SLN fire injures Vadamaradchi fisherman

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 April 2006, 03:58 GMT]
"The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) harassment on fishermen in Northern waters has escalated in the last several weeks. Unprovoked attacks on the fishermen are forcing us to find ways to protect ourselves. The only way open for us is to seek the assistance from the Liberation Tigers," said James Venisles 41, who was injured when SLN troopers from Dvora gun boat fired at fishermen, fishing in the Kadaikadu sea in Vadamarachchi east Saturday 8 a.m.

James Venisles, the injured fisherman from Kadaikadau Mulliyan, after reporting the incident to Vadamarachchi east Fishermen Society Consortium and the LTTE, lodged his complaint with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLM) in Kilinochchi, said Fishermen Society officials.

James, a father of three, relating the incident said, "While we were fishing, the SLN approached our boat and we stood with our hand raised in fear. Even then they fired on us damaging my boat. They ordered us to cut loose our the fishing nets at once and return to the shore. I begged that the net was the only means of my livelihood but they forced me to cut loose the net at gunpoint. When I started the motor to sail away they fired at me causing injuries."

"The SLN harassment on fishermen has increased adding to the restrictions of the Sri Lanka Army. Now I have lost the only boat I had, and I cannot continue my trade. In the past we used to fish in waters ten sea miles from our shores but we cannot fish even four sea miles into the waters," complained James Venisles.