India can fish in Sri Lankan waters
By establishing traditional rights through ICJ says
Ramdoss:
India can establish the traditional rights of its fishermen to fish
in the Bay of Bengal, including inside Sri Lankan waters, by approaching
the International Court of Justice, said PMK founder S. Ramadoss on
Saturday.
In a statement issued here, Ramadoss said as per international laws
traditional rights are legally enforceable.
Indian fishermen have a traditional right to fish in the Bay of
Bengal between India and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan President or Prime
Minister cannot refuse the right if India stresses on it, Ramadoss said.
"It is painful that the Indian Government is not doing that. This
right could be established by approaching the International Court of
Justice," he said.
Ramadoss said the Indian Government should take drastic action
against Sri Lanka to secure the legal fishing rights of its fishermen.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena recently said the navy has
been instructed to arrest those who are fishing in Sri Lankan waters and
confiscate their boats.
His statement comes after Indian fishermen had asked permission to
fish in Sri Lankan waters for 83 days in a year at the bilateral talks
held between the fishermen associations of the two countries here.
Citing this, Ramadoss said the Sri Lankan government has turned down
the Indian fishermen's request.
He said on Friday night 33 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri
Lankan navy while fishing in the Bay of Bengal.
Ramadoss said like Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters,
fishermen from Sri Lanka too enter Indian waters.
- (IANS)
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