Thiruvananthapuram:Ms. Medha Patker inaugurated the dharna conducted by the KSMTF in Thiruvananthapuram today. The dharna conducted by the KSMTF in response to the call by the National Fishworkers Forum(NFF), was held infront of the Account General’s Office in Trivandrum, was to protest against the move to implement the Swaminathan Committee’s Recommendations on costal zone management.

The Central government’s move to implement the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations is violating the laws of Costal Regulation Zone of 1991 and it will make spell a disaster to the fishing communities at large. These implications are totally ignored by the Central and State Governments. Medha also stated  that with the new recommendations the existing  traditional rights of the fishing communities will also be deprived. The main drawback of this report is that an area of 12 nautical
mile of the sea is also included  under the control of Costal Zone Management Programme, a move eagerly pushed by the Central Government. This move can be identified as an act to facilitate the profit needs of the commercial lobbies, violating the rights and privilages of the fishing community. Instead of supporting the fishing communities. Helping too Supporting the initiatives of the KSMTF to prevent the destruction coastal areas by the lobbies of tourism, industry and sand mining, Medha stated that the new recommendations will only help the commercial interests.  It is time now, she said,  to come together to fight for the rights and privilages of the fishing and farming communities. The Special Economic Zones are emerging  to evacuate the fishing communities from their  own lands. This invasion of the commercial interests to destroy the coastal areas must be strongly opposed by the entire fishing community, she said.  Medha appealed  to all concerned sections to come together to fight for this cause.

The KSMTF’ State President Mr.T. Peter , General secretary A Andrews, Mr.Devram Kanera of Narmada Bachave Andolan, Mr. Valeriyan Isaac, Mr. Anto Elias, Mr.J.P John,  S. Joseph, Ms. Freeska Kurishappan, Ms. Magline Peter, Mr. S. James, Mr. M.Ambrose, Ms. Elizabeth Antony, Mr.N.P Johnson of Plachimada Solidarity action committee, Mr. Eltho and Mr. Suresh George also spoke against the invasion of CMZ and SEZ.

The rally and demonstrations were let by Ms. Jancila Antony, Ms. Mable Nasiyans, Mr. Abdul Munaf, Mr. M.Alphonse Mr. T.Ouseph and Ms. Everesta John.