[Reader-list] Lankan PM's Stand Flayed

[T Peter]

Lankan PM's Stand Flayed

By Express News Service

Published: 12th March 2015 06:00 AM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation on Tuesday
protested against  Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's threat
to fire on Indian fishermen if they cross into Sri Lankan waters in an
interview to a Tamil television channel. National Fishworkers Forum
secretary T Peter and Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation
secretary Anto Elias said that the statement was tantamount to challenging
the Indian Government and Indian fishermen. They said that the boats cross
the sea border when the sea is turbulent.

The fishermen's forums said that fishermen have the right to go fishing
upto 200 nautical miles. However, at times this restriction is not possible
to be kept between India and Sri Lanka due to the close proximity of the
two countries. Therefore, some settlement has to be worked out through
mutual cooperation. The forums demanded that the governments  initiate
comprehensive discussions to reach an amicable solution.  ''The governments
should distribute identity cards to the fishermen of their respective
countries. Fishermen should not be considered as terrorists and sea
pirates,'' Anto said.