Attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan navy

[johnee]

Do you know what it means to kill Indian civilians in Indian territorial waters?
Per international law, it counts as a declaration of war against India

When Georgia killed Russian civilians and peacekeepers in Ossetia two years ago, the Russians invaded Georgia and split the country into three parts.

Sri Lanka is even weaker than Georgia. Is there any reason besides absolute lack of resolve and strategic foresight why we are not taking decisive action?

Diplomacy is obviously not working.

Carrots never work unless they are backed by sticks. Shama shobti us bhujang ko jiske paas garal ho, uska kya dant heen vish heen saral ho...Forgiveness is an attribute to that snake which can bite, who cares about forgiveness from a snake which is devoid of poison....

 

[Ray]

The Indian Ocean is a busy shipping lane.

If SL aligns with China, it will raise the hackles of the US. It's strategy for control of the IOR hinges around Cape of Good Hope, Bab el Mandeb, Straits of Hormuz, Straits of Malacca.

As it is, the US is trying to trying to beard the Lion in it Lair i.e. China in the Asia Pacific Rim.

SL is also aware of the issues of the SL Tamil and its potential to divide the country.

Notwithstanding, one or two shots across SL Navy ships' bow will tell them where to lay off.

 

[Oracle]

Are ghosts killing our fishermen?

Nandini Krishnan | 2011-01-25 15:39:38

Three men in a fishing boat are asked to jump into the sea by personnel aboard what one of them identifies as a Lankan Navy fast craft. A fisherman hesitates because his hand is injured, and he can't swim. At this, the men on the fast craft tie a rope around his neck and strangulate him by pushing him into the sea. Then, they ride off, leaving his comrades to search for his body.

The victim, 28-year-old Jayakumar, was unarmed. So were his companions - his brother Senthil and their uncle Rajendran. And yet, someone saw fit to order them to jump off their boat on pain of death, and proved they meant it.

Who was that someone? Sri Lanka claims it wasn't their navy. India condemns the action, shrugs and moves on. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee sagely says fishermen crossing the maritime border should be arrested, not killed, and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna conveys his sympathies to the bereaved family.

Jayakumar is the third fisherman to have been killed in the past six months, by what we must conclude are ghosts in the India-Sri Lanka waters. Since July 2010, these marauding ghosts have attacked and wounded more than thirty fishermen, stealing their catch, mobile phones and other valuables.

Each incident has been followed by precisely the same diplomatic dance. DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi bemoans the loss and conveys his grief to the Centre through telegrams and phone calls, while AIADMK Chief J Jayalalithaa slams his lack of action.

The Centre clucks its tongue, and ticks off Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka gathers up righteous anger and denies involvement. The Centre puts its hands in its pockets, hems and haws and mutters indulgently, "well, don't do it again", to which Sri Lanka responds indignantly, "what do you mean, again?" The Centre gives the fishermen's family a solatium and tells the press that Sri Lanka is still an ally.

And what happens when Sri Lankan fishermen stray into Indian waters? They're detained and handed over to the Lankan mission, to be returned safely back to their homes. I'm not suggesting that they be given the same treatment as their Indian counterparts; I'm suggesting that their Indian counterparts be given the same treatment as they.

The seemingly haunted vessels that magically carry the identification marks of the Sri Lankan Navy dispense punishment in much the same manner as the ‘kangaroo' courts, and all we can think of is compensating the family, and closing the case.

A few lakhs may be more than a fisherman earns in a decade. But could such a sum ever make up for the loss of a son, of a husband, of a father? And why is India doing nothing about it? We've never been the non-interfering type. In fact, our involvement in the Sri Lankan civil conflict has cost both sides dear. But that hasn't kept us from poking our noses in - except when we're required to take a stance.

The next question, of course, would be: What can India do? The answer would be easier if we were to transpose the issue to the other side of the border.

If the transgressor were Pakistan - which, incidentally, behaved in almost the same manner in the wake of the 26/11 attack (except that Lanka cannot quite say its forces are ‘stateless actors') - we would first cancel our cricket tours. In the lead-up to the 2011 World Cup, this is bound to have a severe impact on Sri Lanka, especially given the amount of clout India has with the ICC.

Secondly, we would rethink our trade relations. India-Sri Lanka trade has been rising steadily over the past few years, with 2010 creating a record for bilateral trade. At a time when Sri Lanka needs to boost its economy, India has a gun to hold to its head.

The third aspect India could use for leverage is socio-cultural relations. Indian authors have been invited to the Galle Literature Festival. India has been involved in development projects in the education and health fields in Sri Lanka.

When fishermen continue to die for no good reason off the coast, we cannot continue to be friends with the perpetrator. When the Centre has ammunition, it cannot twiddle its thumbs and fail to protect its citizens.

For once, in a career of playing doormat to its neighbours, our country should stand up and demand justice.

Source

 

[Flint]

Seems like Sri Lanka navy is behaving like highway robbers.

 

[Aruni]

I think you are yet to appreciate the extent of the failure our foreign policy in the region has been. Sri Lanka, whose civil war we tried to stop with the blood of our own soldiers (and our Prime Minister too), would now describe itself as a closer ally of China than ours. Be in no doubt, the Chinese are fair weather friends. And the Sri Lankans know it. They want to benefit from China's economic prowess whilst the tide is in their favour. They would love investment by Chinese companies in infrastructure, especially in the north after the wreakage the war has left behind. They would be happy to give "reconassaince" bases to the Chinese navy on one of their ports in return for more of the cash.

And quite rightly too. What has India given them, despite the close cultural and physical proximity of the two nations? Sri Lankans mostly see India as an overbearing and interfering neighbour. I have Sri Lankan friends who shop in Mumbai and Delhi and would love to settle in India, but a lot of people high up in government see things very differently.

The boffins in South Block could use the cultural proximity to create a free trade area, visa free travel between the two countries, negotiate a deal whereby companies can invest in both countries on favourable tax terms, build confidence by holding joint military exercises and even encourage outward investment in Sri Lankan redevelopment. Why not offer some LCAs and Arjuns to Sri Lanka? Otherwise they will buy J-10s and remakes of T-90s.

This is foreign policy. Realpolitik. Us or the Chinese. I'd rather have the Lankans as reliable partners and neighbours. There is still time. If someone is reading this in Delhi and the job of Foreign Minister comes up, mail me.

My first task would be "Stop the String of Pearls" policy that China loves to pursue.

 

[SHASH2K2]

Fishermen deaths: Krishna directs foreign secy to visit Colombo​

NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will travel to Colombo on Saturday to discuss with the Sri Lankan government the killing of Indian fishermen in the past one month allegedly by its navy.

"External affairs minister S M Krishna has asked the foreign secretary to go to Sri Lanka tomorrow to discuss the killing of Indian fishermen with the government there," sources said here on Friday.

Reflecting the political sensitivities in Tamil Nadu, India has already reacted very strongly to the incidents in which two Indian fishermen were killed in the span of one month, notwithstanding Sri Lankan government's claim that its navy was not involved.

Terming the incidents as "very serious" and "unacceptable", India has said that such incidents have no "justification" and called on Sri Lankan authorities to "desist" from the use of force.

A fisherman was killed and two others were injured while fishing off Kodiakarai coast on January 22. The man, who had put out to sea with two others from Pushpavanam coastal hamlet, died after Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly tied a rope around his neck and pushed him into the water, fisheries department sources said.

On January 12, an Indian fishermen was killed in Palk Straits when Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire at three fishermen, who put out to sea from Jagadapattinnam near Pudukottai.

Read more: Fishermen deaths: Krishna directs foreign secy to visit Colombo - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...Colombo/articleshow/7377914.cms#ixzz1CKgL1WNm

 

[Parthy]

Nothing is going to work out!! We have incapable and spine less government..

 

[KS]

What are the frickin destroyers and frigates for when OPV kill our fishermen with impunity ?

 

[Tshering22]

What are the frickin destroyers and frigates for when OPV kill our fishermen with impunity ?

That's what I think exactly... why not now invite Maldives to kill a 100 more Indians and even claim Kerala as its territory? Or better start fearing Liechtenstein for economic sanctions.....:bs:

 

[AmitAgrawal]

Tamil Nadu fisherman killed as Sri Lankan Navy opens fire​

A Tamil Nadu fisherman was killed after Sri Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire mid-sea, official sources said in Pudukottai today.

Fisheries department officials said that three fishermen Pandian, Manikandan and Manivannan had left Jagadapattinnamener near Pudukottai for fishing yesterday.

While they were fishing in the sea about 14 nautical miles from Jadapattinam, Sri Lankan Navy personnel, who were in a ship, allegedly fired indiscriminately at them.

While Pandian died on the spot, the two others escaped, they said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_tamil-nadu-fisherman-killed-as-sri-lankan-navy-opens-fire_1493938

What our government is doing ????

Sleeping or what ?

So any one can kill our country man and our impotent government is not able to do any thing????

 

[AmitAgrawal]

What are the frickin destroyers and frigates for when OPV kill our fishermen with impunity ?

No they cant react with Governments order ( Otherwise you know capabilities of our navy)

But do you even think that this f***** government even thinking about common Indians ???

 

[amitkriit]

No they cant react with Governments order ( Otherwise you know capabilities of our navy)

But do you even think that this f***** government even thinking about common Indians ???

We are living in a country where a sizable chunk of the police force is protecting a few thousand VVIPs. Life of an ordinary Indian is cheaper than dirt for our babus and netas, except when its election time and thank god its election time in Tamilnadu.

 

[Flint]

Nirupama discusses killing of fishermen with Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao conveyed, in an "open and candid manner," to the Sri Lankan side the facts on the killing of two Indian fishermen in January in the Palk Bay, and the Sri Lankan side "agreed completely that violence should be avoided."

"We have made it very clear to them based on what our fishermen have told us"¦ and the investigations that have been conducted in Tamil Nadu"¦ [What the fishermen told us] is that people in naval uniform have accosted our fishermen and the incidents [of killing] happened in that situation. So this is what we have ascertained from our side," she said here.

In discussions with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and others, she stressed that the killing of fishermen should be fully investigated and all steps taken to prevent their recurrence. "I conveyed these concerns [on the killing of fishermen] to him [the Sri Lankan President], and he was very receptive. He agreed completely that violence should be avoided and that such incidents should not take place, and he told me that the Sri Lankan side was conducting a serious investigation in this matter," she told journalists at the India House later.

Asked about the theory of a third force in the region that is being floated in Sri Lanka, she said: "I don't have anything to say about it... We are proceeding on the information we have; what our fishermen have given to us. What we have with us, we have nothing to corroborate what the Sri Lankans have claimed [on the existence of a third force in the region]."

Joint statement

India and Sri Lanka will discuss "arrangements based on the current situation so as to strengthen the safety and security of fishermen," according to a joint statement issued at the end of the Foreign Secretary's visit.

The current situation was significantly different from that of October 2008, when the first joint statement on fishing arrangements was first made.

"This is a post-conflict situation"¦We are of the view that [the October 2008 agreement] arrangements should be abided by and observed in both letter and spirit," she said.

The joint statement said: "Given the very close "¦ bilateral relationship between the two countries, any development which impacts the wellbeing of the Indian fishing community pursuing their livelihoods in the waters between the two countries, is of the utmost concern to Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka is, therefore, committed to ascertaining the facts behind the incidents. While continuing with further inquiries, the Sri Lankan authorities have requested that additional information be made available by the Indian side. Both sides agreed that the use of force cannot be justified under any circumstances."

One of the outcomes of the series of meetings was that both countries agreed that the Joint Working Group on Fishing would be convened at an early date. It would work on the proposed memorandum of understanding on development and cooperation in fisheries.

The Foreign Secretary met Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and External Affairs Secretary C.R. Jayasinghe.

 

[Rage]

I think they should've taken a much stronger decision on this.

------

Krishna to meet Sri Lanka FM; fishermen
issue to figure in talks

Thimphu, February 6, 2011

Against the backdrop of the killing of Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, India is expected to convey its concerns and press for a serious end to such incidents when External Affairs Minister S M Krishna meets his counterpart G L Peiris here on Monday.

Mr. Krishna and Mr. Peiris will be meeting on the sidelines of SAARC Foreign Ministers' conference for which both are arriving Thimpu on Monday, sources told PTI.

T S Tirumurti, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry who deals with Sri Lankan issues, is also coming here specifically for the meeting, the sources said.

During the meeting, Mr. Krishna is expected to raise the issue of the recent incidents in which some fishermen were killed allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy and convey India's concerns, the sources said.

Mr. Krishna is expected to emphasise: that Sri Lankan forces should desist from using force against the Indian fishermen to ensure that the relationship between the two is not affected.

He is also likely to seek an update on the investigation ordered by the Sri Lankan government into these incidents in which the Sri Lankan Navy had denied its involvement.

The two leaders are expected to discuss steps to resolve issues related to the fishermen, who were allegedly fired upon and killed when they trespassed into Sri Lankan territorial waters.

There is a proposal to call a Joint Working Group on this issue this month and Mr. Krishna and Mr. Peiris are likely to discuss this too, the sources said.

A fisherman was killed and two others were injured while fishing off Kodiakarai coast on January 22, in the second such incident in a fortnight.

India has been angry at the repeated incidents in which the Tamil fishermen were killed, saying use of force against them was "unacceptable" and must be stopped.

"I hope that one thing is certain and one thing is common that regardless of whatever the circumstances are, use of force and killing fishermen has to be a thing of history. It cannot be the present and cannot be the future. The Government of India is fully committed (to safeguarding the rights of) Tamil fishermen," Mr. Krishna had said last week.

Last week, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao went to Colombo to convey India's concerns to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"The two sides noted that the Joint Statement on Fishing Arrangements of 26th October 2008, which had put in place practical arrangements to deal with bonafide fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), had led to a decrease in the incidents. They agreed on the need to discuss arrangements based on the current situation so as to strengthen the safety and security of the fishermen," said a joint statement issued after the meetings here.

"Accordingly, it was decided that the next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fishing would be convened at an early date, which would, inter-alia, address various issues related to fishing by the two sides.

"The Joint Working Group would also address the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on development and cooperation in the field of fisheries. It was decided as well to enhance and promote contacts between the fishermen's associations from both sides, since such contacts have proved to be mutually beneficial in the past," the statement said.


http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1162031.ece

 

[Parthy]

Around 100 Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka

Around 100 Indian fishermen have been detained by Sri Lankan police who claim they strayed into the country's waters and were doing " illegal" fishing, sources said.

The Indian fishermen were intercepted by Sri Lankan fishermen off the coast of Point Pedro in the north, and were handed over to police, the sources said.

The fishermen will be produced in court, they said. India last month accused the Sri Lankan Navy of killing at least two Indian fishermen.

The incident triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity between the two south Asian neighbours following which Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao visited Colombo to seek assurances to prevent such incidents in future.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...detained-in-Sri-Lanka/articleshow/7506701.cms

 

[Pintu]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/af...ocId=CNG.ebe418f776b796d7181bfac7af8f16d1.341

Sri Lanka arrests over 100 Indian fishermen
(AFP) – 22 hours ago
COLOMBO — Sri Lanka arrested 112 Indian fishermen accused of poaching off the island's north, officials said Wednesday, stoking tensions between the two countries over the narrow strip of sea dividing them.
Local fishermen seized the Indians on Tuesday and handed them over to the local police, the force's spokesman Prishantha Jayakody said.
"There is a total of 112 Indian fishermen in police custody," Jayakody said
A magistrate in the northern peninsula of Jaffna ordered the men should be held in judicial custody until the end of the month pending police investigations, a court official said by telephone.
The mass arrest came as tension rose along the murky waters of the Palk Strait separating the South Asian neighbours, with the killing last month of two Indian fishermen.
Indian authorities accused Sri Lanka's navy of gunning down the Indians while Colombo flatly denied its navy fired at the intruding fishermen.
Last month, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao visited Colombo to discuss attacks against Indian fishermen along the Palk Strait and the two sides agreed to revive a "joint working group" to address the issues of fishermen.
Sri Lankan fishermen were barred from operating along the Palk Strait for decades when troops battled Tamil Tiger rebels, but after the ethnic war ended in May 2009 with the crushing of the guerrillas, fishing has been allowed.
This has led to increased clashes between fishermen from the two countries competing for the prawn-rich fishing grounds.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12492166

17 February 2011 Last updated at 09:15 GMT

More Indian fishermen arrested in Sri Lanka



Indians demonstrated against the arrests on Wednesday

Sri Lankan police have arrested 24 Indian fishermen, adding to the 112 already in custody for allegedly straying into Sri Lankan waters.
The Indians were seized by a group of local fishermen and handed over to police.
The arrests have sparked protests in southern India and were condemned by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who said they were unacceptable.
Diplomats are in talks to try to secure the fishermen's release or bail.
"This sort of behaviour is not acceptable between neighbouring countries," the Indian leader said on Wednesday.
The incident is the latest development in a continuing row over fishing rights.
The two countries now have a "joint working group" on fishing but it seems it has a lot of work to do to prevent such incidents recurring, says the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...tion-for-TN-fishermen/articleshow/7498020.cms

PIL seeks protection for TN fishermen

TNN, Feb 15, 2011, 05.06am IST



CHENNAI: Highlighting the mid-sea murder of scores of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, a public interest writ petition has sought adequate protection to the fishermen and rehabilitation of families of victims. It also sought a judicial probe into the failure of Indian security agencies to prevent violation of fishermen's rights.

The first bench comprising chief justice M Yusuf Eqbal and justice TS Sivagnanam, before which the PIL filed by LTA Peter Rayan, president of Fishermen Care, came up for hearing on Monday, has reserved its orders.

In his petition, Rayan traced the history of Katcha Theevu and said it was ceded to Sri Lanka through a bilateral treaty on a condition that the traditional rights of Indian fishermen to fish in the area and use the island should not be affected. However, citing an executive instruction issued by India's foreign secretary in 1976, the Sri Lankan authorities have been depriving Indian fishermen of their customary and historical rights.

Of late, the Sri Lankan Navy has become more aggressive and is posing a serious threat to the life and property of Indian fishermen venturing into the sea. Citing the death of several hundreds of Indian fishermen, the PIL said hundreds of others had been maimed for life and had lost fishing properties worth several crores of rupees.

He wanted the court to direct the state and central government authorities to restore the livelihood and customary rights of Indian fishermen in terms of the bilateral agreement signed in 1974, rehabilitation of families of victims, and steps to prosecute the Sri Lankan Naval authorities before the International Court of Justice.

Rayan also wanted the court to form a committee headed by a retired judge of the high court to inquire the negligence and failure of the Indian Coast Guard to prevent human rights violations against Indian fishermen. The committee shall also assess the loss of life and property and make suitable recommendations to the Centre to rehabilitate the families of victims.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...men-not-acceptable-PM/articleshow/7510087.cms

Lankan action against Indian fishermen not acceptable: PM

TNN, Feb 17, 2011, 04.25am IST




NEW DELHI: PM Manmohan Singh on Wednesday came down heavily on Sri Lanka over the detention of 118 Indian fishermen by the Lankan authorities. In his interaction with television journalists, Singh said that this kind of behaviour was not acceptable among neighbouring countries.

"I have been told that about 118 fishermen have been taken into custody. We are taking up this matter with the Sri Lankan government. We take a very serious view. I think only earlier this month, the foreign secretary made a strong demarche...this kind of behaviour is not acceptable among neighbouring countries,'' said Singh.

The Prime Minister was responding to a question about the fishermen being apprehended by the Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday after they allegedly crossed over into their waters. The arrest comes close on the heels of the killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.

External affairs minister SM Krishna had on February 1 said use of force against Indian fishermen should be part of the history and asked Sri Lanka to take a decision that will not upset the bilateral ties.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1465106.ece

there need a permanent settlement in this matter

Regards