Boloor of Fishermen Forum of India demands a stop to harassing fishermen

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 12, 2016: Vasudev Boloor, vice-chairperson of National Fisher Workers Forum, hailing from DK represented India at the coordination committee of WFFP,  World Forum of Fisher People, which met in Bangkok from April 22 to 29, which urged Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka governments to give up the practice of arresting, harassing or killing innocent fishermen when they cross the International Maritime Boundary Line. The intention of fishermen is just to fish for their livelihood and not in anti-social activities.

The committee discussed issues concerning the fishermen community, said Vasudev Boloor, vice-chairperson of National Fisher Workers Forum. Muhammad Ali Shah from Pakistan presided over the committee meeting. The committee was of the view that if at all fishermen cross the international maritime boundary line, it is just for fishing. Hence, the maritime enforcement agencies of South Asian countries should desist from arresting them, he said.

Article 73 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea states that neighbouring countries should neither arrest nor punish fishermen during fishing.

Noting that this rule should also apply to South Asian countries, as well, Vasudev said the committee has urged organisational bodies/specialised agencies of the UN system under UNCLOS to take immediate steps to release fishermen who have been detained and also not to arrest them in future.

The committee also resolved to take up the matter with respective national governments as well as the United Nations Human Rights Commission. The WFFP also urged the governments to take up the issue at the upcoming SAARC heads of governments’ meeting to be held in Pakistan in November 2016 to find out a permanent solution to the issue. The SAARC foreign ministers also should take this issue forward for discussion and recommend better solutions, he said.