AIFFWF Demands Govt Intervention to Secure Release of Fishers
The All India Fishers and Fisheries Workers’ Federation (AIFFWF) has condemned the repeated arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. In yet another incident on October 8–9, 47 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were taken into custody in two separate operations, and five fishing boats were seized. These fishermen, ordinary working people from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam, and Karaikal, were not trespassers or criminals. They were out in the sea for their daily livelihood when the Sri Lankan Navy intercepted and detained them. Such arrests have become a routine affair, pushing entire coastal communities into fear and uncertainty.
“This is not just about boats, it’s about lives, families, and survival”, as the fishermen point out. With Deepavali approaching, dozens of families now sit in despair, waiting for news of their loved
ones, many of whom are the sole breadwinners of their homes.
AIFFWF has demanded that the Government of India and the Ministry of External Affairs
immediately:
1. Secure the release of all 47 arrested fishermen and their boats through urgent diplomatic efforts;
2. Engage with the Sri Lankan authorities to prevent further arrests and harassment; and
3. Initiate a permanent bilateral mechanism to protect traditional fishing rights and ensure peaceful livelihood in the Palk Bay.
The statement issued on October 10 by AIFFWF General Secretary Pulluvila Stanley underlines that fishermen have been treated as expendable victims of maritime disputes for too long. It reminds both governments that the sea is not a line of division, it is a shared source of life. The arrests must stop, and the fishers must return home safely and immediately.
