VVT protestors get concession

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 March 2001, 16:34 GMT]
Hundreds of men and women gathered in front of the Sri Lanka army camp in Valvettithurai in Jaffna Thursday morning, demanding that they be allowed reasonable time for fishing in the seas off the coast of this coastal town. “Allow us to fish or kill us all”, the protestors told the army. They said their families, which depend on the sea for their livelihood can no longer survive if the SLA didn’t extend the time for fishing. The crowds dispersed after the SLA assured them that they can fish in the sea from midnight to six a.m. everyday. The relaxation of the restriction, however, is limited only to Valvettithurai, military sources said. In all the parts of Jaffna, fishing in the sea is restricted to two hours- from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Meanwhile, the SLA cordoned off and searched a large area from Aavarangaal junction to the Vallai junction, excluding the town of Atchuvely Thursday morning from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Troops searched all the houses in the area, residents said.