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| Sunday, 28 December 2003 |
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Cancellation of LTTE-SLMC MoU : NE Muslim leaders concerned by P. Krishnaswamy North-East Muslim political leaders have expressed misgivings about the LTTE decision to call off the MoU signed between Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem and LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran, saying that the move indicated LTTE's unwillingness to accept the Muslims as a third party in the peace process. LTTE political leader Thamilchelvan last week told a group of journalists from the East that the LTTE-SLMC MoU was no longer valid. SLMC General Secretary, Hasan Ali, said that the MoU signed on April 13, 2002, provided for the resettlement of the 65,000 Muslims expelled from the North; return of the Muslims' agricultural lands, their security in pre-dominant Tamil areas and their participation in the peace process as an independent delegation. He said that they were surprised at this disclaimer as the MoU had been submitted to the international community at various conferences as a valid document. Ali said his party was trying to ascertain the veracity of the LTTE statement from its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran but admitted it had become difficult as the Norwegian facilitators had stepped down from mediatory role. Minister Rauff Hakeem had earlier said that if the MoU was not honoured and the Muslims were not recognised as a separate delegation in the peace process, the peace efforts would turn out to be an abortive exercise. Leaders of the other two Muslim political parties of the East, the National Unity Alliance (NUA) and the Ashraff Congress (AC) also expressed similar misgiving. NUA leader Ms Ferial Ashraff said; " Apparently the LTTE does not want to admit the Muslims as a third party in the peace process and their stand is clearly against the Sri Lankan Muslims". She said that had the SLMC leadership consulted the other Muslim leaders before signing the MoU this situation could have been averted. AG leader, S. Subairdeen, said; "If the MoU was entered into in the proper manner and the LTTE was a party to it, it is their moral duty to honour it". He also hoped the LTTE's unilateral nullification of the agreement will not go against the interests of the peace-loving people of the country. " It should not mean the rejection of the Muslims' independent participation in the peace talks", he said. Meanwhile, the SLMC constitutional experts and advisors, under the guidance of their leader Rauff Hakeem, are now in the process of drafting a 'comprehensive' peace proposal on behalf of the Muslim community and this is expected to be finalised before the end of the month, party sources said. This is being done as the LTTE's ISGA proposal which was given to the SLMC leadership by the Prime Minister, did not refelct the political aspirations of the Muslims, the sources said, adding that, the views of Muslim parliamentarians, their leaders, academics and religious dignitaries will be obtained before finalising the proposal. In accordance with its 53 member politburo decision, the SLMC has decided to contest future elections independently without alliance with the majority political parties, party sources said. They were also in the process of negotiating with the NUA and AC for a possible unification to contest future elections, the sources further said. |
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