Sri Lanka alerts Australian coastguard:

High drama on the high seas

By Manjula FERNANDO

Stabbed and dumped in the sea : Sujeewa being helped by Sailors

The house of missing 18 year old

The police seized the dinghy boat and the three-wheeler used to transport armed men

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met the representatives of the fishing community in Kudawella including the owner of the stolen boat Chesinka Shyamalee at Calton residence yesterday where he promised speedy action to search for the stolen boat and the missing people.

Sri Lanka Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel, Jayasagara brought the two fishermen ashore on October 15 after they were rescued in the south eastern deep seas of Sri Lanka by two merchant vessels, MV Lusail and MV Edith Maersk. MV Lusail had deviated from its course to hand over the injured fisherman it had taken on board. The Navy said timely action taken by the two merchant vessels was commendable and had saved the lives of the fishermen. The ships handed over the rescued to SLNS Jayasagara to transfer them ashore for medical treatment. They were provided on-board emergency medical treatment by the sailors and brought to Galle Harbour and then taken to the Karapitiya Hospital.

An officer attached to the Matara Police said the Australian Coastguard was alerted on the missing trawler and if it reaches Australian waters it will be arrested on arrival. The police has so far arrested five people in connection with the case including the owner of the dinghy boat, the two crew men and a woman.

The assailants came in a small outboard motor boat in the thick of the night. Until the ruthless men stormed their trawler, the five fishermen had no idea of their evil intentions. They prayed for God's mercy to return home to their loved ones with a big fish harvest.

A brutal attack on fishermen at Kudawella, that left one seriously injured, three missing without a trace for five days now, and a brand new Rs.10 million worth multi-day fishing trawler stolen, has left the country's fishing community dumbfounded.

It is the latest twist to the story of sending illegal immigrants to Australia. The crew of the trawler were attacked by knife wielding gangsters and thrown into the sea, and their boat seized allegedly to migrate to Australia.A community proud of their financial independence, with less burden on the state, is shocked, angered and rendered hopeless with fear. At sea, they have always braved the 'unknown' but the recent incident is not attributed to their traditional enemy.It is not the 'Mariyawa' (storm) or any other calamity related to the sea. It is the man who is driven by lust for money that has taken their peace of mind away.“We appeal to the State to intervene and give us an assurance that our boats and men will be protected. After this incident I don't know what to do.

How are we going to feed our loved ones?, Roshan (27) of the ill fated boat 'Chejan', told the Sunday Observer after his miraculous escape from the brutal killers. Following this unexpected incident, boat owners are still jittery about sending their boats on fishing trips. Roshan was the most experienced fisherman in Chejan that ventured out to sea on October 14 on an ordinary fishing expedition.

Except for the skipper, Ajith Kumara, who was a newcomer, all the others – totalling five - were either friends, neighbours or relatives.According to Roshan their new boat sailed out from the Kudawella fisheries harbour, around 10 p.m. on Sunday. It was the boat's third fishing trip after the maiden trip some weeks ago.“We had barely gone two nautical miles, when skipper Ajith cut the engine. I asked him why we stopped the boat. He said a friend is on his way bringing him some beer cans. I protested and said we should continue.”

What unfolded next was like a scene out of a horror movie.As a seasoned fisherman, Roshan was particularly concerned as the boat owner had entrusted him with the new boat. The Skipper was a new guy and it was the first time they had him working on their boat although he had earlier worked for others in the village.

The boat owner had confidence in his new boat and besides, it was proven to be lucky in the earlier trips. Satisfied that everything was in order he looked at Roshan and said “Now everything is in your hands.”

When Ajith cut the engine and threatened the others to stand still, Roshan worried about the boat. The Skipper then turned off all lights. Almost at the same time, they heard a small boat approaching their trawler, and voices filled the air. It seemed the Skipper knew the men in the boat. There seemed to be 10-11 people in the dinghy boat.

As they boarded the trawler they started attacking the five crew members mercilessly. Roshan was dealt several blows by the men armed with 'galkatas' (handguns) and knives. When he collapsed, one pressed his neck to the floor with his leg. He struggled to breathe.

Later, the attack ceased and all of them were huddled up and tied with fishing rope with their hands to the back. The men said they wanted their trawler to go to Australia.

The drama continued till around 4 a. m. the next day.Meanwhile the kitchen helper, a man from the village whom everyone called mama was asked to cook some sausages as a 'bite' and the men sat down to have liquor.

As they got drunk they became boisterous, and threatened to slash their throats and dump the crew in the sea. The crew pleaded that they also wished to join in the Australia bound trip, in an attempt to save their lives.

A little later, they grabbed Sujeewa, 30, Roshan's cousin and slashed his stomach and his neck, and threw him off the boat. Roshan who was petrified jumped overboard, with his hands and legs still tied up. “I remember thinking death by drowning would be better than this,” he said.

Roshan recalls the men talking about a woman and kids among them. One of the men shouted to check if a child had fallen into the sea.

“At this point I understood skipper Ajith was one of them. They must have planned it for a long time. But I still can't understand why they wanted to kill us,” says Roshan who is still shaken by the terrible incident.Roshan had managed to untie himself in the water. As the sun came up he saw his cousin floating some distance away.

The two were rescued by two merchant vessels and handed over to a Navy Dvora boat. Sujeewa was in a critical state.The Sunday Observer spoke to Roshan on the day Sujeewa returned home from hospital.

He was discharged earlier and had given a statement to the police.Roshan does not know if the three other men in the trawler were also thrown into the sea, or what became of them. It is still a mystery whether the men finally allowed the three to go to Australia with them.

The Police have so far arrested four men and a woman in connection with the case. The owner of the dinghy boat that was used to transport the gangsters, and an Airman are among them. A three wheeler that the men used to go to the Kudawella harbour has also been seized by the Police. Matara and Tangalle police are conducting investigations.

Shyamalee, the boat owner's wife whose uncle is the SouthernProvince Provincial Council, Fisheries Minister said the boat meant everything to them. They obtained a loan amounting to lakhs of rupees to buy Chejan. “I don't know how we can think of a future now,” she said.

One of the missing crew member Dulaj is an 18 year old, a cousin of Shyamalee. “What am I going to say to his parents. He is from a very poor family. Being the eldest he wanted to help his mother,” she said.

Dulaj's father, a fisherman himself returned on Thursday to hear the news of his missing son.

Their home fires remain unlit since last Sunday.A few days back, a multi-day trawler owned by the Tangalle mayor's brother was seized by a group of men at sea. No one was hurt then, as one of the crew dived and swam to the shore to alert the owners on time.

Shyamalee said a helicopter was sent in search of the boat which was recovered within two days. “We hope the authorities will take prompt action to apprehend the people behind this racket. We have not been a burden to anyone and that is all we ask,” she appealed.