Jaffna fishermen's protests set to continue

[TamilNet, Sunday, 09 June 2002, 14:41 GMT]
Fishermen continued their picketing campaign for the second day on Friday in Jaffna in front of the Secretariat (Kachcheri) and the Divisional Secretariat, demanding their freedom to fish without restriction in the northern waters. Since even the Friday protest failed to produce any result, the Federation of Fishermenís Unions said it has decided to continue with the protests on Monday.

The picketing campaign held at the Kachcheri until the evening on Thursday failed to produce any results, and the fishermen decided to picket for a second day.

During the picketing on Friday, the Kachcheri-Nallur road, west of the Kachcheri, was blocked by the protesters and no transport was possible on the road. Police officers from Jaffna came to the scene and requested the picketers to allow public transport, but the request was denied, and a heated argument ensued between the police and the picketers.

A large number of policemen converged at the scene, and after further discussions, at the request of the police, one police vehicle was allowed to proceed on the road. However, the demonstrators on the other side of the Kachcheri blocked the vehicle. Another argument ensued, and there were some stone-throwing incidents, but the intervention of senior police officers brought the situation under control. The police vehicle was allowed to move ahead.

The picketers left the road by 2:00 pm, and the public was able to travel on the road; however, the picketing in front of the Kachcheri and the Divisional Secretariat continued until the evening. A three-wheeler trying to reach Nallur Road from the Station Road was also subjected to some form of attack.

Fishermen continued their protest in front of the Jaffna District Secretariat Friday, urging Colombo to lift restrictions on fishing in the north. Photo:TamilNet

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