Need Experience Fisher Leaders at the negotiation table at Tamil Nadu, India

Lot of media attention being paid on the Indian- Sri Lankan fisheries dialogue to be held on 20th January. BBC Sandeshaya Sinhala service, the New Indian Express and local media station approached me about the fisheries news. I had to post some photographs to media of the previous fisheries discussion we engaged in 2010 August in India. So, the media is highly pay attention on these discussions. Justin Zoysa, the chairperson of Mannar district rural fisheries society has been announced first from fishing communities about this dialogue. Then Emeliyanu Pillai, the chairperson of Northern province fisheries cooperative federation had informed Jesudasan, my colleague that he is not clear about who are going to attend the discussions as they were not informed. Also, they do nothave any faith once the southern groups involve this on behalf of them and with out them there is no successful dialogue and consensus. Emelinus Pillai was a member of the delegation who went to India in August 2010, which was facilitated by NAFSO and SIFFS/ARIF. Also, Dr. Steve Creech, a ex-NAFSO staff shared with me the concerns of Mohommed Alam of Mannar District Fisheries Federation chairperson, a member of the northern province fisher people's alliance. He is also disturbed as there is no such invitation to the fisher leaders who were the main responsible people in the fisheries sector even during the time of LTTE controlled the area. It was NAFSO and Caritas engaged the dialogue in July 2004. This dialogue was futile as there was no follow up due to tsunami devastation in December 2004 and also the war which began in 2005. At the same time, NAFSO was instrumental to follow up discussions in August 2010, which NAFSO brought 25 people to India and launched dialogues from Rameshwaram to Nagapattinam, in Mallipattinam, Pudukottai, districts. Finally, we had 3 days dialogue with the fisher leaders who were come from those communities and arrived at an agreement, not to come to Sri Lankan waters after August 2011 and even they come to SL waters do not bring any destructive fishing gears, and only come 2 days per week etc. Mr.D.W.Pathorana, the Director General of Fisheries attended the final day discussions and received the agreement between SL fisher leaders and TN fisher leaders. However, the same agreement was totally rejected by the SL authorities saying they do not respect this type of agreement at all. However, fisheries minister Rajitha Senarathne agreed to come to India to receive the agreement as well as send two members from fisheries ministry to attend the dialogues there in India. Now, the same minister is bringing some fishermen to India to discuss the India-SL fisheries issues and come up with a solutions. We are awaiting to see the out come of the dialogue between Indian and SL fishermen coming 20th. But, our emphasis is to bring experienced fishermen to this dialogue who know the realities in the both the sides. We wish all the success on behalf of our fishermen who were the worst affected more than 25 years due to brutal war. We do hope our contributions will also be an important factor to success of the dialogue. Herman