SLN arrests 12 fishermen in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2008, 09:53 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy arrested Monday evening 12 fishermen fishing in Jaffna lagoon for having gone beyond the distance specified by the SLN following the sudden curfew imposed Monday afternoon in the vicinity of the lagoon, within Jaffna Municipality area. The SLN detained the arrestees in their camps Monday night for interrogation and handed them Tuesday morning to Jaffna police.

250 fishing boats normally permitted by the Sri Lankan forces to fish in the lagoon daily was cut down to less than 40 for each of the Kozhumpuththu’rai, Paasaiyoor and Kurunakar areas on Monday.

12 fishermen in 2 of the 40 boats allowed to fish were arrested Monday evening by the SLN for having gone beyond the specified distance.

The announcement of the curfew to be implemented from 5:00 p.m. Monday until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday in Kozhumpuththu’rai, Paasaiyoor and Kurunakar was made Monday noon through loud speakers fixed to three wheelers with the assistance of Fishermen’s Federation.