War-affected fishermen’s coastal access blocked by tourist business
Tamil fishermen affected by war are facing a new crisis as their access to the Mullaitivu sea is blocked by barbed wire fencing erected by a hotelier.
Over 175 fishermen in the Deo Nagar area are facing an uncertain future as their access to the sea for over 50 years has been blocked by a Canada based businessman who owns land along the coast. These fishermen for generations have thrived along the Wanni sea coast for their livelihood. The entrepreneur from Ontario plans to construct a tourist hotel and spa on the beachfront.
According to local journalists, local government authorities have now assured to sort out the issues faced by the fishermen so they can carry on their fishing without any hindrance. Officials have said a temporary arrangement will be made until a lasting solution is found to the issue.
The Deo Nagar fishermen village under the jurisdiction of the the Maritimepattu Pradeshya Sabha was established due to the intervention of the former Archbishop of Jaffna Late Jacob Bastiyampillai Deogupillai in 1973. Since then fishermen have been using the 200-meter coastal route to the sea which belonged to the Bishop’s house.
However, in 2017 or 2018 that bit of land used as their route to the sea had been sold to Avalon Resort and Spa (Pvt) ltd. The company is owned by Canada based Charlesjanthan Antony, CEO of Canbe Foods Inc, of Ontario.
For the past six years, the fishermen have been facing hardship using the approach road- which is in the middle of the land- to the sea as it passed on to private hands.
As such the approach road used by the fishermen was blocked by the landlord on 26th May by erecting a fence across the road and gravel piled up alongside.
The fishermen who took action on the same day to remove the barrier across the road which they have been using for over five decades continued their protest overnight at the same place seeking the release of the road for their usage.
Local journalists also say this approach road was used to transport the catch.
On the 27th of May, a representative of the Karaithuraipatru Pradeshya sabha, Pradeshya sabha secretary, Grama Niladhari, and others held talks with the protesting fishermen and assured an early solution. The fishermen were also allowed temporarily to use the access route without any hindrance until a permanent solution is reached,-local journalists add.
The fishermen allege the hotelier who has blocked their way to the sea is threatening them apart from emphasizing his right to the sea coast. Photographs published online and on social media earlier shows Antony and his local agent in photographs with military top brass. Mullaitivu is Sri Lanka’s most militarized district.
Also, the landlord has issued a legal notice to the fishermen to remove the 21 boats lying on the coast says local villager Nagarasasa Sargunaraj. The 21 fishing boats belong to the 175 fishermen families who are fighting for their right to the approach road to the sea.
“They have served notice through the lawyer to remove the boats. They came here only 5 years ago, whereas we are here for 50 years. They are asking us to vacate the place as if we came after them. They are saying we can’t even erect small tents on the shore. That’s also banned. They threaten us saying it’s their land. Four of our boats had to relocate,” said Sargunaraj.
According to local journalists, since the businessman purchased the land from the Jaffna Bishop’s house, considerable sea erosion took place and now the landlord is claiming he has title to the current beach as well as submerged land beyond the shoreline.
On the 27th of May when officials of the Pradeshiya Sabha held talks with the fishers, former member of the Northern Province Thurairasa Raviharan questioned the officials about their policy. “If officials can intervene quickly to secure lands for the military, why can’t they find a quick solution to the livelihood issues faced by these fishermen, he asked.
“The District Secretariat or the Pradeshya sabha has to find a solution to these villagers in a due manner. They can act as government representatives and solve the issue. If the military wants land, you immediately secure it for them, for these people, even if it is private land why can’t you secure 100 or 200 meters of land for them? Right from the survey department officials if all the state machinery can act to secure land for the military, why can’t the same high officials come forward to solve people’s problems?”
Thurairasu Raviharan also warned that protests would escalate if they try to mislead the public and a solution as promised is not found at the earliest.
“A minor assurance has been given to the public. However, if they try to hoodwink, then the protest will be taken forward more vigorously”.
