Beaten up fishermen banned from sea

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 March 2000, 12:25 GMT]
The twenty four fishermen from Kurunagar, the coastal suburb of Jaffna who were beaten up by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Jaffna lagoon yesterday for fishing beyond the demarcated line were banned from setting out to sea for two weeks.

The fishermen's case was examined today by the Sri Lankan army's 51-2 brigade in Jaffna town.

Following the inquiry, the special passes issued to these fishermen by the SLA allowing them to fish in the Jaffna lagoon were seized.

SLA sources said that the fishing limits stipulated in the Jaffna lagoon have to strictly be enforced in view of the growing Sea Tiger activities in these waters, particularly east of Kurunagar off the coast of Ariyalai east and Thanangkilappu. Some of the fishermen who were beaten up by the Navy yesterday were treated at the Jaffna hospital for contusions and abrasions.

Meanwhile about two-hundred people picketed out side the Jaffna Secretariat (Kachcheri) this morning demanding the Government to reveal details of those who have been reported 'missing' after being arrested by the troops.

The picketing was organised by the Missing Persons Guardian Association and the Women's Front in Jaffna.

All activities of the Jaffna Secretariat was brought to standstill untill noon due to the picketing said sources.