Sensitive Fishermen Issue Should Not Be Handled In Insensitive Way
by N.S.Venkataraman
( March 7, 2015, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickramasinge is reported to have said in a media interaction that Indian fisher men who cross into Sri Lankan waters for fishing would be shot. This abrasive statement has sent shock waves among the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu and is bound to raise an uproar and cause friction in the relationship between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu in India. One is surprised that such a seasoned politician with considerable experience and some reputation in dealing with the foreign relations of Sri Lanka has made such an insensitive remark, particularly in a matter concerning the poor fisher men.
While one would certainly agree that Indian fisher men should not cross into Sri Lankan water and vice versa, it is often possible that the fisher men from India would be crossing into Sri Lankan water inadvertently, particularly since unlike the land area, the border cannot be clearly demarcated in the case of sea water.
One should also keep in view that for the last several decades ,there have been healthy understanding between the fisher men of India and Sri Lanka and significant segment of the Sri Lankan fisher men are those of Tamil origin. The skirmishes between the fisher men of these two countries are of recent origin and perhaps, whipped up by the politicians who always like to fish in troubled water.
Mr. Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka provide an ideal opportunity to discuss this vexed issue in the threadbare manner with honesty of purpose and mutual good will and understanding. There are no issues for which solutions cannot be found , if there would be will and genuine desire to arrive at appropriate solution keeping the ground realities in view and interest of both the parties in mind.
One of the allegations is that some fishing entrepreneurs from India (particularly from Tamil Nadu) operate giant fishing trawlers to catch fish in Indian waters, leaving the poor Indian fisher men who use the conventional method of fishing , with little fish to catch . Therefore, such fisher men are forced to cross into Sri Lankan waters for fishing. If this allegation were true, the Government of India and Sri Lanka can take a decision to ban the operation of giant fishing trawlers in the sea between India and Sri Lanka . This may be a tangible solution for the problem.
Instead of Mr. Wickramasinghe talking about using violent methods of shooting to terrorise and drive away the Indian fisher men who cross into Sri Lankan water, the feasibility of constituting a peace committee between the fishermen in Sri Lanka and India can be thought about. This may work and evolve a mutual agreeable mechanism to avoid friction, as there would be fisher men in both the sides with reasonable approach and peaceful intentions.
In any case, Mr.Wickramasinghe should avoid making such counter productive statement , which would do more harm than good to the interest of fisher men in both the countries. Violent outburst are never known to have solved problems but it can only aid in prolonging the problem. It is sad that Mr. Wickramasinghe gives an impression that he has not appreciated this golden truth.
The politicians and media in Tamil Nadu are also responsible to a significant extent in creating friction among the fisher men of both the countries by constantly organising agitations and making vituperative observations and launching a hate campaign. Perhaps, the fisher men in India and Sri Lanka would have found the solution for the issue , if there would be no undue interest shown by the politicians.
