[Reader-list] Fish workers plan stir against pact

[T Peter]

*Fish workers plan stir against pact *

*Date:02/08/2009* *URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/08/02/stories/2009080257320200.htm*
Special Correspondent

   Thiruvananthapuram: The National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) and the Kerala
Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) have threatened to launch a
nation-wide agitation against the move by the Union government to sign a
free trade agreement with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, State president of KSMTF T.
Peter and secretary Anto Elias said efforts were on to mobilise the
fisheries and agricultural sectors for a sustained agitation against the
trade pact. In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
UPA convenor Sonia Gandhi, NFF and KSMTF urged them to drop the move to
enter into a free trade agreement.

They said the proposed pact would lead to the collapse of the fisheries and
agricultural sectors in India.

“Cheap imports of fish and agricultural produce will flood the country,
threatening the livelihood of fish workers and farmers.”

Mr. Peter said the government had failed to implement the recommendation of
the Murari committee to ban the operation of foreign trawlers in territorial
waters. “It has also failed to honour the commitment to write off loans
availed by fish workers and reduce the tax on fishing equipment. In this
context, the FTA comes as a heavy blow. It will worsen the crisis faced by
the fisheries sector.” He said the pact would enable countries like Thailand
and Vietnam to dump 177 species of fish in the Indian market. “Fresh catch
of anchovy, lobster, crab, sardine, mackerel, shark, shrimp and squid will
be replaced by refrigerated imports, spelling doom for traditional fish
workers in the State. Fishing equipment is also likely to be imported.” The
contention that some species had been included in the negative list was of
no significance if the FTA was signed.

http://www.keralafishworkers.org

http://www.alakal.net