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| Sunday, 8 December 2002 |
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Leadership issue : New twist to present SLMC crisis by P. Krishnaswamy A court inquiry over the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leadership issue has been fixed for December 13, party chairman and leader of its dissident group, Minister A.L.M. Athaulla, told the 'Sunday Observer'. It is also reported that an application has been filed in the Court of Appeal on this issue which will be heard tomorrow. These developments are seen by informed political sources as a new twist to the present crisis in the SLMC which is represented by 11 MPs in the ruling UNF coalition. SLMC leader, Minister Rauff Hakeem, cut short his stay in Oslo for the third round of peace talks and rushed back to Colombo in view of the looming leadership crisis within the SLMC. Last Thursday the Colombo District Court stayed an earlier enjoining order which restrained him from functioning as the leader of the party. Minister Hakeem has announced that he would undertake a month-long campaigning in the Eastern province to seek the people's support for his leadership and expose the 'betrayal' of the SLMC dissidents. He held a meeting last Friday in Muttur attended by a large number of supporters. The same day, his supporters held a massive demonstration and rally in Marudamunai, in the East, to express their solidarity. Meanwhile, Mr. Athaulla said at a press conference last Thursday evening in Colombo that the District Court had only revoked the interim restraining order on Mr. Hakeem but it would hold an inquiry on Dec. 13 to decide the lawful leader of the party. The other dissidents including SLMC Secretary General Dr. A.L.M. Hafrat were present at the press conference. Mr. Athaulla said that the SLMC high command, the supreme decision-making body, took a majority decision to remove Hakeem as leader of the party on grounds of several charges against him, and appointed Mr. S. Subairdeen Hadjiyar as the new leader. Athaullah said that they would continue to support the UNF Government and the ongoing peace process and would not deviate from it, under any circumstances. |
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