Mannar Bishop writes to LTTE over shooting at sea

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 February 2005, 13:24 GMT]
Mannar Bishop, Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph, wrote to the Liberation Tigers Saturday regarding the incident at sea near Vidathaltheevu in which armed persons believed to be Sea Tigers fired on the boats of fishermen from Pallimunai, a coastal suburb of Mannar town, damaging the boats. Angered by the incident, a group fishermen from Pallimunai attacked and damaged the LTTE's political office in Mannar town Friday.

Federation of Mannar Fisheries Societies and Tamil National Alliance MP for Vanni, Mr. Selvam Adaikalanathan discussed the issue with Pallimunai fishermen and reached a consensus that steps should be taken forthwith to resolve the dispute through a dialogue with the LTTE.

Pallimunai fishermen said that they strongly objected to the sea Tigers firing on their boats and damaging their engines.

The sea Tigers had fired on Pallimunai boats in a bid to stop the fishermen from dynamiting fish in the seas off Vidathaltheevu, according to sources close to the LTTE in Mannar.

A decision was taken at a meeting held Pallimunai St. Lucias Cathedral Friday on the instruction of the Bishop of Mannar to take up the matter with the LTTE.

Mannar Bishop wrote to Mr. S.P Thamilchelvan Saturday seeking an early appointment to discuss and resolve the problem.

Mannar Bishop called an urgent meeting following the attack on the LTTE office Friday with representatives of Vidathaltheivu and Pallimunai fisheries societies. It was decided at the meeting that representatives of Pallimunai and Vidathaltheivu fisheries societies should visit Killinochchi and meet the Sea Tigers and political leaders of the LTTE to find an amicable settlement to the dispute.