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

Yogi Adityanath's push for a "Hindu Constitution" and an Akhand Hindu Rashtra fosters majoritarian dominance, disenfranchises minorities, and violates constitutional principles. These inflammatory ass
apicture Dr. Olav Albuquerque
03 Feb 2025
Hope is not just a recounting of Pope Francis' life but a testament to his unwavering belief in compassion, humility, and the transformative power of love. By emphasising Hope as a guiding force, the
apicture A. J. Philip
03 Feb 2025
The Hindutva agenda exploits India's Hindu majority and herd mentality, pushing divisive narratives to an impoverished nation. This misuse of religion for political plays is steering India towards a d
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
03 Feb 2025
The judiciary's reluctance to grant bail, especially in cases targeting minorities under laws like the UP Anti-Conversion Act, is reflective of the discriminatory practices which have crept in since t
apicture Joseph Maliakan
03 Feb 2025
Cherian had many firsts to his credit. He performed India's first coronary artery bypass surgery. He also accomplished the first heart-lung transplant.
apicture P. A. Chacko
03 Feb 2025
The BJP's blabber against Kerala, led by figures like Nitesh Rane, is in line with its agenda. Kerala's egalitarian society was hitherto an insurmountable challenge to Hindutva ideology, yet recent BJ
apicture Mathew John
03 Feb 2025
India's advancements in space research contrast with grassroots challenges like environmental degradation, poor disaster preparedness, and preventable tragedies. There is an urgent need for collaborat
apicture M L Satyan
03 Feb 2025
Collapsing infrastructure is a phenomenon that is expressive of the government's way of working, wherein it evades accountability and shifts blame to contractors. Awarding contracts to the lowest bidd
apicture Pachu Menon
03 Feb 2025
Rising communalism and weakening institutions threaten our values of democracy and pluralism. However, growing awareness, campaigns for harmony, and political unity offer a light of hope. It will depe
apicture Ram Puniyani
03 Feb 2025
Change, because it is we who have made corruption a way of life...!
apicture Robert Clements
03 Feb 2025