Jaffna fishermen oppose SLA issued ID cards

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 May 2005, 17:42 GMT]
Ten thousand member strong Jaffna District Fishermen Co-operative Unions' Federation (JDFCUF) in a memorandum to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) protested against Sri Lanka Army's (SLA's) decision to issue special identity cards to their members. The JDFCUF urged its members to refrain from obtaining special identity cards from the SLA, sources said.

The JDFCUF pointed out to the SLMM that fishermen in the district already have two identity cards, one given by Divisional Secretary and the other by Department of Fisheries, the memorandum said.

"SLA has now taken steps to issue third special identity card to Jaffna fishermen. The new card is unnecessary, increases the burden on the fishermen and violates individual freedom," said the memorandum.

JDFCUF Board recently met and took a decision to appeal to the authorities to do away with SLA-issued identity card, the memorandum to the SLMM said.