Sri Lankan navy routinely shoots at Indian fishermen in their traditional fishing area around Katchativu island. PC Vinoj Kumar examines why fishermen want India to reclaim the island it ceded to Sri Lanka
As Sri Lanka heads for another bout of civil unrest, fishermen from Tamil Nadu seem to be getting the stick.
The Sri Lankan Navy has been shooting at Indian fishing boats near Katchativu in the Palk Straits. Two fishermen were wounded in recent assaults. On June 17, the Lankan Navy opened fire at a boat close range even after the fishermen raised their hands to show that they were unarmed. On June 29, another fisherman suffered injuries on his hip when the navy opened fire near Katchativu, an island India ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974.
Many Indian fishermen believe that they continue to enjoy their traditional fishing rights in the waters around Katchativu. When India ceded Katchativu, Article 5 of the agreement stated that Indian fishermen and pilgrims will enjoy access to Katchativu and will not need travel documents or visas.
Confusion set in after the two countries signed another agreement in 1976. In an Exchange of Letters subsequently, the two countries stated: ?With the establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) by the two countries, (they) will exercise sovereign rights over the living and non-living resources of their respective zones. The fishing vessels and fishermen of India shall not engage in fishing in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the EEZ of Sri Lanka, nor shall the fishing vessels and fishermen of Sri Lanka engage in fishing in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the EEZ of India, without the express permission of Sri Lanka or India, as the case may be.? Sri Lanka cites this clause while denying fishing rights to Indian fishermen around Katchativu.
Fishermen in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, adjoining the Palk Straits, feel that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had taken an arbitrary decision in ceding Katchativu without consulting them. ?It was a mistake they made for which we are suffering now,? says SP Royappan, president of the country boats fishermen welfare association in Rameswaram. Over the last 30 years, the Lankan Navy is reported to have killed over 150 Indian fishermen.
There is a Christian shrine in Katchativu, which draws pilgrims from both countries for its annual festival in March. Following the tension this year, India did not permit fishermen to visit the island. ?It is not right on the part of officials to stop the pilgrims from visiting the island,? says Vicar General L. Amalraj of the Sivaganga Diocese, who led pilgrims to the shrine for the last four years.
?For the Lankan Navy, killing Indian (Tamil) fishermen is an act of revenge. They look at all Tamils as enemies, whether they are Indian Tamils or their own,? says Amalraj. In contrast, the Indian Navy has exhibited restraint in dealing with Lankan fishermen who stray into Indian waters, says U. Arulanandham, an activist of Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen, an organisation working for the release of arrested fishermen on both sides.
The Tamil Nadu government appears to have an unwritten policy on attacks by the Lankan Navy. As soon as an incident occurs, it intimates the Central government, which takes up the matter with Sri Lanka. It also pays an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 lakh to the families of the deceased.
The Centre has done little. Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed made a statement in Parliament following an incident in January. He said: ?? The Sri Lankan government has conveyed that the incident was investigated? and it was found that on the day? the Sri Lankan Navy was not operating in that area.?
Successive state governments have been writing to the Centre but it has not changed the situation on the ground. In February 2001, the state Assembly witnessed a rare scene when members across party lines demanded the retrieval of Katchativu and sought imposition of sanctions against Sri Lanka. Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa demanded that the Centre take Katchativu on a ?perpetual lease?.
Defence experts also feel that India should make efforts to get Katchativu back. Professor Gopalji Malviya, head of department, Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras, says it is high time that India initiates the ?retrieval process.? ?Revenue records show that Katchativu was part of Tamil Nadu. Indira Gandhi handed over the island to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture though there was no dispute or claims over the island. Sovereignty rights of Katchativu should have rested only with India.?