News
Friday, September 07, 2012
India, Pakistan appealed to free detained fishermen* Civil society organisations say both governments need to act on grievances of fishermen
KARACHI: The Pakistan Peace Coalition (PPC) on Thursday appealed to Foreign Minister (FM) Hina Rabbani Khar and her Indian counterpart to decide in their forthcoming meeting to release the arrested fishermen along with their boats.
Through a statement, the PPC also requested the two FMs to work out a plan of ‘no arrest policy’ or ‘release at sea’ for the traditional fishermen. Such efforts have been successfully done in many other parts of the world.
On the eve of the forthcoming meeting of Pakistani and Indian FMs in Islamabad, the PPC strongly endorsed the appeal, submitted to Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna by the National Fish Workers’ Forum (NFF), the Dialogue in Action (Unit of PSA), the Porbander Boat Owners’ Association and the Fisher Communities of Gujarat and Diu.
“We hope both foreign ministers would not disappoint the fisher folks of the two countries languishing in their prisons, and their impoverished and virtually orphaned families, who have big expectations from these peace talks during their meeting in Islamabad on September 8,” the statement read.
It also read the PPC regarded the appeal from the Indian fishermen as equally relevant and applicable to the Pakistani fishermen in Indian jails and their boats in Indian custody.
In a letter to Krishna, civil society organisations had pointed out the plight of fishermen of both countries who are the worst victims of the lack of normalcy and peace. “We feel there are certain positive developments since the resuming of the peace process in March 2011,” the letter read.
Since then, with joint hard work and the efforts of the judges’ committee, India and Pakistan have released sizeable number of fishermen from their custody. But, still there were around 100 arrested fishermen in each other’s custody. They too needed to be released unconditionally and immediately.
The letter also read it was for the first time in the history that coastguards of India and Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (MSA) met in Delhi in July.
According to an estimate, as many as 750 confiscated Indian boats were in the custody of Pakistan and around 120 Pakistani boats in Indian custody. These boats were owned by fishermen who are suffering as they have lost their source of livelihood.
The letter read, “We feel it is high time that both governments act on the grievances of fishermen, on an urgent priority. The governments have accepted their innocence,” adding, “The fishermen of Gujarat and Diu are suffering worst, as it is their boats, which are mostly captured. One boat takes care of the livelihood of about 100 fish workers, including dependents.” pr
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk