From PP John, President, Kerala Swathanthra Malsyathozhilaly Federation (KSMTF)
A ‘Boat March’ from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapuram – with a slogan “Protect Sea, Coast, Inland water bodies and Fish Resources”
Dear friends,
While the crisis of fisheries sector is increasing day by day, the sea and the coast are being removed from the traditional fishing community slowly. The coastal areas are being invaded by the forces of tourism industry, real estate and other development sectors, displacing the traditional fishing community and now, these sensitive zones are being allotted to hazardous and polluting ship breaking yards.
The stands of all Governments which have come to rule one after another, on the foreign fishing vessels which wipe out the marine resources and destroy our ecology, have been unfortunately same with no difference. The community rights of the traditional fishing community are being removed one by one. Marine Protected Areas, Ban on fishing in the offshore area of depth 200 to 500 meters (Buffer zone), SEZ involving coast and the sea, ban of shark fishing and many other regulations are being imposed on the traditional fishing community in recent times. But at the same time, the governments have systematically failed to control the foreign fishing vessels which destroy our oceans resources.
In this context, the fishing community under the leadership of Kerala Swathanthra Malsyathozhilaly Federation (KSMTF) in association with NFF and ADSGAF is initiating a ‘Boat March’ from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapuram with a slogan “Protect Sea, Coast, Inland water bodies and Fish Resources”. The march will start from Mangalore on November 21st on the International Fish workers’ Day and it will be inaugurated at 10.30 am by Medha Patkar. Public meetings will be held at all fish landing centers and fishing harbours on the route from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapuram. The Boat March will reach at Shangumugham beach, Thiruvananthapuram on November 30th at 6 pm. Many social, cultural, environmental, political and trade union activists will join this programme.
We cordially invite you to attend this important programme. Since the proposed programme is expected to incur major expenses, we would also request you to contribute whatever you can towards the expenses of the march.
In solidarity,
PP John, President, Kerala Swathanthra Malsyathozhilaly Federation (KSMTF)
Jackson Pollayil, General Secretary, Kerala Swathanthra Malsyathozhilaly Federation (KSMTF)
T. Peter, National Secretary, National Fishworkers Forum (NFF)
The address for sending the contributions: ALAKAL Fortnightly, A/C No: 020051 000800102, IFSC : IBKL 0046 T 01, Bank : The Thiruvananthapuram District Co-operative Bank, Branch : Puthanchantha, Thiruvananthapuram.
Boat March
21st November 2014(Friday) : 10am – Mangalore (Inauguration :Medha Patkar), 4pm – Kasargode Kasba Beach, 6pm – Neeleswaram – Madakkara (Stay)
22nd November 2014 (Saturday) : 11am – Kannur- Azheekal, 2pm -Thalasherry Thalai, 6pm – Mahe (Stay)
23rd November 2014 (Sunday) : 10am – Kozhikode – Chombala,12am -Koylandi, 4pm – Puthiyappa, 6pm – Beypure (Stay)
24th November 2014 (Monday) : 10am – Malppuram – Prappanangadi, 12am- Thanur, 6pm – Ponnani (Stay)
25th November 2014 (Tuesday) : 10am – Thrissur – Chettuva, 4pm -Azhikkode, 6pm – Munambam (Stay)
26th November 2014 (Wednesday): 10am – Ernakulam – Vypin, 11am -Kalamukku(Haurber), 12am – Thoppumpadi Haurber, 6pm – Chellanam (Stay)
27th November 2014 (Thursday) : 11am -Alappuzha -Ottamasherry, 3pm-Punnapra, 6pm-Kayamkulam (Stay)
28th November 2014 (Friday) : 10am – Kollam – Kochuthuruthuv(Ashtamudi), 2pm – Padappakkara, 5pm – Perumon – Mundakkal (Stay)
29th November 2014 (Saturday) : 10am-Neendakara, 12am-Shakthikulangara, 6pm-Thangasherry-Vadi (Stay)
30th November 2014 (Sunday) : 11am – Thiruvananthapuram – Anchuthengu, 4pm – Shanghumugham Beach – Public Meeting – Com. V.S.Achuthanandan, Prof.K.V.Thomas MP(Former minister), Com.Panniyan Raveendran,Shri.V.Muraleedharan, Shri.M.Ilango,Shri.S.P.Udayakumar, Fr.Eugene H.Pereira etc.will address the public meeting.