Fishermen protest arrests of their colleagues by Sri Lanka

Fishing activities will be boycotted indefinitely from July 21

Tamil Nadu Coastal Area Fishermen's Association and the Fishermen's Association today decided to boycott fishing activities indefinitely from July 21 to protest against continuous arrest and attack on fishemen by the Sri lankan navalmen.

A meeting of the Associations was held here after 20 fishermen were arrested along with their four boats and were taken to Sri Lanka yesterday.

The fishermen also wanted the Centre to restore their fishing rights in the traditional areas in Palk Bay which included Katchatheevu, Jesuraja, president of the Fishermen's Association told PTI.

The Centre had recently filed in the Madras High Court stating the Tamil Nadu fishermen had no fishing rights in Katchatheevu without knowing the Tamil Nadu fishing Zones -- traditional, historical as well as geographical-- he said.

The meeting also also decided to handover their fishing licence to the district officials on July 21 as a mark of protest.

They also planned to travel to Sri Lanka in their boats on July 26 flying white flags and seeking refuge in Sri Lanka for their livelihood.