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| Sunday, 29 September 2002 |
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Hakeem's stance under fire by P. Krishnaswamy SLMC Leader and Minister Rauf Hakeem's recent announcement that, in the future rounds of peace talks, he would not be pressing the demand for a separate Muslim unit in the North-East has come under fire from other Muslim leaders. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Minister, Rauff Hakeem, who attended the Thailand peace talks as a member of the Government delegation and is expected to represent the Muslims of the North and East in the future rounds of talks, recently made a statement that he would not ask for a devolution unit for the Muslims of the North and East for the time being but instead await the LTTE proposals before taking a stance on this issue. The "Sunday Observer" contacted four prominent Muslim political leaders of the East. NUA leader Ms Ferial Ashraff MP: "We totally reject the statement made by Minister Rauff Hakeem. In fact we even condemn it. A separate unit of devolution for the Muslims of the East has been a 'cry' for 15 years. If we are not going to work towards that goal during the peace talks, then there is no point in the Muslims being represented at the talks. We hope that Mr. Rauff Hakeem would now reconsider his stand in the matter and work towards a reasonable solution for all three communities in the Eastern province for permanent peace. Mr. M. I. M. Mohideen, Chairman of Muslim Rights Organisation (MRO) and former Secretary General and founder of the Muslim United Liberation Front (MULF): "Minister Rauff Hakeem should strongly assert the rights of the North-East Muslims and defend their case at the Thailand peace talks. We, the Muslims of the East, have our traditional homeland and independent identity and we must have the right to share power with the other communities. We must have the right for self-autonomy. Mr. Hakeem should not sacrifice the interests of the Muslims for the sake of peace. Conflicts at grassroots level between the Tamils and the Muslims in the East have to be resolved. The LTTE has intervened in a significant way. The Muslims should also strongly defend their case and clearly say what type of devolution unit they want, irrespective of the stage of the peace talks. After the recent statement of Mr. Rauff Hakeem, the Muslims of the East are worried, confused and even suspicious". NUA Secretary General, Segu Izadeen MP: "We condemn the statement of Minister Hakeem. His stance is totally unacceptable to the North-East Muslims since it does not reflect their aspirations. His position that he would defend the Muslims after peace is restored is not practical. That is not what the people want. The Muslims want self-autonomy. We are willing to support the 19th Amendment if our legitimate right for self-autonomy in our pre-dominant areas is guaranteed by the Government. We want to peacefully co-exist with the LTTE but it is necessary that our aspirations are fulfilled". NUA frontliner and former SLMC National Organiser, Abul Kalaam -Attorney at Law: The Muslims of the North and East must ask for a devolution unit at the peace talks. It is now or never. Instead of representing the interests of the Muslims, Minister Hakeem acts as if he is the spokesman of the Government and the LTTE. |
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