolved, he said. 'The only plausible way is to hold diplomatic talks and arrive at a solution to end the confusions pertaining to the ownership of Katchatheevu island and matters surrounding it,' he stated. However, he said the fishermen and their families, unlike previous times, were not going to give up their protests to the false promises of the governments.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sri Lankan govt. detains 3,550 fishermen, 706 boats in 11 years, say fishermen leaders
'Starting from 2014, as many as 3,550 Indian fishermen and 706 boats were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy,' informed Jesu Raja, a fishermen leader. Fisherfolk community leaders along with farmers' leaders organised a conference on 'Recover Katchatheevu,' here on Friday. He added that of the 706 boats, Sri Lankan government has nationalised 365 boats and only 21 boats were returned. While the arrested fishermen and captured boats before 2014 were released following the intervention of the Union governments, in the years after 2014, as the approach of the Union government towards the issue changed, Sri Lankan government's attitude towards the Indian fishermen has also changed, he noted. The politics surrounding the island, which started since the agreement was signed between the two countries in 1974, has taken several turns in the year between, said Mr. Jesu Raja. 'In the political blame game, the one who has been bearing the brunt of the situation, were the fishermen,' he noted. As the distance between Rameswaram and Katchatheevu island was just 16 nautical miles, the International Maritime Boundary Line starts at 14 nautical miles, he stated. While the first three nautical miles from the shore could be accessed only by the smaller boats, the mechanised boats could fish only in the remaining areas. 'That too, the first eight nautical miles which has a dense presence of rocks is equally inaccessible. Thereby, the only area remaining area is the four nautical miles and how could the governments expect thousands of fishermen from Rameswaram, Mandapam, Pamban, Soliakudi, Jagathapuram, Kottaipatnam and Thanjvaur to compete for the scarce sea resources available there,' he questioned. As the prime areas of fish breeding lies in the Sri Lankan side, the Indian fishermen could not even get the returns they spend on the boats and workforce, he lamented. 'But the blame lies on the Tamil fishermen who accidentally crosses the IMBL while venturing in search of fish during night times,' he said. Due to the increase in arrests and attacks on the fishermen in the last ten years, fishing has become a dangerous occupation, Mr. Jesu Raja added. Condemning the Union government for turning a deaf ear towards their plight, he questioned why could the BJP government which retaliates for the murder of 26 lives in Pahalgam could not even deal the problem diplomatically with Sri Lanka which was the reason for the death of more than 500 Indian fishermen. Rajwinder Singh Golden, a farmers' leader, speaking at the event, said that the fisherfolk community akin to the farming community were being harmed equally by the ignorance of the elected governments both in State and the Union. 'The only difference between the farmers and fishermen is that one toil their life on farmlands and the other on seas,' he stated. Even when both the sectors contributed a significant amount to the export and economic development of the nation, both were equally neglected by the governments through their anti-people policies, Mr. Rajwinder Singh Golden said. 'The solidarity that we observe with the fishermen is due to the pain we share in the hands of the governments. Through extending our support to them we assure them that we all stand together in this fight against the system which attempts to obliterate us from this country,' he stated.
