Tamil Nadu fishermen stage protest on World Fishermen Day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 November 2009, 06:35 GMT]
Fishermen in Tamil Nadu have decided to fly black flags instead of Indian National flag in their fishing vessels in a protest against Indian Government’s failure to stop the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen and condemning the Sri Lankan government, fisheries society sources in Puthukkoaddai district in Tamil Nadu said. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu fishermen staged a boycott Sunday on World Fishermen Day without going for fishing, remaining in their houses where black flags were seen hoisted, sources in Tamil Nadu said.

The boycott is against the Indian government’s proposed Marine Fisheries (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2009 and the Indian government’s newly imposed laws restricting Tamil Nadu fishermen fishing in Kachchaitheevu seas on the marine boundary between Sri Lanka and India.

Thousands of fishermen from Jagathaappadda’nam, Koaddaiyampaddi, and Kaaddumaavadi areas in Puthukkoaddai district are to fly black flags in their boats and catamarans while fishing as a mark of their protest, fisheries society sources in Puthukkoaddai said.