Appeals fail, TN fishermen languish in Pak jail

Appeals fail, TN fishermen languish in Pak jail
V PREM SHANKER

CHENNAI, FEB 9: The 19 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, whose boats had allegedly drifted into Iran's territorial waters last February and who were since transferred to the custody of Pakistani authorities, are yet to be set free.

Despite repeated pleas and agitations by the families of the detained fishermen as well as some union groups and promises by Prime Minister Vajpayee to expedite their release, the fishermen are still languishing in the Karachi central prison.

Meanwhile, their families, with their main source of livelihood gone, are facing major problems. Debts and famine are plaguing the family of one of them. With no other choice before him, his 13-year-old son has dropped out of school and taken to the seas to earn a living.

These fishermen from the coastal districts of TN were on contract with two Saudi Arabian agencies. After their boats allegedly drifted into Iran's territorial waters, the Iranian coast guard had arrested and detained them for over 100 days. They were then set free inBaluchistan. The then Pakistan Government is said to have taken these men into custody and detained them in Quetta prison. They were later transferred to the Karachi central prison on December 12. At least 15 of the fishermen are from the coastal villages of Kanyakumari. The Kanyakumari district chamber of the Fish Workers Union has given several calls to the state and the Central Government, asking them to arrange for the release of the fishermen.

TN Fish Workers Union state secretary Peter Doss told The Indian Express that agitations staged in Kanyakumari to bring the problem to the attention of the district administration and the state had proved to be futile. ``We were assured on several occasions that the fishermen would be released soon and that talks were on with the Pakistan prison authorities,'' Doss said.

He claimed that the Fisheries Minister had claimed the fishermen would be released within two weeks of the Indian High Commission meeting with the fishermen in the prison. ``From a letterwritten by one of the fishermen to his wife in Kanyakumari, it is known that Indian Embassy delegates met the fishermen in the Karachi prison on January 3 . But there is no news of their release yet,'' Doss said.

According to an earlier letter, the fishermen had no idea why they were being imprisoned or when they were to be released. A letter written by G Ronimus, one of the detained fishermen of Kanyakumari district, to his wife Carolina said that they were being detained in a ``bandh'' prison in Karachi.

A recent letter from the inmates said that about 75 fishermen from Gujarat had been detained in the same prison along with the TN fishermen for having allegedly trespassing into Pakistan's territorial waters. The letter said that these fishermen were released three days later.

``The Gujarat government had earlier taken interest and pressed the Indian Embassy to take necessary measures for the fishermen's release. But the fishermen are yet to be set free'' Doss added. Sources said the PM had visitedthe families of the fishermen in Kanyakumari district during his election campaign in the district last year and had reportedly promised to expedite action in favour of the imprisoned fishermen.

The TN Fish Workers Union has also reportedly contacted several foreign agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to intervene in the issue. However, the response from most agencies has been negative, claiming that they had no authority to intervene in the issue.