Fishers from several
coastal districts came together to four corners of the country to commemorate slain
brother of fisher community in 2012 February 15th during a protest
against sudden increase of fuel price nearly 50% of existed price.
Antony was gunned down during protest against increased fuel price in 2012 02 15 (Photo JDS Srilanka blog)
Apart from commemoration
of slain fisher leader, all protesters had demanded 5 demands from the
government of Sri Lanka.
1. Decreases of fuel
price or establish a proper system for fuel subsidiary instead of fake Card
system which was stopped 8 months ago without notification.
2. Remove Chinese
Fishing vessels from Sri Lankan waters.
3. A proper system to
get released fishermen when they are got caught and prisoned in foreign countries.
4. Stop Indian poachers
in Sri Lankan water.
5. Stop land, water and
common resource grabbing and use them for the development of tourism sector and
secure tenure right of the people.
In North, Fishers from
Jaffna and Mannar, had planned to conduct a protest together in Doreiappa
ground in Jaffna, but the threats from security personals have prevented the
Mannar people joining with Jaffna fishers. About 100 People from Mannar have
been stopped on the way to Jaffna today (15th Feb) morning, instead of
giving up, mannar people who were in 2 buses to Jaffna, have conduct a
unplanned protest on the spot they were stopped.
People who were waited
to see their alliance from Mannar, have conduct a separate demonstration in
Jaffna as the situation getting worse for them too. Several leaders among the
protest organizers have been threaten by the security forces according to
information from North.
In East coast, about
750 fishers gathered to Arugambay near Pothuvil in Ampara District, have
conduct their demonstration in the morning today. Fisher community from
Trincomalee, Attachchena, Pothuvil and victims of land grabbing in Panama were
participated to the event. Except questioning of organizers by the security
personals, the demonstration have been carried out peacefully.
Fisher community in
South, have been gathered to Galle town in the morning hours and have conduct a
peaceful protest. Altogether, about 500 people from Kaluthara, Galle and
Mathara districts.
West coast protest was
successfully held in Chilaw, where the slain fisher leader was lived, about
1500 to 1700 people were participated to the event. A brief conference was held
prior to the protest demonstration.
Not only the Antony but
Jesumaruya kingsly who injured during same incident and removed his injured leg
to protect his life, killed himself by hanging on roof after 4 months of shooting
in Chilaw and also another 2 fishers who sacrificed their lives during previous
fisher community struggles to protect their rights naming, Somasiri Fernando
and Benet Fernado also commemorated in the event.
Fishing community from
Chilaw, Puthlam, Negombo together with inland fishers and farmers from
Polonnaruwa, and Kurunegala were participated to the Chilaw program.
After the conference,
people walked to Chilw town with placards and banners
A peaceful protest near
clock tower was ended with tension between police and protesters, after 3
police men with civil cloths were appeared among protesters holding 3 long
metal rods. There was about 30 min argument with police officers before the end
of protest, including highest ranked police officers in the area.
