Tamil refugee-free week declared

By Our Staff Reporter

RAMANATHAPURAM, MAY 18. The Indian Navy has declared `Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee-Free Week' following the non-arrival of refugees since May 10. The last to arrive, on May 9, were 12 stranded Tamil refugees who were rescued by local fishermen from the sixth island of Sri Lanka.

The naval marine commandos started undertaking regular patrols at the Lands end from March 10. A forward observation post was set up on April 11 in Arichalmunai near Dhanuskodi. Despite the fall of Elephant Pass on April 22 and the proclamation of emergency in Sri Lanka, there has been no exodus of refugees as vigil has been stepped up in the coastal areas of Ramanathapuram district. Keeping an eye on the illegal ferrying of refugees also yielded good results, asserted Lieutenant Commander Satish, Executive Officer, Naval Detachment, Rameswaram.

He told The Hindu on Thursday that despite strict vigilance of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard along the Indo-Sri Lankan International Border, a large number of refugees crossed into India in the past because of lack of vigil on the Sri Lankan side. As the distance between Thalaimannar to the Lands End was only 25 km, the refugees could cross over within one and a half hours.

But with the setting up of the forward observation post, the boatmen, ferrying the refugees, started dropping them on the sixth island in Sri Lankan territorial waters. This created problems as Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel could not cross the international border. When this was reported to the higher- ups, the Navy was given permission to open fire at fleeing boatmen. This brought the refugee arrival to a halt.

As the LTTE is advancing towards Jaffna, the Tamils who helped the Sri Lankan Army have also started moving towards Thalaimannar to move into the Indian territory, according to highly placed sources.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : We are willing to talk: Kadirgamar
Next     : Petro products price may be reviewed