The Web Sri Lanka In Focus

Friday 1 February 2008

Anti-LTTE Jaya’s stir against Lankan navy

Even as most fishermen ended their days-old strike following the Tamil Nadu government's announcement that all 12 fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan navy had been released, the main Opposition party, the AIADMK, would protest against the Sri Lankan navy at the Rameswaram coast tomorrow.
Referring to the fishermen's arrest, party supremo Ms Jayalalitha said such incidents had become the norm now. The AIADMK leader, often portrayed as a Sinhalese supporter by Tamil nationalists here owing to her anti-LTTE stand, came down heavily on the Sri Lankan navy and said it was firing at fishermen frequently and had set up mines under the sea from Katchatheevu to Neduntheevu (islands near state coast), endangering the livelihood of fishermen.
“It had become customary for the Sri Lankan navy to arrest and attack Tamil Nadu fishermen and the complacent attitude of the state and Centre are to blame for it,” Ms Jayalalitha said. Though pro-LTTE leaders such as MDMK leader Mr Vaiko, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Mr Thol Thirumavalavan and Tamil nationalist leader Mr P Nedumaran, initially raised the issue of mines, anti-LTTE parties such as the AIADMK has joined issue only now as they can no longer ignore the growing anti-Lankan feeling of the fishermen.

Source: thestatesman.net