Indian Government "Justifies" Sri Lankan Navy Killing Tamil Nadu Fishermen
TAMIL TRIBUNE, December 2008 (ID. 2008-12-02)
Updated: September 2010
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Sri Lankan Navy has been attacking, shooting and killing Tamil Nadu fishermen for well over a decade. In spite of repeated pleas from Tamil Nadu State chief ministers to the Indian government and promises from Indian prime ministers, attacks, shootings and killings continue. Now senior Indian government officials say that Indian Navy and Coast Guard would not protect Tamil Nadu fishermen if the attacks take place in Sri Lankan waters. Of course, it is the words of Sri Lankan Navy officers versus Tamil Nadu fishermen, with no other witnesses. Indian officials seem to believe Sri Lanka all the time and justify the killings. In this article we present exact quotes from statements by an Indian Navy Commodore and the Indian External Affairs Minister (Foreign Minister).
1. Indian Navy Commodore P. E. Van Halteren
Indian Navy Commodore P. E. Van Halteren said in July 2008 that Sri Lankan Navy shootings/killings of Tamilnadu fishermen may be taking place when the fishermen sail too close to Sri Lankan maritime boundary.
Is the Commodore justifying the murder of over 250 Tamil Nadu fishermen in the past two years alone [Dinamani, July 18, 2008] because our fishermen went too close to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) or even cross that boundary? We know there is a civil war between majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils in Sri Lanka. That does not justify the killings of Tamil fishermen from the neighboring country. In February 2006 Indian Government registered diplomatic protest to Pakistan as soon as Pakistan Navy killed one north Indian fisherman (not 250, not 100, not 10, not 2, just one). No Indian Navy Commodore justified that killing on the assumption that that north Indian fisherman might have went too close to Pakistani maritime boundary.
Commodore Helteren added, "Our duty is to just check whether any boats or ships are involved in illegal activities. However, as an extra effort, we always warn our fishermen whenever they are very close to the boundary area."
We disagree. Indian military's primary duty is to protect Indian citizens. May be the Commodore thinks that Tamils and other South Indians are second-class citizens not deserving Indian Navy protection.
The Commodore makes it seem as if helping Tamilnadu fishermen is an extra effort he is providing as a favor to us. No. Protecting Tamil Nadu fishermen is his duty. We, along with other states, are paying his salary through taxes. It is our taxes that are paying for Navy warships.
Sri Lankan Navy has killed Tamil Nadu fishermen many dozens of times near Kachchativu where we have the right to go. In October 1999, Sri Lankan Navy came all the way to Tamil Nadu coast near Rameswaram and shot at and damaged houses. Are they not illegal activities? Where were the Indian Navy and Coastguard?
Commodore Helteren further added, "Sri Lankan Navy never crosses into our territory."
How is he so certain of it? Does the Indian Navy has independent means of knowing if any Sri Lankan Navy ship crosses the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL)? If that is the case, Indian Navy should also know if any Tamil Nadu fishermen cross the IMBL into Sri Lankan territory. If that is the case why was the Indian Navy not turning the fishermen back into our territory? Truth of the matter is, Indian Navy does not know if Sri Lankan Navy ships enter into Indian waters. The commodore whose is paycheck comes from TamilNadu taxes simply wants to absolve the Sri Lankan Navy and justify the killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen. Commodore Helteren owes an explanation how he could say that Sri Lankan Navy never cross into our territory.
Also, Indian Government told Tamil Nadu Government and fishermen in 1974 that the latter has the right to go to Kachchativu. Now any fisherman venturing near Kachchativu is shot at (and sometimes killed). Does the commodore has anything to say about that?
2. Indian Government External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna
Two years after Indian Navy Commodore P. E. Van Halteren's statement, on August 11, 2010, India's External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna told the Upper House of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha), "Government of India intends to give a protective cover to fishermen as long as they do not stray into Sri Lankan water." Unsaid, but implied, is that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard would not protect Tamil Nadu fishermen if they go into Sri Lankan waters. All that the Sri Lankan Navy has to say is that it attacked the fishermen in Sri Lankan waters. There are, and never would be, any third-party witnesses to the attacks in mid-sea (other than Sri Lankan Navy personnel and Tamil Nadu fishermen).
Also, the Indian External Affairs Minister seems to justify the violent attacks (including hundreds of killings) if they happened in Sri Lankan waters. If I go into my neighbor's property and pick a mango, does my neighbor have the right to beat me up or even kill me? Absolutely not. He may call the police and have me arrested. If he beats me, he would be the one police would arrest. If he kills me, he would be the one who would spend long years in prison. We would have no complaint if the Sri Lankan Navy arrests the fishermen and puts them on trial in Sri Lanka. When Sri Lankan fishermen stray into Indian waters, Indian Navy and Coast Guard arrest them. That is the right thing to do.
Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's implicit justification of Sri Lankan attacks on our fishermen in Sri Lankan waters (even if it is true) is deplorable. As we stated in Section 1 of this article, when Pakistani Navy killed a North Indian fisherman in February 2006, Indian Government acted immediately and registered diplomatic protest to Pakistan. That killing was not justified on the grounds that the north Indian fisherman was killed in Pakistani waters. No one asked Pakistan if the attack took place in Indian waters or Pakistani waters.
You will also notice that there is no criticism of Sri Lankan Navy either in Commodore Van Halteren's remarks or in External Affairs Minister Krishna's statement. These statements are signaling Sri Lankan Government that they have no need to fear Indian retaliation, financially, diplomatically or militarily. All that the Sri Lankan Navy has to say is that the attack took place on their side of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Since their own Indian government refuses to protect them and throws them at the mercy of Sri Lankan Navy, may God give a merciful heart to Sri Lankan naval officers. This is the prayer of this daughter of a fisherman.
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