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| Sunday, 19 October 2003 |
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Expat Sri Lankans should back peace -Imthiaz Bakeer Markar by P. T. A. Hassan
The Web site 'SLANKAMUSLIMS' conducted an exclusive interview with Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Minister of Mass Communication and Chairman of Desamanya Al Haj Bakeer Markar Foundation of Sri Lanka. The interview took place in Madinah during a repeat visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, leading a high level seven-member delegation. Q: The Eastern Muslims feel that the Southern Muslim parliamentarians are not addressing adequately the northeast Muslims issues, as a senior parliamentarian of the south what is your answer to them? A: This is the main obstacle we have. Don't call me a southern Muslim parliamentarian, I a Muslim Parliamentarian "these definitions as south and north was the petty innovations created by the politicians who are vying for Leadership." Not the people. I vehemently object being called a southern Muslim parliamentarian, people like Dr. Kaleel, Dr. Badiudeen Mahmood, Sir Razeek Fareed and many other Muslim leaders who fought for the rights and freedom of the country and the Muslims in general. They never split and separated as such. Once again, I object being called a Southern politician, I am a Muslim representative. Q: The UNF government, in which you are a senior Cabinet Minister, has not accepted yet the separate Muslim delegation in the peace process. Do you personally advocate that a separate Muslim delegation should participate under the leadership of SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem? A: Muslim delegation should participate in the peace talks. The question of who is the the leader of the delegation will be decided at a meeting of the Muslim parliamentarians. I believe that we shouldn't develop any more controversies on these issues. We know that Minister Rauff Hakeem is participating in the peace process and meeting North-East Muslim parliamentarians on numerous issues. We neither interfere in these affairs nor oppose it, but our fullest support always is there for them when a decision is taken in the interests of our community. I urge all Muslim parties and factions SLMC, NUA, Ashraff Congress, North-East MPs forum to unite for the sake of the community in order to take an unanimous decision on issues of the North & East Muslims, even-though they are divided by political agendas, I assure them my fullest support even though we are not invited for such discussions. Q: The SLMC is the major partner in the UNF government but the same government was unable to protect the Muslims from LTTE, especially in the Valaichenai and Muttur incidents. Why is the government ineffective when it comes to the interests of the Muslims? A: I am not a specialist in North-East affairs but I know that a truce has been arrived at but there had been some incidents that have affected the Muslims. When those incidents were brought to the notice of the government, we have taken necessary action immediately to look into those issues at the government level. Yet we can't go back to war merely because of these sporadic incidents. We have to be proactive. We know that a levy had been imposed on people and many such incidents, still we have to choose peace and shouldn't resort to war again. We have to find solutions to all issues and we have formed a monitoring commission for this purpose. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's government has always paid special attention to complaints brought in by Muslim parliamentarians but we are determined not to go for weapons again and meet a war. The international community will take matters seriously if either party resorts to war again. Q: Slankamuslims had suggested to the Muslim politicians to form an Intellectual body of Sri Lankan Muslim expatriates who are much privileged and eager to serve the Community and to advice in the Muslims' issues. As a Muslim Parliamentarian do you favour this proposal? A: I admire the expatriates move and eager to avail their advice and guidance in many issues of the community. There are many organizations within the country, that provide us consultancy on education and many issues. Internationally also there are people who contact us by e-mail but if we had an organization it would be very beneficial to us in many ways. Q: Anything you wish to say to our members worldwide? A: We admire your interest shown towards your motherland and people. My request to you is though we have leaders from two different political parties, you all as Sri Lankans though not living in the country should advocate peace and harmony through your love dones for a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka for our children and future generation. Q: The Internet telephone charges are still very high in Sri Lanka compared to other Asian countries, is there any plan to reduce it as Internet plays major role in the development of Sri Lanka? A: The fact is that the former government has entered into an agreement with the Japanese company to increase the telephone charges in four phases in Sri Lanka. The last phase of increment was due one and half year's ago but I managed to delay it for the past 18 months and I had to agree to it now as we have to honour the international trade agreement irrespective of which government agreed and finally the telephone charges were increased last month. But we have been cautious and have provided some important facilities to the net users. Accordingly the one who uses the phone more the lesser the rates. This is to encourage the younger generation. Secondly, the IDD facility was under the control of Sri Lanka Telecom, which was a monopoly. After the government came to power we changed the results, as you can see if you take a call to Saudi those days you had to pay Rs. 78.00 per minute now you can call Saudi for Rs. 20.00 per minute, even to England the same benefits. In addition to that, the first 200 units will be free of charge. Q: Rupavahini Corporation, which was running at a loss during the previous Government, is now making considerable profit after you took over, what strategy have you placed in order to make this state sponsored co-operation profitable? A: The Rupavahini was running under heavy losses, amounting to Rs. 100 million. After we took over we have given full freedom to the management of the institution and it's running on its own. The public had once again vested their confidence on Rupavahini and within a short period of one and half years it has become a profit making media with almost Rs 100 million profits. We do not interfere in the management of Rupavahini and SLBC or in the quality of programs they telecast. We have not appointed anyone in addition to the existing staff in these two institutions where a huge excess of employees exist at present. Q: All mobile telephone operators in the Island are charging for incoming calls, even you have complained about how a person could be charged when he receives a nuisance call from another person. When and what would you do to eradicate this tariff? A: We have already taken a decision to overcome this situation. The reason for the introduction of ten digit numbers is the direct result of this move. I gave the deadline to eradicate tariff of all mobile incoming call charges by December, 2003, subject to the implementation of the technical authorities who are working on IC at the moment. We had obstacles in deciding the tariff for mobile and land phones so we have sought the expertise of International companies to implement it within the time frame. (Courtesy: Slankamuslims) |
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