INDIA TO RAISE THE FISHERMEN KILLING WITH SRI LANKA, SAYS FOREIGN SECRETARY
By ANIMonday, January 31, 2011
NATURAL WITH ENGLISH SPEECH
DURATION: 1.59
SOURCE: ANI
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NO ACCESS BBC
India to raise the fishermen killing with Sri Lanka, says Foreign Secretary.
India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao leaves for Colombo to take up the issue of recent killing of two Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.
SHOWS:
CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (JANUARY 30, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. EXTERIOR OF AIRPORT AT INDIA’S SOUTHERN CHENNAI
2. BOARD READING CHENNAI AIRPORT
3. AIRPORT BUILDING
4. POLICE PERSONNEL WITH INDIA’S FOREIGN SECRETARY, NIRUPAMA RAO
5. RAO GOING INSIDE AIRPORT TERMINAL
6. RAO COMING TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA
7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIRUPAMA RAO, INDIA’S FOREIGN SECREATRY, SAYING: “I have been asked by the government of India to go to Colombo to have meetings with the senior leadership and with the officials of the foreign ministry there to discuss the problems that have arisen recently in regard to our fishermen who have been the target of violence. Two precious lives have been lost recently. So this is a matter of very deep concern for India.”
8. RAO SPEAKIGN TO THE JOURNALIST
9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIRUPAMA RAO, INDIA’S FOREIGN SECREATRY, SAYING: “We must find viable solutions, as you know we have some mechanisms to discuss these matters with the Sri Lankan government. We have joint working group on fisheries and we propose also to conclude a memorandum of understanding in regard to contact and cooperation in this field. And also to address the issue of fishermen from each side who happen to cross the maritime boundary to fish on the other side. Obviously violence can never be a solution and innocent lives should not be targeted in this fashion.”
10. PASSENGERS COMING OUT OF THE AIRPORT
STORY India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Sunday (January 30) left for Colombo to take up the issue of recent killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.
Speaking to media persons before her departure from the airport in India’s southern Chennai city, Rao said she would convey New Delhi’s displeasure over the issue to the leadership in Sri Lanka.
“I have been asked by the government of India to go to Colombo to have meetings with the senior leadership and with the officials of the foreign ministry there to discuss the problems that have arisen recently in regard to our fishermen who have been the target of violence. Two precious lives have been lost recently. So this is a matter of very deep concern for India,” she said.
Protests erupted in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state after recent killings of two fishermen who strayed into Sri Lankan waters allegedly by the Lankan navy.
Though Sri Lanka has denied the role of its navy in the incident, but New Delhi has strongly taken up the issue with its island neighbour.
Rao said India is willing to sign a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka to address the fishermen issue.
“We must find viable solutions, as you know we have some mechanisms to discuss these matters with the Sri Lankan government. We have joint working group on fisheries and we propose also to conclude a memorandum of understanding in regard to contact and cooperation in this field. And also to address the issue of fishermen from each side who happen to cross the maritime boundary to fish on the other side. Obviously violence can never be a solution and innocent lives should not be targeted in this fashion,” said Rao.
On January 22, an Indian fisherman was killed in firing by the Sri Lankan Navy after his trawler allegedly entered into their territorial waters.
Another incident was reported on January 12, in which a Tamil fisherman was killed and two others injured after Sri Lankan Navy opened fire on them.
Similar incidents were reported last year when Indian fishermen complained that the Sri Lankan Navy was attacking them at sea when they accidentally strayed across maritime border.
