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Who will stop the violation of fishermen's rights in the River Nile
Hundreds of fishermen in Menya suffer from the violations of the water police against their right to safe fishing. The LCHR has received information from some small fishermen stating that the water police mistreats and humiliates them. While at the same time, it gives complete freedom to big fishermen and fish farm owners to fish in the Nile using both legal and illegal means.
The fishermen also state in their complaints that the water police keeps on chasing them and confiscating their nets and boats. In addition to that, the governorate and fishermen's associations neglect them, don't solve their problems and don't improve their health and educational conditions.
The fishermen state that the fishery wealth corporation has rented most of the water area in the Nile to the big fish farm owners, and that they cannot find a enough water space to fish in. the fish farm owners ask them for rent in order to fish in their areas, or they ask for half what they catch, if the fishermen refuse and try to fish for themselves, the water police chases them and confiscates their nets and boats. Other fishermen say that they don't have drainage systems in their homes and they also don't have access to clean potable water.
The LCHR presents the complaints of these fishermen to the head of the fishery wealth corporation to stop the confiscation of their nets and boats and guarantee them a safe fishing process. The LCHR also demands the Minister of the Interior to stop the water police from violating fishermen's rights. The LCHR also demands El Menya governor to relieve the children of these fishermen from the school expenses and provide their homes with public services to guarantee their right to decent living.
For more information, please contact the Center.