<p>The Tamil Nadu government has been dilly-dallying on a proposal to hold a meeting between the representatives of fishing communities of the state and Sri Lanka, notwithstanding the frequent uproar over the arrest of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The All India Anna Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government in Tamil Nadu has been sitting on the Centre’s proposal for facilitating a meeting between the leaders of the fishermen of India and Sri Lanka since early this year. The idea to facilitate such a meeting was conceived several months ago as both Colombo and New Delhi agreed to facilitate consultations among the fisher-folk themselves to help find a way to end the conflict over depleting marine resources in Palk Strait.<br /><br />Jayalalitha has been blaming the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre for not doing enough for the Tamil Nadu fishermen being caught and harassed by the Sri Lankan navy personnel. She dashed off her latest letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue earlier this month after about 140 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. <br /><br />The chief minister urged the prime minister to take “immediate strong diplomatic initiatives, including intervention at the highest level”.<br /><br />She also urged the prime minister to get the Ministry of External Affairs summon the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India and lodge a strong protest.<br /><br />Sources, however, told Deccan Herald that the Tamil Nadu Government itself had not yet acted upon its promise to have a meeting between the representatives of the fishing communities of India and Sri Lanka by the end of this year. Jayalalitha, herself, had written to the prime minister last month, stating that her government would facilitate such a meeting between leaders of the fishermen of the two countries in December. But, with just a few days to go before the month ends, both New Delhi and Colombo are understood to be worried if the meeting would really take place before December 31.<br /><br />The Centre has been prodding Tamil Nadu to facilitate the meeting as it would not only enhance understanding between the fishing communities of both countries, but would also serve as a basis for finding a solution to the conflict.<br /><br />New Delhi and Colombo, according to the sources, are keenly waiting for the meeting between the representatives of fishermen of both countries as its outcome would be used as inputs for discussions when the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries would meet.<br /><br />Colombo claims that its navy arrests fishermen from Tamil Nadu only when they illegally enter the Sri Lankan waters – a claim, which New Delhi too endorses.<br /><br />Sri Lankan fishermen – mostly Tamils from the Northern Province of island nation – started returning to the sea only after the government eased restrictions on fishing following the 2002 truce deal with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. <br /><br />After the conflict ended with the final crackdown on the LTTE in 2009, Sri Lankan fishermen came to the sea in large numbers, but only to find tough competition from the fisher-folks of Tamil Nadu, who often cross the International Maritime Boundary Line in pursuit of livelihood.</p>
<p>The Tamil Nadu government has been dilly-dallying on a proposal to hold a meeting between the representatives of fishing communities of the state and Sri Lanka, notwithstanding the frequent uproar over the arrest of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The All India Anna Dravida Munnethra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government in Tamil Nadu has been sitting on the Centre’s proposal for facilitating a meeting between the leaders of the fishermen of India and Sri Lanka since early this year. The idea to facilitate such a meeting was conceived several months ago as both Colombo and New Delhi agreed to facilitate consultations among the fisher-folk themselves to help find a way to end the conflict over depleting marine resources in Palk Strait.<br /><br />Jayalalitha has been blaming the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre for not doing enough for the Tamil Nadu fishermen being caught and harassed by the Sri Lankan navy personnel. She dashed off her latest letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue earlier this month after about 140 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. <br /><br />The chief minister urged the prime minister to take “immediate strong diplomatic initiatives, including intervention at the highest level”.<br /><br />She also urged the prime minister to get the Ministry of External Affairs summon the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India and lodge a strong protest.<br /><br />Sources, however, told Deccan Herald that the Tamil Nadu Government itself had not yet acted upon its promise to have a meeting between the representatives of the fishing communities of India and Sri Lanka by the end of this year. Jayalalitha, herself, had written to the prime minister last month, stating that her government would facilitate such a meeting between leaders of the fishermen of the two countries in December. But, with just a few days to go before the month ends, both New Delhi and Colombo are understood to be worried if the meeting would really take place before December 31.<br /><br />The Centre has been prodding Tamil Nadu to facilitate the meeting as it would not only enhance understanding between the fishing communities of both countries, but would also serve as a basis for finding a solution to the conflict.<br /><br />New Delhi and Colombo, according to the sources, are keenly waiting for the meeting between the representatives of fishermen of both countries as its outcome would be used as inputs for discussions when the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries would meet.<br /><br />Colombo claims that its navy arrests fishermen from Tamil Nadu only when they illegally enter the Sri Lankan waters – a claim, which New Delhi too endorses.<br /><br />Sri Lankan fishermen – mostly Tamils from the Northern Province of island nation – started returning to the sea only after the government eased restrictions on fishing following the 2002 truce deal with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. <br /><br />After the conflict ended with the final crackdown on the LTTE in 2009, Sri Lankan fishermen came to the sea in large numbers, but only to find tough competition from the fisher-folks of Tamil Nadu, who often cross the International Maritime Boundary Line in pursuit of livelihood.</p>
