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| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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LTTE extending area of control -Council of Muslims by S. H. A. Careem A delegation of the Council of Muslims of Sri Lanka last week accused the LTTE of extending their area of control to cleared areas after the signing of the MoU with the Government. The council including National Muslim Movement, All Ceylon Moors Association and National Council of YMMA visited the Eastern Province on a fact-finding mission recently. They had extensive grass-roots level discussions with the civil society at all three districts in the province and collected valuable statistics from various areas. The council has also had extensive discussions with groups of civil society including students and lecturers of the University of Oluvil in the Eastern Province. The Council Report on the findings, revealed at a press conference, states that the LTTE after the signing of the MoU had extended its domination to cleared areas and that government agencies often acted after consulting the area leader of the LTTE. Citing an example, the report points out that when the Muslims of Trincomalee town had demanded security against LTTE attacks, security in the form of checkpoints had been provided only after it had been approved by the area leader of the LTTE. The report also points out the arrangement was subsequently broadcast over the BBC and other media, as the LTTE providing security to Muslims. The council members said the Muslims had never asked for security from the LTTE and the Government has failed to act in this situation. The Muslims community had also claimed that the LTTE had already established an Interim Administration in both cleared and uncleared areas, despite the ISGA being only a proposal submitted to the government. They also claimed that Muslims of the East were being subjected to dual taxation, with the LTTE also levying duty in cleared areas. "The problems faced by Muslims in the Eastern Province have increased significantly after the signing of the MoU between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE", said Mr. A. H. G. Ameen, President of the Council of Muslims. The report identifies the lack of security for the Muslims in the East on the foremost concern of the People. "Muslims live in fear as there are sporadic attacks on them and the number of casualties and loss of lives are day by day increasing. There is damage to the properties of Muslims and no compensation paid to them. The security situation has worsened specially after the signing of the MoU as the law enforcement agencies have become inactive," the report states. |
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