Writing to India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged India to demand the release of 10 Tamil Nadu fishermen from Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai who were detained by Sri Lanka’s Navy.
“This is the fifth such instance since June and these incidents continue unabated intimidating the fishermen and hampering their livelihoods”, Stalin wrote.
In his letter, he further urged for the release of all 94 boats taken into Sri Lanka’s custody. The Tamil fishermen who owned these boats were released on the condition that they should appear before the Sri Lankan court.
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— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) August 24, 2022
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MDMK general-secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko has claimed that over the past four decades, around 800 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been killed by the Sri Lankan Navy and has called for compensation for the slain fishermen’s families.
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The long-standing dispute over fishing rights has seen Eelam Tamils march through Mullaitivu earlier this month to demand an end to illegal fishing and support for an ongoing fuel crisis. In March, Eelam Tamil fishermen wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin seeking a “progressive” solution affecting the two Tamil fisherman communities on either side of the Palk Strait.