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COPY OF MEMORANDUM OF THE D.M.K. SIGNED BY ITS PRESIDENT, KALAIGNAR M. KARUNANIDHI AND PRESENTED TO DR. MANMOHAN SINGH, HONBLE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA, BY KANIMOZHI, M.P.

Honble Prime Minister, On behalf of the D.M.K., this memorandum is presented to you for your immediate action to find a permanent solution to the decades-old problem of Tamil Fishermen. On 28-9-2013, Fishermen Associations of 6 Coastal Districts in Tamil Nadu made a representation to the D.M.K., in Chennai and narrated the recent developments faced by the fishermen, the cruelty they suffer at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy and how their lives have become insecure and livelihood unsure. They have heart-rending and horrific experience to reveal to the world. You are aware of the interminable trauma to which the Tamil Nadu Fishermen have been subjected to Lankan Navy. mercilessly by the Sri Incessant intimidation, intense torture and torment

are being unleashed on the Tamil Fishermen. As a result their life has become painful. In the lives of the Tamil Fishermen Sorrows come not in single but in battalion. What were isolated instances of shooting, seizing the catches, nets and boats and chasing away of the Tamil Fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy a few years ago, have been on a startling increase in the recent past, especially after

the War was over in Sri Lanka in 2009. unchecked and unabated. Lankan Navy.

Arresting our fishermen

and sending them to Jails in Sri Lanka has been going on Their boats are also held by the Sri The attitude of the Sri Lankan Navy has shocked

the collective conscience of the Tamil Society. As on 20-9-2013, Tamil Fishermen numbering 112 belonging to Nagapattinam, Karaikkal, Rameshwaram, Pamban and Mandapam have been languishing in various jails in Sri Lanka, without bail or trial. 19 Fishermen of Pudukkottai District, while fishing in Indian Waters on 18-9-2013, were held with their 5 boats by the Sri Lankan Navy, accusing them falsely that they were fishing in Sri Lankan waters. On 21-9-2013, after calling off their 14-day old agitation of absention from fishing, demanding release of the arrested fishermen. While fishermen of Rameshwaram were fishing near Katcha Theevu, the Sri Lankan Coast Guard seriously attacked them, heavily damaged their nets and other fishing equipments and 20 of them were taken into custory and 4 boats were also seized. When some of the fishermen arrested Fishermen of They were then during July and August, 2013 were released on 23-9-2013 and 25-92013, their boats were not given back to them. Lanka, refused to return without their vessels. in Jaffna District. Nagapattinam and Karaikkal, after release from the Jail in Sri repatriated on 21-9-2013 by the Sri Lankan Navy in Kankesanthurai It is said that this was the first time in seven It is seen that the retained years that the Sri Lankan authorities were repatriating the arrested fishermen after retaining their boats. trawlers have been confiscated by the State of Sri Lanka.

The worst tragedy is that a number of fishermen have been killed in the shooting incidents, deliberately resorted to by the Sri Lankan Navy. According to official data, more than 400 Tamil In the last 30 years, there were 480 The Shooting on Fishermen have been killed after 1983, including as many as 118 between 1991and 2008. instances of shooting on the Tamil Fishermen. of shooting has not died down so far. Causing grievous injuries to fishermen, killing them and confiscating their boats are all unconstitutional and the Sri Lankan Navy have been making use of these inhuman and unlawful methods. Such savagery should be condemned by the InterThe Indian The National community in the strongest terms.

the Tamil Fishermen had started in 1983 and the disturbing sound

Government should not be a mute witness to this outrage.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has, on 28-9-2013, sent a letter to the Prime Minister blaming the Central Government, as usual, in this regard. She has written about the release of 136 fishermen and 29 boats. Subsequently 66 fishermen of Nagapattinam, Karaikkal and Pamban have 2013, been released. These fishermen were also anguished as they had to return without their trawlers. On 3-10Four Fishermen of Rameshwaram have been held along Releasing the fishermen with their boats by the Sri Lankan Police. The boats are the only means of livelihood for the fishermen. and detaining their boats is inhuman, as it negates their fundamental right to live and earn their livelihood. We appeal to you to take all serious and resolute steps through the diplomatic channels immediately to stop these

atrocities forthwith and save the lives and safeguard the livelihood of Tamil Fishermen, besides retrieving all the confiscated and detained boats to entrust them to the concerned fishermen and getting release of all the fishermen unconditionally. The People of Tamil Nadu expect that during his upcoming visit to Colombo, the External Affairs Minister of the Government of India should impress upon the Sri Lankan Government in unequivocal terms that the violent action of the Sri Lankan Navy does amount to challenging the Sovereignty of the Indian Nation. The D.M.K. will be grateful problems of Tamil Fishermen. for a lasting solution to the

Chennai, 6th October, 2013

Sd/(M. Karunanidhi.) President, D.M.K.

Copy to Thiru Salman Khurshid, Honble Minister of External Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi.