A contingent of more than 125 fishing vessels led by Sri Harekrishna Debnath,
Chairperson, National Fishworkers' Forum with three thousand fishermen are
anchored around Jambudwip ( an island in South West Bengal, India, on the Bay of
Bengal) for the 8th day today to establish their traditional rights to fishing
activities on the island. It is learnt that the forest guards have refused their
entry and the fishermen have started an indefinite squatting till they are not
allowed passage by the authorities.

Though the West Bengal Government has given the Ministry of Environment &
Forests its consent to allowing the fishermen to carry on their traditional
activity, the Ministry, the IG Forests and the Centrally Empowered Committee
(CEC) is unnecessary delaying any final decision on the issue. Now, it is being
heard that a Central team will visit Jambudwip to review the situation and then
only a final decision will be taken,

While 10,000 fishermen families are deprived of their livelihood for the last
two months and more than 3,000 fishermen are on an indefinite anchor-in braving
the chilly winter breeze of the Bay of Bengal, the mandarins in Delhi are
adopting delaying tactics.

Please sent protest faxes to Shri T R Balu, the Minister for Environment &
Forests (91 11 436-2222) and the IG Forests (91 11 436-3976) demanding speedy
action on the issue and expediting the move.
Yours in solidarity

S Lahiri
Delhi Forum