TN fishermen threaten to live as refugees in Sri Lanka

Rameswaram fishermen have decided to launch an indefinite strike from July 24 urging the government to press for release of their boats and fishermen from Sri Lanka. They further threatened to hoist white flags on their boats and would surrender to the island on August 2, if the Indian government was unresponsive.

The association leaders, decided on the indefinite strike at a convened at Rameswaram on Saturday, They also decided to surrender their registration certificates and other documents before the Collector on July 28. Urging the government to take steps to secure the release of the Indian boats from Sri Lanka, they pressed for the release of the detained Lankan boats.

They said, if action was not taken, they would seek shelter in Sri Lanka after hoisting white flags on their boats on August 2. They said they would live as refugees in the island nation if the Centre unduly delays finding a solution to the livelihood issue.

N J Bose, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised Boats Fishermen Federation said the Centre should take steps to release the detained boats and fishermen from Lanka. Similarly, the government should release the detained Lankan boats to bring about a conducive atmosphere for bilateral talks, he added. - Express News Service