Boat of Eezham Tamil activist set on fire in Vadamaraadchi East

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 July 2018, 19:20 GMT]
Unknown attackers have set fire to the fishing boat belonging to a Tamil fisherman, Mr Sujeepan Sebamalai, who played a key role in mobilising against the southern poachers last month, on 20th June. The latest attack has taken place on Saturday night at Mu'l'liyaan in Kaddaik-kaadu in Vadamaraadchi East of the Jaffna district. The boat was fitted with an outboard engine and fishing tools at the time of the destruction, the sources in Kaddaik-kaadu said on Monday.

The latest incident has taken place near an SL Navy detachment. The loss of property to Mr Sujeepan is estimated at 400,000 rupees, the sources further said.

The occupying Sinhala Navy has earlier issued death threats as the native Tamil fishers protested against the exploitation.

The Colombo establishment has also bribed several of the leaders of the native fisheries societies, and the exploitation was resisted by the courage of independent activists like Mr Sujeepan.

The sea cucumber poaching is an export-oriented big business for southern traders, who operate with the backing of the SL military, SL ministers and officials in Colombo.

The sea-cucumber poaching schemed in a big-scale at Vadamaraadchi East was set to affect their livelihood and the fishing ecosystem directly. The intruders also destroyed the fishing nets of the Tamil fishermen.

Chronology: