From correspondents in Tamil Nadu, India, 10:03 PM IST
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing concern over the Sri Lankan navy repeatedly opening fire on Indian fishermen in the waters between the two countries.
A copy of his letter was given to the media here by the chief minister's office.
In his letter, Karunanidhi urged the union government to ensure that the 'rights and privileges of the Indian fishermen to carry on their normal occupation of fishing in the waters of Katchatheevu (an island in Palk Strait)) must be recognised and restored'.
Reminding the government of the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi said, 'Fishermen were allowed to dry their nets in Katchatheevu but were prohibited from fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters around Katchatheevu following executive instructions', which, he pointed out 'did not flow from the two agreements'.
'...they were executive instructions and cannot supersede the provisions of the legally valid agreement entered into by the two countries', Karunanidhi said.
The executive orders have caused a great deal of hardship to Indian fishermen over the years as their 'traditional rights' in Katchatheevu have been denied them.
'Time and again our fishermen have been arrested, attacked and shot dead in these waters. Each one of these incidents has shocked the people of the state and rocked the legislative assembly,' the note said.
'I urge the Government of India to take necessary steps to protect the precious lives of Indian fishermen and also to ensure their livelihood,' Karunanidhi said in his letter.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko too wrote to the prime minister Tuesday, urging him to boycott the forthcoming SAARC meeting in Sri Lanka because of the attacks on ethnic Tamils in the neighbouring country.
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The Srilanka govt.evidently thinks that they have a right to attack Indian that is Tamil fishermen since separatist Tamils of TN and LTTE's Eelam are said to enjoy solidarity as a single 'nation'
Watch what you say about your fellow neighbors. It is us who offer refuge to Sri Lankan villagers who lost their loved ones (including women and young children) due to your conflict. we still haven't forgotten that Rajiv Ghandhi was murdered by your "organization". Many innocent lives have been lost due to your activities and many countries have already labeled your organization as a terrorist group. I would suggest that if you are going to talk ill about my country and my fellow tamizhans (that includes innocent Sri Lankan Tamizh villagers) then you should keep your opinions to yourself. You have no right to bud in into our country's affairs and talk ill about our people.
I am an eelam tamil, indian tamils are tamils are good to be pariahs(janitors) and coolies(labourers) so shut up.we eelam tamils are fishting the sinhalese and north indians are giving arms to sinhalese to kill us.you indian tamils will nbot fight,so your fisherman will be sot like dogs.thaat is why in malaysia and sri lanka indian tamils treated like pariahs.the day indian tamils stand up and fight sinhalese will respect your fisherman. good luck. sri
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