“Sri Lankan Navy won’t fire on Indian fishermen”

Sri Lanka has assured India that there will be no firing by the Sri Lankan Navy on Indian fishermen hereafter, M.K. Narayanan, National Security Adviser, said on Monday.

In the event of arrest of the fishermen, they would be released in the “shortest possible time.” They would be given “humanitarian treatment as far as possible,” and there would be no “maltreatment” of the Indian fishermen, Mr. Narayanan told journalists, emerging from a 40-minute-long meeting with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and senior officials of the State government at the Secretariat.

Describing as “positive understanding” the outcome of discussions at bilateral meetings between India and Sri Lanka early this month prior to the summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, Mr. Narayanan said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa went into great detail on each of the points raised by the Chief Minister in his letter to Dr. Singh and personal discussions with him.

On the basis of the discussions, a “tentative understanding” was reached, he said.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/26/stories/2008082650050100.htm

The Devil You Know

So far this year, the LTTE has lost nearly 6,000 dead, while the army has lost nearly 600 soldiers. In the last two years, since the ceasefire collapsed, the LTTE has had over 9,000 of its fighters killed, while the army has lost nearly 1,800 dead. In that time, LTTE controlled territory has shrunk from 15,000 square kilometers, to 4,000.

The LTTE personnel and territorial losses are accelerating because the LTTE can no longer maintain a "front line" of bunkers. The army is thus able to move deep into LTTE controlled territory, taking towns and major bases the LTTE depend on to recruit troops and extract supplies, especially food. Over the last few months, over 100,000, mostly Tamil, civilians up north have fled their homes and are being housed in refugee camps. The LTTE population losses mean fewer recruits, and less armed resistance to the army.

The air force and navy have crippled LTTE smuggling efforts, but not eliminated them. Tamil fishermen from India are still willing to risk arrest or injury to move weapons, medicine and diesel fuel to LTTE controlled beaches in northern Sri Lanka. The fee paid for these trips has been going up from about $1,000 to over $2,000. But the blockade has eliminated the use of cargo ships for these supply runs. So instead of getting hundreds of tons of supplies at time, the LTTE has to be satisfied with a few tons.

Read more,
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/srilank/articles/20080818.aspx

Kasargod: Subsidized Kerosene Diverted to LTTE from State?

The additional director general of police, Kerala intelligence wing, through an information sent to the police stations located in Kasargod and Kannur districts of the state, has shared with them the information, that a part of the subsides kerosene the government is supplying to the fishermen of the districts, is being sold to LTTE cadres for fuelling their activities.

The intelligence wing has learnt that Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) wants fuel to power its boats and that it has engaged agents in these districts to collect kerosene and pass on the same to the LTTE. The police have learnt that such agents have been active in places like Talangare, Bekal and Ayikal.

Many fishermen are frustrated to learn that huge quantities of this scarce commodity, for getting which they have to struggle a lot, is being sold at a premium to LTTE. It may be noted that the blue kerosene which as per rules, is sold only through ration shops for nine rupees a litre, is available for sale in other shops for around Rs 25 per litre.

Boats of Tamil fishermen from Srilanka who are sympathetic to the LTTE cause, come near the sea shores of Trivendrum and other places. The middlemen are believed to be supplying kerosene to the LTTE through these boats.

In the recent past, policemen have been able to confiscate huge stocks of illegally stored kerosene from various spots. 1,400 litres of kerosene had been seized by them recently from a house in Anangoor and arrested a person. This was subsidized kerosene. The police are keeping an eye on other suspects and continuing with their investigations.

Extracted from,
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?

Sri Lanka Navy denies the shooting of two fishermen from Nagapattinam

Sri Lanka Navy has denied of any involvement in the killing of two fishermen - Vasakan and Narayanasamy and seriously injuring Murali from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu.

Reports revealed that those three fishermen from Nagapattinam were out on a boat in the sea on Sunday and was shot. Indian reports alleged that Indian fishermen were killed by Sri Lanka Navy.

When Asian Tribune contacted Sri Lanka Navy, sources in the Navy said that "Navy was nowhere in the Gulf of Mannar Sea yesterday, as it was a Sunday and was monitoring suspicious boat movements within Sri Lanka waters through radar located in their base in Talaimannar."

Sources further revealed that it was crystal clear that Sea Tigers of the LTTE were behind the killing of the two innocent Indian fishermen and injuring the third.

Sri Lanka Navy sources told Asian Tribune that Navy used to apprehend Indian Fishermen only those who strays into Sri Lankan territorial waters and poach in those sea area.

Read more,
http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/12204

Sri Lanka frees 300 Indian trawlers

The trawlers were sailing towards the Tamil Tigers-held Vidattaltivu area in north-western Mannar district

Colombo: Sri Lanka has released all the 300-odd Indian fishing trawlers the navy seized while allegedly poaching in the island's territorial waters, after hours of through investigation.

Navy spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said the 300 trawlers were sailing towards the Tamil Tigers-held Vidattaltivu area in north-western Mannar district when they were spotted and surrounded by the naval craft on routine patrol on Wednesday afternoon.

"The Indian trawlers were surrounded by naval craft between Delft and Thalaimannar islands and taken into custody. After investigation we released 299 trawlers by 10 in the night while the remaining one trawler was also released on Thursday morning," Commander Dassanayake told IANS.

"We found no suspicious items in their possession," he said, pointing out that the issue of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lanka's territorial waters was posing a huge threat to the country's security.

Read more,
http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1536495

5 fishermen questioned for smuggling contraband to LTTE- Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)

At least five of the 24 fishermen handed over to Indian Coast Guard officials by the Sri Lankan Navy are being interrogated for allegedly smuggling contraband to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), police said Wednesday.

The five fishermen belong to three inland districts of Tamil Nadu. The Indian fishermen had been jailed in Sri Lanka May 14 following their arrest in Palk Bay by the Sri Lankan Navy, an official press communiqué said.

Sri Lankan officials claimed that the fishermen were supplying contraband to the banned LTTE, a charge denied by the Indian fishermen who alleged wrongdoing by the isle's navy, Indian Navy sources said.

During the last two years, 96 cases have been registered against illegal traffic across the Palk Straits - the narrow expanse of water separating India and Sri Lanka.

Extracted from,
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=68965

5 fishermen questioned for smuggling contraband to LTTE- Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu)

At least five of the 24 fishermen handed over to Indian Coast Guard officials by the Sri Lankan Navy are being interrogated for allegedly smuggling contraband to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), police said Wednesday.

The five fishermen belong to three inland districts of Tamil Nadu. The Indian fishermen had been jailed in Sri Lanka May 14 following their arrest in Palk Bay by the Sri Lankan Navy, an official press communiqué said.

Sri Lankan officials claimed that the fishermen were supplying contraband to the banned LTTE, a charge denied by the Indian fishermen who alleged wrongdoing by the isle's navy, Indian Navy sources said.

During the last two years, 96 cases have been registered against illegal traffic across the Palk Straits - the narrow expanse of water separating India and Sri Lanka.

Extracted from,
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=68965

Lankan navy detains 19 Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 19 Indian fishermen on charges of poaching in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

The authorities here suspect the fishermen have also “smuggled in something” for the Tamil Tigers, a military spokesperson said.

“We have arrested 19 Indian fishermen with three dhows off Thalaimannar on Thursday. This time the issue is very serious because they were arrested while returning from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) held territories such as Devil Point and Palaitivu,” said navy spokesperson Commander D K P Dassanayake.

Pointing out that India had banned fishing “during this breeding season”, he said the fishermen had “violated rules and regulations of their own land”.
“We strongly suspect that they might have smuggled in something for the LTTE,” Dassanayake told IANS.

Read more,
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?

Nedumaran, 164 party workers arrested

Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran and many others were arrested in the city on Saturday for defying a ban on staging a demonstration against the alleged sale of arms by India to Sri Lanka, among other issues.

Nedumaran and 164 others, including 15 women from various pro-Tamil groups were held after they tried to stage a demonstration at the Memorial Hall here without police permission, police said.

The protesters also denounced attacks on the Tamil Nadu fishermen, allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, in the international waters.

Extracted from,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200803221915.htm

Sri Lanka to release 47 Tamil Nadu fishermen

Sri Lanka will release 47 of the 59 Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by its Navy after they strayed into its waters on Thursday. Official sources said two of the six boats seized too would be released and the other fishermen would be produced before a magistrate.

Fisherfolk of both countries straying into each other’s waters is a common occurrence and has been a constant source of friction.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/09/stories/2008030956590100.htm

62 Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lankan Navy

As many as 62 fishermen were taken into custody by Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing in the sea off Kanyakumari on Friday, police said.

The fishermen, all from Chinnathurai village near Thoothur in Kanyakumari district, were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel at 10 am, they said.

This was the first time that such a large number of fishermen from Kanyakumari had been taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy, though similar arrests had been made in small numbers earlier, a Fisheries Department official said.

Read more,
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14618760

Sri Lanka to take up sea attack issue with India

The chief of the Sri Lankan Navy is to take up the issue of an attack against a Sri Lankan naval ship from a flotilla of Indian fishing boats, a government spokesman here said Wednesday.

Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, who is currently on an official visit to India, would raise the issue, among other things, with Indian officials, spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters.

The Sri Lankan Navy said Feb 5 that up to six sailors had gone missing after a naval boat was fired upon from a flotilla of 400 Indian fishing boats, which were poaching off the seas off Talaimannar in the north.

Read more,
http://www.indiaenews.com/srilanka/20080213/97510.htm

Navy rescues Three Tamil Nadu Fishermen in Distress in Sri Lankan Waters South of Thalaimannar.

Sri Lanka Navy rescued three Tamil Nadu fishermen, whose fishing trawler had washed ashore south of THALAIMANNAR, today (13th February 2008) around 6 a.m. They had left for fishing from MANDAPAM, which is located 15 nautical miles from DHANUSHKODI, Tamil Nadu, India.

The naval personnel of the THALAIMANNAR Naval Base, upon observing the ill-fated Indian trawler running aground, had rushed assistance to the Indian fishermen who had suffered multiple fractures and injuries due to the ordeal at sea. They were immediately taken to the sickbay of the naval base and were attended to by a naval doctor on duty. Having given them medical treatment, food and refreshment, the measures were taken with the assistance of the THALAIMANNAR Police to transfer the injured to the MANNAR government hospital for further medical treatment.

According to the injured Indian fishermen, five of them had left for fishing from MANDAPAM, which is located 15 nautical miles from DHANUSHKODI, on board the fishing trawler, “Jehovah Jireh” bearing the number TN 10 MFB.

Read more,
http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=10663

Sri Lanka Navy denies shooting Indian fisherman

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), in a media statement issued yesterday (11), categorically and unequivocally denied the allegations made by certain indiscriminate sections of that media of involvement in the killing of an Indian fisherman on Saturday (9) night.

"Sri Lanka Navy exercises utmost care not to cross the International Maritime Boundary Line between Sri Lankan and Indian territorial waters while conducting patrolling and maritime surveillance to prevent LTTE arms smuggling and infiltration across the Gulf of Mannar and the Polk Bay," it added.

The statement also drew attention to the recent incident where the Sri Lanka Navy did not open retaliatory fire when the persons yet to be identified on board two Indian fishing trawlers fired on one of SLN fibre glass boats in the seas off Talaimannar on the February 4, 2008. Then SLN boats did not retaliate in order to avoid other Indian fishing boats being hit in the cross fire.

Read more,
http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task

Indian fishing boats open fire on SLN vessels

Two fast attack craft (FAC) of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) came under small arms fire from a number of smaller Indian fishing boats in Thalaimannar area yesterday at around 6PM.

Two FACs on routine patrol in Mannar region were sent to investigate reports of a large number of vessels docked in Thalaimannar area. When SLN crafts first approached the suspicious boats, the fishermen had requested help from navy citing technical problems. However the fishing boats had opened fire on SLN vessels when the naval personnel tried to investigate the legality of their docking.

Read more,
http://defencenet.blogspot.com/2008/02/indian-fishing-boats-open-fire-on-sln.html

Prabhakaran In India To Recuperate From Wounds?

Rumours of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) supremo V. Prabhakaran having crossed the Palk Straits to India to recuperate from wounds sent the Tamil Nadu police into a tizzy Friday.

The state police's anti-extremist wing - the 'Q' Branch - refused to comment on the rumours that said Prabhakaran may have been seriously wounded and moved to Tamil Nadu.

There were enough indications here that the law and order machinery was pressed into service to check all hospitals across the state for persons with unexplained wounds.

Meanwhile, fishermen belonging to Rameshwaram, 600 km south of here, are on an indefinite strike to demand removal of floating mines in the expanse of water separating India from Sri Lanka.

Fishermen's associations have threatened to block roads from Feb 1 if their charter of demands, including for immediate release of 12 of their comrades allegedly held by the Sri Lankan navy, is not met

Read more,
http://newspostindia.com/report-33407

Twelve fishermen held by Lankan Navy

As many as 12 Indian fishermen were on Tuesday arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly entering the country's territorial waters near Kachathivu, state fisheries department officials said.

The fishermen were later remanded to police custody by the Judicial Magistrate at Oorkaval near Kangesanthurai in the island nation, the officials said.

Three boats used by the fishermen were also seized by the Navy.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy also took into custody 48 fishermen from Rameswaram who had attempted to cross to the Sri Lankan waters on Tuesday and handed them over to the Fisheries department officials. The licence of 12 boats and their diesel quota have been cancelled, officials said.

Indian Navy had detained 12 other fishermen belonging to Rameswaram on Monday, along with their mechanised boat.

Read more,
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200801221717.htm

Sri Lanka to release 97 Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the release of 97 Indian fishermen who were detained by the Lankan Navy for allegedly straying into the waters of the island nation, Tamil Nadu Government said today.

"It is learnt from the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai that the President has ordered the release of detained fishermen from Nagapattinam district. This has been made possible due to the timely intervention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi," an official release said. The fishermen were expected to be released immediately, the release added.

Read more,
http://news.indiainfo.com/2007/11/04/071104165

Sri Lanka warns Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan government has warned Indian fishermen from crossing the international maritime border line. Media reports quoting officials said the warning, which would be effective from Monday, had been sent to the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

The fishermen, who cross international maritime border and enter Sri Lankan area would be arrested and their boats seized, Sri Lanka warned.

In the meanwhile, the Indian Navy is in a process of installing seven state-of-the-art radars along Tamil Nadu’s eastern coast to monitor movement of boats and to prevent Indian fishermen crossing into Sri Lankan territory.

Media reports quoting Commander of the Indian Naval Detachment, Rathode Mukherjee

said the radars bought from the UK were capable of detecting even a small rowing boat in the sea.

Extracted from,
http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12753&Itemid=2