A “Coastal Yatra” made up of Tsunami affected communities and representatives finishes it progress through these regions protesting corruption in the process, specifically asking why Tsunami victims have yet to receive longer term aid, why they are being moved away from where they lived (under rehabilitation) while those areas are being earmarked for big businesses, resorts, etc.

These are notes from Thomas Kocherry.

21-05-2005
The coastal yathra was inaugurated by MRS Jaganathanji- Krishnammal
a freedom fighter and Gandhian in the midst of hundreds of people at 0800 hrs on 21-05-2005 in Vedahatrannnyam, the historic place of Dandi March. The livelihood Yathra is the Reinterpretation of Dandi Yahra., not reenactment and ritualization of Dandi Yathra. The organizations that are participating in the Yathra are the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), National Fish Workers Forum of India (NFF), National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM), Unorganised Workers' Federation (UWF), Gram Swaraj Movement (GSM), Coastal Fisher Peoples Protection
Committee (CFPPC), Fisher People's Liberation Tigers (FPLT), Coastal
Action Network (CAN), Sarpam Iruler Thozhilalar Sangam (SITS), Fisher
People's Panchayats (FPP), Rural Organizations of Tamilnadu (ROT),
Other Trade Unions and Women's Organizations. The leaders that are
participating in the Yathra are Geetha Ramakrishna, Gabriela D, Jose P, Lucy. Dasan Sashi, Thomas Kocherry and others. A cultural group is with us right through.

The Yathra is meant to create awareness among the Tsunami Victims,
displaced people through `Development Programmes', and the public at
large concerning rehabilitation issues, Asian Development Bank, World
Bank, FAO, UNDP, the UN aids and loans. We oppose aquaculture, and
the supply of harbour based fishing crafts in the form of aid which
will further displace the beach based tsunami victims.

The Tsunami Victims have been facing inadequate relief measures, and
rehabilitation is not yet done. The proposed aquaculture, and harbour
based fishing implements by the ADB, WB, UNDP, FAO, GOI, and the
State Governments will further displace tsunami victims and the
livelihood issues will become the focus. The Displacement of 400000
lakhs unorganized workers from the slums of Mumbai, the proposed
eviction in 13 districts Tamilnadu as a result Madurai High Court
Judgement, the eviction of 10000 fisher people from Jambudwip in West
Bengal are further Human Made Tsunami in our country which we must
oppose with all our might.

The delay in the construction of houses and the continuance of the
tsunami victims in the temporary shelter will further deteriorate the
problems. The urgency of rehabilitation and the construction of new
houses is of paramount importance.

The publishing of all the income by the NGOS and the Governments in
the name of Tsunami is of utmost importance. The income and
expenditure in details should strengthen credibility of these
institutions.

Issues and Urgent Needs.
1. The list of the affected people should be published. If some
are not included one has to go through the process to include
them. All care should be taken to include Dalits, tribals, fisher
people, women and children.

2. Governments should see that every victim in the temporary
shelters get adequate relief materials like food, and drinking water
etc.

3. The housing and the beach based fishing are organically
linked. All care must be taken that the Tsunami Victims should not
lose their fishing sites in the name safety. Housing and fishing
implements should be given immediately.

4. Any attempt of pushing Aquaculture in the coastal area will
further displace the tsunami victims.

5. Any attempt of giving aid in the form of habour based fishing
crafts will further displace the beach based tsunami victims and
through overcapacity in fishing will further displace the beach based
fishing.

6. No grants should be given for Aquaculture Farms in the CRZ
areas as per the SC judgment of 1996.

7. Enactment of Disaster Prevention and Management Authority as
per the recommendation of the Parliament Sub Committee and the
implementation of the same.

8. Nuclear Power Stations, Polluting Industries should be
removed from the coast.

24-05-2005
The Yathra has covered 21 shelter camps of Tsunami Victims. There has
been spontaneous welcome every where. There are about 40 persons in
the Yathra. The cultural group is giving a big boost. There was
public meeting in Nagapatinam attended by the victims in thousands.
The Nagapattinam Collector met us while we were addressing the
victims. He promised to start the construction of the houses by the
end of this month.

The opposition to the Aquaculture is mounting in communities every where.

25-5-2005
The Yathra entering Pondicherery. At the same time yesterday 13
Tsunami Shelter centres in Marakonam Area came together in protest
for not implementing the construction of houses and not giving
cuttamarans and Fiberglass boats. 2000 of Tsunami victims were
mercilessly beaten up by the police. 7 women readmitted to the
hospital. The Yathra will be reaching the area in solidarity and to
condemn the Police atrocities. Yesterday we also met the collector of
Cuddalore. He promised to start the construction of houses this week
itself.

There was a very big protest meeting in Maraonam condemning the
Police violence against the Tsunami Victims. Geetha Ramakrishna, Dr.
Gabriela, Jayakumar, Lucy, Jose E.S., Thomas Kocherry spoke on the
occasion. A formal Complaint against the Police was filed by the
victims before the DSP who was present at the Lathi Charge.

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