SLA fire injures Mandaitheevu fisherman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 July 2007, 12:52 GMT]
A fisherman fishing in Mandaitheevu seas inside the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) demarcated fishing zone near Mandaitheevu islet was shot and seriously injured when SLA soldiers stationed along Mandaitheevu shores opened fire indiscriminately on fishermen at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, fisheries sources in Jaffna said.

Sampanthan Yogendran, 34, from Chaavatkaadu, Aanaikkoaddai in Jaffna was seriously injured and was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Security Forces have previously accused fishermen of area for violating the SLA imposed area and curfew time limits.

Fisheries Union officials accused the SLA of firing indiscriminately on fishermen even during allocated fishing times and within 1 km from the shores, and said the seas are unsafe for fishermen in Kurunagar, Paasaiyoor and Mandaitheevu areas. The livelihood of thousands of fishermen trying to eke out a meagre living will be forced into economic ruin and poverty, union officials added.