Sri Lanka releases five Indian fishermen facing death sentence

[Srinivas_K]

Sri Lanka releases five Indian fishermen facing death sentence

COLOMBO: Five Indian fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka for alleged drug trafficking were released on Wednesday after President Mahinda Rajapaksa commuted their death penalty.

Prison officials said the five have been handed over to the immigration authorities for further action.

Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasath and J Langlet, all hailing from Tamil Nadu, were apprehended in 2011 and were sentenced to death by the Colombo high court on October 30 for alleged drug trafficking.

The court ruling had triggered fiery protests in parts of Tamil Nadu and sporadic violence broke out in and around Rameswaram island as a large number of people staged protests.

India on November 11 had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka against a verdict of the high court awarding death sentence to them.

Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation last week on the issue.

The issue of fishermen is a very emotive matter for both Sri Lanka and India, where Tamil Nadu-based parties including AIADMK and DMK have been regularly pressing the government to take up the matter with the Lankan authorities seriously and have often resented high-profile visits from the island nation.

Sri Lanka releases five Indian fishermen facing death sentence - The Times of India

 

[amoy]

Indeed very noble and lenient of SL to let go of these suspects of "drug dealers".

Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson - phewwwwww, Indians, are they?

 

[Hari Sud]

There is a new Sherrif in New Delhi. Sri Lanka, watch out.

Now it is becoming clear why Sri Lanka had been inviting Chinese nuclear Submarines to dock there. It was a pressure tactic on India.

This case of arresting fishermen for drug trafficking is the easiest charge to incorporate. Sending them thru trial and sentencing them to death was part of pressure tactic. So was inviting Chinese nuclear submarine to dock there. President Mahinda Rajapaksa wanted to show that Sri Lanka has friends.

An angry glare by NaMo and his able NSA, Ajit Doval unnerved Rajapaska administration. They wished to get over this arrest and sentencing to death issue much before SAARC conference. And they did it. Otherwise NaMO would have refused to shake hand with Rajapaksa or cold hand shake if the other party wished. The forgoing has become a standard diplomatic snub between heads of states during conferences. That is what Chinese President did to Japanese Prime Minister and Canadian Prime Minister did to Russian President etc.

A year or six months before with Prime Minister ManMohan Singh incharge, there would have been endless diplomatic discussions with Sri Lanka. They would wish to capitalize on India's politeness and lack of force behind any Indian move.

Not anymore. Sri Lanka wished to test Indian waters. They found it hot. Even the invitation to China to bring their nuclear submarine did not help.

 

[amoy]

What is easier than whipping up nationalism and obfuscating, instead of looking into these specific cases of drug trafficking ?

 

[Dovah]

Indeed very noble and lenient of SL to let go of these suspects of "drug dealers".

Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson - phewwwwww, Indians, are they?

Sometimes I think your account is compromised. From being such a good poster to such a failure of troll does not seem natural at all.

 

[Srinivas_K]

Indeed very noble and lenient of SL to let go of these suspects of "drug dealers".

Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson - phewwwwww, Indians, are they?

Some Indian christians do use western names because of their faith, But Chinese love western names and forget to use their native names. They feel shame of their native names or something??

 

[ezsasa]

May be it is time for india and SL to get into a pact for standardisation of jail sentences (w.r.t fisherman) on either side, so that every time somebody gets caught PMO does not have to intervene.

In this specific case unless proven other wise we have to assume they are still guilty of drug trafficking.

Just because vaiko raises noise does not mean they are innocent.

 

[amoy]

Sometimes I think your account is compromised. From being such a good poster to such a failure of troll does not seem natural at all.

Nah it's u who fail to look at the very Q in the face - r they really involved in drug trafficking. Now u easily slip to judge me eh?

 

[Dovah]

Nah it's u who fail to look at the very Q in the face - r they really involved in drug trafficking. Now u easily slip to judge me eh?

I was referring to the secod sentence of your post.

 

[amoy]

Some Indian christians do use western names because of their faith, But Chinese love western names and forget to use their native names. They feel shame of their native names or something??

this thread is abt Indian fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka for alleged drug trafficking, isn't it?

Chinese are not that merciful. 500g or above (heroine) is enough for passing out a capital punishment. Last time an Englishman's plea was rejected.

 

[Srinivas_K]

this thread is abt Indian fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka for alleged drug trafficking, isn't it?

Chinese are not that merciful. 500g or above (heroine) is enough for passing out a capital punishment. Last time an Englishman's plea was rejected.

Yes Philippines are also not that merciful

Philippines sentences 12 Chinese fishermen to jail | Reuters