Mechanised boat fishermen to go on strike from tomorrow

Mechanised boat fishermen of the region would go on an indefinite strike from tomorrow pressing their demands, including steps to secure the release of 27 of their colleagues detained in Sri Lanka.
Around 1,500 mechanised boats from Rameswaram and neighbouring Pamban and Mandapam would stay off the sea from tomorrow, as decided at a recent meeting, Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised Boat Association President P Sesuraja said here today.
He said the state and central government should take necessary steps to secure the release of the fishermen and their 79 boats held by the Sri Lankan government.
The association also wanted suitable compensation for 18 boats allegedly sunk by Sri Lankan Navy in the sea, he told PTI here.

Besides, he said the central government should take necessary steps to allow them to fish in their traditional area.
Sesuraja said if the government failed to meet their demands, the mechanised boat fishermen would intensify their stir and stage a demonstration in front of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai on February 29, in which fishermen organisations of eight districts would participate.