Rights in Deep Water

Dr Suresh Mathew Dr Suresh Mathew
05 Dec 2022
The government’s promises on the fishers’ demands remain merely on paper. In the face of utter apathy of the authorities, the victims stare at a bleak and uncertain future.

The world witnessed one of the worst episodes of human rights violation when attacks were unleashed on hundreds of fisherfolk at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram in the southern tip of Kerala; and it happened barely two weeks before the Human Rights Day on December 10. 

The epicentre of violence was where the Adani Port is coming up, threatening the livelihood of tens of thousands of fishers. The port is showcased as a harbinger of development. But studies, reports, research and independent analysis by experts do not support this claim. They point to the perils to the coast and its sweeping adverse impact on the life of those who solely depend on it. The argument on development is a story mired in controversies.

Shrinking coastline is no more a tale told by vested interests. It has become a reality, sounding a death knell for the fishers whose life solely depends on the vast coast and the sea. In several places in and around the affected areas, as reports say, the coast has been eroded drastically, reducing it to a shadow of what it used to be. Those displaced due to the project are living in pigeonhole-like accommodation in cement godowns. Their rehabilitation is nowhere in sight. The government’s promises on the fishers’ demands remain merely on paper. In the face of utter apathy of the authorities, the victims stare at a bleak and uncertain future.
 
No words are enough to condemn the brashness of the government and some political parties branding the sons of the sea as terrorists and anti-nationals. Those who were praised as the saviours and angels, for their rescue operation in the food-hit regions of the State, have overnight become anti-nationals and their movement for survival is termed as treason and sedition. 

Equally deplorable is the attempt to give a communal colour to their struggle for survival. It is unacceptable to look at the children of sea through the prism of caste, creed or religion. The government has stooped to unfathomable depth by registering cases against the Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram and others who were not even present at the site where violence erupted last week. According to reports, violence was unleashed on people who went to the police station seeking release of those arrested for no rhyme or reason. 

The easiest way to tarnish and tackle any rights movement is to smear it with ‘extremist’ or ‘anti-national’ tag; an equally malicious ploy is to brand it as a ‘conspiracy’ in connivance with those plotting against the country. Both the Central and the Kerala state government seem to be comrades-in-arms in this regard. We saw this in the Bhima-Koregaon incident in which over a dozen rights activists, academicians and intellectuals were put behind bars under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. 

The way Fr. Stan Swamy, the messiah of Tribals, was jailed branding him as a Maoist and anti-national, leading to his death in custody, is still fresh in our minds. The corporate-leaning governments did the same with the farmers’ agitation; and they do it with every human rights movement, tagging each one with ‘anti-nationalism’. Unfortunately, both the Left and Right governments and political parties are lending a shoulder to each other in grabbing the ‘share of the loaves that fall from the corporate tables.’   

Vizhinjam Human Rights Day Adani Port fishers livelihood Thiruvananthapuram Fr. Stan Swamy Tribals human rights movement Issue 50 2022 Indian Currents Vizhinjam Port Protest

Recent Posts

Amidst whispers of combating the rampant spread of misinformation, the Government orchestrated an amendment to the IT Act
apicture Aakash
25 Mar 2024
I was pleasantly surprised to receive your letter dated March 15 in both Hindi and English. You mentioned in your letter how you have received trust and support from 140 crore people
apicture A. J. Philip
25 Mar 2024
On January 12, 2024, a couple came to the USM to invite the community to their daughter's wedding. While sitting and talking, the conversation turned to Fr. Varghese Alengaden
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
25 Mar 2024
The Church's response to the Indian general election in a pluralistic world should be multifaceted
apicture Dr. John Singarayar
25 Mar 2024
We have seen different ruling styles. China recently concluded its weeklong annual parliamentary meeting in Beijing in an exultant tone.
apicture Thomas Menamparampil
25 Mar 2024
Half a decade ago, a Bollywood movie took the entire industry by storm. The Manoj Kumar starrer "Roti, Kapda aur Makaan"
apicture Jaswant Kaur
25 Mar 2024
Every time, movie lovers can't wait for the release of the latest James Bond production. James Bond movies focus on the titular character, a fictional British Secret
apicture Peter Fernandes, SFX
25 Mar 2024
The supreme iconoclast, Howard Zinn, observed that there is no such thing as impartial history. Even the most conscientious historians are partial in two ways
apicture Mathew John & Annie Mathew
25 Mar 2024
Securing 87 per cent votes in the 2024 presidential election with a voter turnout of 77.5 per cent, the 71-year-old Vladimir Putin will become the President of Russia for a fifth term
apicture Sacaria Joseph
25 Mar 2024
I raise this question mainly in the backdrop of the recent installations of bishops and an Archbishop in some of the north Indian dioceses
apicture M L Satyan
25 Mar 2024