Asserting the need for coercive diplomacy to counter continuous attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, on Wednesday, urged for political intervention at the highest level to send a strong message to the island nation.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, released to the media here, Ms. Jayalalithaa said nine more Tamil Nadu fishermen had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy when they set sail from Nagapattinam base. This was the seventh such instance in three weeks and took the total number of fishermen currently in Sri Lankan custody to 87. The Chief Minister said the fishermen belong to the poorest sections and such incarceration gives severe mental agony and loss of livelihood to the families.

“The entire fishermen community in Tamil Nadu is greatly exercised over the repeated instances of apprehension of our innocent fishermen while fishing in their traditional fishing waters of Palk Bay,” she pointed out. Ms. Jayalalithaa called for “coercive” diplomacy to counter the continuous attacks effectively.

“The intervention should not only be at the diplomatic level but also at the highest political level. A strong message should be delivered to the Sri Lankan authorities that such unprovoked detention should stop herewith,” she said.

(The Hindu)