HeinzGud
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The Kachchatheevu Issue.. what should be the solutions?
Condemning the latest attack on Indian fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Naval personnel, CPI leader D. Raja today said India should reopen the 1974 agreement ceding Katchatheevu to the island nation to find a lasting solution to the recurring mid-sea incidents
CPI condemns SL attack on TN fishermen - Sri Lanka News Now
The History
A part of India until 1974, it has belonged to Sri Lanka since India ceded the island in 1974. This transfer of an island that is culturally important to fishermen of Tamil Nadu state in India has led to some agitations by Tamil Nadu politicians that it should be returned to Indian sovereignty. The island is also important for fishing grounds used by fishers from both the countries. Under the treaty agreement of 1974, Indian fishermen have rights to rich fishing grounds in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka around Kachchativu. But as part of the Sri Lankan civil war, this arrangement has led to many difficulties with the Sri Lankan Navy that is deployed to prevent smuggling of weapons by the rebel group LTTE. The island has a Catholic shrine that attracts devotees from both the countries. On 2009, Tamil Nadu Government declared that the area is controlled by the Sri Lanka against the original pact of allowing Indian fishermen to access the water of Sri Lanka. This tensions and the killings of Tamil fishermen created a diaspora in and across India and the governments of both the countries held conversation and finally the Sri Lankan government allowed a full access term to Indian fishermen till Jaffna Line and released the fishermen jailed for a while. The problem continue to grow as more fisherman move in to the Sri Lankan sea area. In 2010 the Sri Lankan government issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government saying the Indian court cannot nullify the 1974 agreement.
In June 2011, the new Tamil Nadu government led by Jayalalithaa filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking the declaration of the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka on ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka as unconstitutional. The court ruled in Berubari case that cession of Indian territory to another country had to be ratified by parliament through amendment of the constitution. Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka in violation to the court under the 1974 and 1976 agreements without the approval of two Houses of Parliament.
Kachchatheevu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The solution
LankaWeb – Tamil Nadu Illegal Fishermen in Lankan Waters Could be Poaching 95,000MT Fish Valued Over US$750 Million Annually
Condemning the latest attack on Indian fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Naval personnel, CPI leader D. Raja today said India should reopen the 1974 agreement ceding Katchatheevu to the island nation to find a lasting solution to the recurring mid-sea incidents
CPI condemns SL attack on TN fishermen - Sri Lanka News Now
The History
A part of India until 1974, it has belonged to Sri Lanka since India ceded the island in 1974. This transfer of an island that is culturally important to fishermen of Tamil Nadu state in India has led to some agitations by Tamil Nadu politicians that it should be returned to Indian sovereignty. The island is also important for fishing grounds used by fishers from both the countries. Under the treaty agreement of 1974, Indian fishermen have rights to rich fishing grounds in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka around Kachchativu. But as part of the Sri Lankan civil war, this arrangement has led to many difficulties with the Sri Lankan Navy that is deployed to prevent smuggling of weapons by the rebel group LTTE. The island has a Catholic shrine that attracts devotees from both the countries. On 2009, Tamil Nadu Government declared that the area is controlled by the Sri Lanka against the original pact of allowing Indian fishermen to access the water of Sri Lanka. This tensions and the killings of Tamil fishermen created a diaspora in and across India and the governments of both the countries held conversation and finally the Sri Lankan government allowed a full access term to Indian fishermen till Jaffna Line and released the fishermen jailed for a while. The problem continue to grow as more fisherman move in to the Sri Lankan sea area. In 2010 the Sri Lankan government issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government saying the Indian court cannot nullify the 1974 agreement.
In June 2011, the new Tamil Nadu government led by Jayalalithaa filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking the declaration of the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka on ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka as unconstitutional. The court ruled in Berubari case that cession of Indian territory to another country had to be ratified by parliament through amendment of the constitution. Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka in violation to the court under the 1974 and 1976 agreements without the approval of two Houses of Parliament.
Kachchatheevu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The solution
- Deterring illegal Indian poachers, utilizing the marine fisheries resource to the maximum and defeating the Tamil expansionist agenda of both Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka.
- Creating new multi ethnic fishing communities in the north equipped with mechanized fishing boats and trawlers is the crux of the solution. They should be provided with security by the Sri Lanka navy when under threat from illegal poachers. Adequate fishing in Sri Lankan waters by own fishermen would not leave economically profitable quantities of fish to illegal Indian fishermen given the risk of hostility.
- Aggressive fishing practices must be adopted by local fishing trawlers within Sri Lankan waters. It is also a good idea to set up a fishing unit attached to security forces or sponsored by the government. It can fulfill the demand for fish of over 200,000 men on duty thus reducing recurrent defense expenditure.
LankaWeb – Tamil Nadu Illegal Fishermen in Lankan Waters Could be Poaching 95,000MT Fish Valued Over US$750 Million Annually
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