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Katchatheevu – Concern over Sri Lankan construction of a tower |
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Serious concern was expressed in political circles in Tamil Nadu and maritime security agencies in Rameshwaram over alleged construction said to be carried out for Sri Lankan naval use in Katchatheevu islet in the Palk Strait. The island had been ceded by India to Sri Lanka during the Indira Gandhi Government in 1974 in the face of strong opposition by Tamil Nadu. The matter was raised in the Tamil Nadu Assembly while the Coast Guard sent a ship to the area to check reports about the construction of a lighthouse-like structure. However, it found no traces of the construction activity and the Sri Lankan Government also issued a statement strongly denying the reports. Coast Guard officials said there was no building there except Anthoniyar Church which was constructed by an Indian several years ago where fishermen from India go every year for festivities.
The reports of construction came to light after some Indian fishermen, reportedly caught by Sri Lankan Navy and later deported to India, informed officials back home that they were used as labourers by the former. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Karunanidhi wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging that India should verify the “unilateral action” of the Sri Lankan Government to set up a military base in Katchatheevu. In a statement last Friday, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry denied that the Government was constructing a watch tower or have any military presence on the island. The statement denied harassment to Indian fishermen and said the malicious allegations have been orchestrated by parties with vested interests in order to damage friendly relations between India and Sri Lanka.
The issue was raised in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with Opposition members alleging that Sri Lanka had constructed a lighthouse-like structure on the island. The Opposition AIADMK accused Karunanidhi of rushing to New Delhi to have his kin inducted into the Central Cabinet with chosen portfolios, but ignoring military constructions on the Katchatheevu islet and the harassment of Indian fishermen going near the islet for fishing by the Sri Lankan Navy in contravention of the 1974 agreement under which they were allowed to fish around the island ceded by India to Sri Lanka. Replying to the charges in the Assembly, Karunanidhi said the DMK Government was strongly opposed to the ceding of Katchatheevu. Yet it was given to Sri Lanka. Even then, on the insistence of the DMK Government, clauses that provided for fishing rights, permission to visit the islet on pilgrimage and drying of nets were included in the 1974 agreement. However, the clauses were removed during the emergency when there was no popular government in the State, he said.
Political observers say, for chauvinistic elements in Tamil Nadu, Katchatheevu has become an expression by proxy of bitter resentment against the elimination of the LTTE as a military force. Whether it is Katchatheevu or the Sethusamundra Shipping Canal Project, these elements instinctively find a new line they think can hurt Sri Lanka the most. There can be no question of India dishonouring the treaties on International Maritime Boundary Line [IMBL], signed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries and laid before Parliament. India and Sri Lanka have set up a Joint Working Group to go into issues relating to straying Indian fishermen, the prevention of use of force by the Sri Lankan Navy, the release of arrested fishermen and the return of confiscated boats. There must be a sincere attempt to make the JWG arrangement work. Whipping up emotions on proxy issues is surely no way to help either Indian fishermen or Sri Lankan Tamils, observers say.
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