NAFSO and it's partner organizations, Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization and Negombo United Lagoon Fisher People's Organization in collaboration with Meepura News Paper, Right to Life Organization commemorated Human Rights Day at Negombo on 10 December.
“Negombo fisher people have been undergone serious threats due to the unacceptable, ill treatments by Navy, who guard the Negombo lagoon. They come to fishers all of sudden and order to vacate the place immediately. The reason behind is the President of SL or any other foreign state heads are flying over the Negombo lagoon as the International air port is just over the lagoon.
Kumari Fernando, a fisher activist of fishing communities, in the Negombo area related their story.
“We are poor Fishers in Negombo”
“We need to go to the Lagoon for our livelihood.”
“Lagoon is our only source of life”
“Do not harass us, treat us like human beings”
“We respect the security measures. But we need some sort of relief to vacate the lagoon and also the day they re-open the lagoon.”
Indrani Fernando a fisher woman shared their concerns at the gathering.
“The illegal fishing in the area is well known. But, when people attend to take legal action they were threatened and harassed. Last week there was an incident and our fisher leader was allegedly assaulted. We can not bear all these any more.”
Vincent Fernando, Activist of Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women organization shared his views of the event.
The group of people gathered at Pitipana fish market by 7.30 am and conducted the picket till 9.00 and also marched to the Negombo town.
Most of the participants are women and more than 300 participated the event.
Some of the fisheries representatives met the Assistant Director of Negombo Fisheries Office at Negombo and the HQI at Negombo Police station and handed over 2 memorandums.
\We had included two major demands at the Memorandums;
> Enforce the law against the destructive and illegal fishing operations according to the fisheries act No 2 of 1996.Also, respect the Supreme court order given on the 21st July 2009.
> Ensure the protection and safety of the fishers who do fishing operations at Negombo Lagoon. Also, ensure fair & just treatments to the fishers when the authorities and the Navy order them to leave the lagoon due to security reasons.
> Inform adequately when the security forces close the lagoon due to security of the state heads and also when they reopen the lagoon for fishing activities,
After submit the memorandum, Mr. Somasiri Liyanage, the HQI of the Negombo Police Station said.
“We will convene a meeting with both the Navy Officers and also Fisheries Officials to settle this issue amicably. We accept that the people should be treated well.”
Marcus Fernando, Chair person of Negombo lagoon Fisher People’s organization vowed that “ We will continue this struggle until we meet our demands. We can not go like this any further. We are living with the lagoon and we need an amicable solution for this immediately
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