[Reader-list] Fwd: Fishworkers staged Secretariat dharna

[T Peter]

Fishworkers staged Secretariat dharna

By Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

26th June 2013 11:49 AM

Fishworkers, under the aegis of the Kerala Swathanthra
Malsyathozhilali Federation, staged a dharna in front of the
Secretariat on Tuesday raising various demands.

The dharna, which was inaugurated by National Fishworkers Forum
national secretary T Peter, demanded immediate withdrawal of the move
to establish a gas pipeline under the sea from Kochi to Kayankulam.
Among the other demands were abandoning  moves to reclaim sea for
construction in the tourism sector as well as steps for rehabilitation
of families of the fishworkers from areas vulnerable to sea erosion by
providing them 5 cents of land and house elsewhere.

Inaugurating the dharna, T Peter said development should not be at the
cost of the fishworkers or by pushing them into utter poverty. The
fishermen cannot be alienated from the sea, seashore, he said.

A national-level strike will begin from Kerala on Sept 7, Peter said.
Federation state president P P John, general sec Jackson Pollayil,
Anto Elias, M Ambrose, P V Wilson, Elizabeth Antony and S Francis also
spoke.