The Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Trivandrum in Kerala, South India, observed August 16 as black day in solidarity with the Fisherfolk who are engaged in prolonged protest to defend their livelihood and the protection of coastal regions.
All parishes of the Archdiocese raised black flags after the morning Mass.
“The fisherfolk are being deprived of their livelihood and habitat by the Government in the name of development. We are protesting against it,” said Father Eugene Pereira, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese.
The protesters have seven demands including immediate stoppage of construction at Vizhinjam Port, action against those appropriating coastal land, rehabilitation for fishermen who lost land and house due to construction projects and natural calamities.
Youth of the region came in a bike rally with black flags, while many fishermen came carrying fishing boats and nets.
Auxiliary Bishop Christudas Rajappan inaugurated the day-night blockade of the Port entrance and Bishop Thomas J. Netto of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum, addressed the protestors assuring Church support.
The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, also known as the Vizhinjam Port is an under-construction port on the Arabian Sea coast at Trivandrum, Kerala.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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