Rameswaram fishermen plan series of protests from September 2

Rameswaram (TN), Aug 31 (PTI) The fishermen here todayannounced a series of agitations from September 2 pressingtheir charter of demands, including release of four of theircolleagues and boats detained in Sri Lanka. A resolution to this effect was adopted at a meeting ofvarious fishermen’s associations here, president of HarbourMechanised Boat Fishermen’s Association P Devadass toldreporters. He said the fishermen would stand in neck-deep water in’agnitheertham’ (the sea here) and stage a demonstration onSeptember 2. They would launch an indefinite fast from September 12. The fishermen demanded restoration of their traditionalrights to fish in the Palk Strait. Besides, they sought compensation from the Sri Lankangovernment for damage caused to their boats due to idleanchoring. The fishermen from the island town had resumed fishingoperations only on August 3 following a week-long protestafter Sri Lanka set 77 of their colleagues free. It, however,refused to release more than 100 seized boats belonging to thefishermen from Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, four fishermen from Pudukottai were arrestedearlier this month. On August 8, the Tamil Nadu government had informed thestate Assembly that retrieval of Katchatheevu, ceded to SriLanka in the 1970s, and restoration of traditional fishingrights of the fishermen in the Palk Bay area were its topmostagenda. PTI CORR SSN ROH VSRCDK