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'300 Myanmarese fishermen in Andama
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'300 Myanmarese fishermen in Andaman prisons'
The Hindu (New Delhi)
December 17, 2000
By Our Staff Reporter
CHENNAI, DEC. 16. About 300 fishermen, who drifted from Myanmar, are in
various prisons and care homes in the eastern States of the country.
A majority are in the Andamans, said Mr. P.B. Chowdhury, the Myanmarese
Embassy representative who handles the issue. ``We have about 300 in
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Only recently we were able to secure
clearances for about 80 persons.
They have gone back. We are still waiting for clearances for the
remaining,'' he said. Once a ``plane-load of fishermen were ready with
the requisite clearances,'' Myanmar planned to operate a special flight
after securing permission.
Despite the improved relations between India and Myanmar, there were
still many problems in sending back `genuine' fishermen who landed in
Indian shores, Mr. Chowdhury told The Hindu.
The normal duration of `stay' for such groups of fishermen here was
about two to two-and-a-half years. ``The procedures take a long time to
settle, since it involves at least three Ministries here and the
cross-verification part in Myanmar,'' he said.
Since the main `drifters' are fishermen, the Fisheries Ministry comes
into the picture, once the primary legal issues are settled.
Then the Union Home Ministry has to clear them, after certifying them as
bona fide fishermen. After this, the Ministry of External Affairs has to
settle the immigration issues.
``Though the Overseas Indian's Organisation and the local immigration
authorities here have shown the way, this example is not followed in
other States and Andamans,'' Mr. Chowdhury said.
The Overseas Indian's Organisation, which takes care of fishermen who
drift into Tamil Nadu, had requested the Immigration Department in
Chennai to look into the Myanmarese fishermen's issue and clear them
from here itself.
``Clearances in Delhi take a long time since they have to go to various
Ministries. I am told that there are seen about 1,000 files of fishermen
from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka still
pending,'' says Mr. Gurumurthy, secretary, Overseas Indian's
Organisation, who plans to set up a centre in Chennai to deal with the
problem.
The northern-most part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is hardly
about 400 miles from the Myanmarese coast-line.
Till recently, there was no serious patrolling in these waters.
With the upgradation of security status of the islands following the
reported incidents of gun-running and other illegal activities, more
fishermen are being caught by the Indian security agencies and lodged in
prisons in the Islands.
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<b><font size=+2>'300 Myanmarese fishermen in Andaman prisons'</font></b>
<p>The Hindu (New Delhi)
<br>December 17, 2000
<p>By <b>Our Staff Reporter</b>
<p><b>CHENNAI, DEC. 16.</b> About 300 fishermen, who drifted from Myanmar,
are in various prisons and care homes in the eastern States of the country.
<p>A majority are in the Andamans, said Mr. P.B. Chowdhury, the Myanmarese
Embassy representative who handles the issue. ``We have about 300 in Andaman
and Nicobar Islands. Only recently we were able to secure clearances for
about 80 persons.
<p>They have gone back. We are still waiting for clearances for the remaining,''
he said. Once a ``plane-load of fishermen were ready with the requisite
clearances,'' Myanmar planned to operate a special flight after securing
permission.
<p>Despite the improved relations between India and Myanmar, there were
still many problems in sending back `genuine' fishermen who landed in Indian
shores, Mr. Chowdhury told The Hindu.
<p>The normal duration of `stay' for such groups of fishermen here was
about two to two-and-a-half years. ``The procedures take a long time to
settle, since it involves at least three Ministries here and the cross-verification
part in Myanmar,'' he said.
<p>Since the main `drifters' are fishermen, the Fisheries Ministry comes
into the picture, once the primary legal issues are settled.
<p>Then the Union Home Ministry has to clear them, after certifying them
as bona fide fishermen. After this, the Ministry of External Affairs has
to settle the immigration issues.
<p>``Though the Overseas Indian's Organisation and the local immigration
authorities here have shown the way, this example is not followed in other
States and Andamans,'' Mr. Chowdhury said.
<p>The Overseas Indian's Organisation, which takes care of fishermen who
drift into Tamil Nadu, had requested the Immigration Department in Chennai
to look into the Myanmarese fishermen's issue and clear them from here
itself.
<p>``Clearances in Delhi take a long time since they have to go to various
Ministries. I am told that there are seen about 1,000 files of fishermen
from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka still pending,''
says Mr. Gurumurthy, secretary, Overseas Indian's Organisation, who plans
to set up a centre in Chennai to deal with the problem.
<p>The northern-most part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is hardly
about 400 miles from the Myanmarese coast-line.
<p>Till recently, there was no serious patrolling in these waters.
<p>With the upgradation of security status of the islands following the
reported incidents of gun-running and other illegal activities, more fishermen
are being caught by the Indian security agencies and lodged in prisons
in the Islands.
<br>
<br> </html>
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