The fishing row between
India and Sri Lanka is not only effecting bilateral relations between the two
countries but taking its toll on the poor who have no alternate means of
livelihood. Finding a long term solution that benefits all has to address the
humanitarian aspect of the issue soon
Fishing is a popular means of livelihood in parts of India and Sri Lanka due to rampant poverty and lack of other available skills. But many fishermen have also inherited the profession from their forefathers and proudly claim it as being in their blood and an essential part of their identity. Hence, anything that is perceived as a threat to either their survival or to their sense of self is naturally deemed personal.
This fishing dispute between India and Sri Lanka in
the deep sea area has been highly charged for the past many years due to a
number of factors. The
main reason revolves around the ownership status of the small island in the
Palk Bay area, called Katchatheevu. According
to some reports, through the 1974 agreement India and Sri Lanka had agreed on a
maritime boundary in which India had ceded the Island’s rights to Sri Lanka and
negotiated away fishing rights for their own fishermen. However, the Indian
side argues that the wording of the agreement has been manipulated by the Sri
Lankan authorities and their fishermen are being denied even their legitimate
rights of fishing in the area.
Historically,
Indian Tamil fishermen had faced no issues fishing near the island, and many times
they would go into the Sri Lankan waters. That wasn’t appreciated by the Sri
Lankan side, but no serious repercussions followed except issuance of warnings.
However, when the civil war began in
1983, it complicated things for the Sri Lankan Navy trying to keep up with the
demands of the fight against the insurgents, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE). Any connection between the Indian Tamils and the LTTE was
vehemently denied by the Indian side, but the fact that ethnically Tamils of
India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu have close ethnic and cultural ties to
Tamils in Sri Lanka, it was easy to suspect they had a hand in providing
material support and fuelling the insurgency.
It
became increasingly hard for the Sri Lankan Navy to distinguish between regular
fishing boats and those boats that were being used for smuggling weapons and
other goods for Sri Lankan Tamil militants, and they ended up putting complete fishing
restrictions on their own fishermen. The Indian boats however continued to fish
in the area, and were often caught in the cross fire resulting in serious rifts
and tension between the two countries. Despite humanitarian crisis rising from
this situation, the Indian boats were blamed for bringing it upon themselves by
illegally crossing the international boundary.
A New York Times article quoted Sugeeswara Senadhira, consul general at
the Sri Lankan Embassy in New Delhi, asserting that it was inevitable because
“They cannot fish around the island.”
According
to some media reports, over a period of 25 to 30 years, some 100 Indian
fishermen have died and many beaten and their boats and catch confiscated.
However, according to the version given by the Sri Lankan side, when the
numbers of those hurt are placed against those that continue to venture out to
the Sri Lankan waters, the percentage remains small as the Indian trawlers have
used the waters exclusively for years. The anger though has built among the
Indian Tamils, and they have attacked Sri Lankan pilgrims in retaliation.
When
the Sri Lankan fishermen finally resumed some fishing activities during the
ceasefire from 2002-2004, they resented the threat to their livelihood from over
fishing of Indian trawlers which had caused reduction of fish supply. For years
the Indian side had exploited the lack of competition and opportunity to cross
over and fish deep into the Lankan waters with an expanded fleet. Then, after
the end of civil war in 2009, again as the small Sri Lankan fishermen returned
in large numbers they found the Indian trawlers to be a hindrance to their
survival.
On
the other hand a similar dilemma and humanitarian crisis unfolded on the Indian
side. Sri Lankan multi-day fishing boats had been fishing deep into the Indian
waters and causing similar danger to fish population, while small fishermen son
the Indian side uffered. A New York Times article reported the plight of
fishermen in Vellapallam, the eastern state
of Tamil Nadu, India. Fishing is practically the only
livelihood available to the locals and fishermen complain of harassment by the
Sri Lankan Navy and struggle with finding alternate means of livelihood. Nearly
all of the village fishermen use small boats and not the big trawlers.
The
previous unofficial arrangement of letting small boats go unharmed seems to
have changed now and if caught, these small boat fishermen from both sides receive
harsh treatment with their equipment and catch confiscated by the Indian or Sri
Lankan Forces and sometimes fishermen are even kidnapped. A bilateral agreement
between the two countries prohibits such treatment, but as things tense up, the
small boats are not spared and face grim fates.
It
is clear that grievances exist on both sides. Finding a long term solution that
benefits all concerned has to be based on recognizing the humanitarian aspect
of it than simply settling scores. Now that the LTTE insurgency is over and the
security issue is no more, small boats managed by poor fishermen who only want
to fulfill needs of their families must be given their livelihood back. What
needs to be seriously looked into is the issue of trawlers and multi-day
fishing boats that are depleting fish populations in the area.
It
would be a good idea for the two countries to start genuine dialogue with some
kind of resolution to the boundary issue in mind, and leading to a workable joint
arrangement with mutual consultation for small fishermen based on managing
fishing populations. A process aimed at finding a solution and not merely a
political victory for either country can go a long way towards peace in the
region.
SouthAsia Magazine, October, 2012.
