SLN lays condition for beaching crafts in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 July 2003, 16:43 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Saturday directed the fishermen in Pallappai and Katkovalam in Vadamarachi division in Jaffna district to beach their fishing crafts within six hundred meter area from their positions on the shore enabling them to see fishing boats with their naked eye, fisheries co-operative officials said.

The officers in charge of the SLN detachments at Pallappai and Katkovalam Saturday morning summoned fishermen of these areas for a meeting at Katkovalam and issued instruction to them to beach their boats within 600 meters from SLA and SLN positions on the shore. SLN officials told fishermen that this step has been taken to ensure that the LTTE is not taking cover behind fishing boats anchored in sea far away from their positions to launch any attack on them, fisheries co-op officials said.

Several fishermen replied that it is difficult for them to pull their boats through sand to the stipulated distance. However SLN directed the fishermen that their instruction should be adhered strictly.

Meanwhile fishermen of these areas complain that SLN soldiers pressure them to supply fish daily for their consumption free of charge from their catch, fishing o-operative sources said.