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| Sunday, 10 October 2004 |
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Fowzie's efforts bear fruit A. H. M. Fowzie, Environment and Natural Resources Minister's efforts to bring about a general consensus among Muslim members of parliament on working unitedly on common matters concerning the community, appears to have succeeded. Muslim MPs belonging to various political parties had been invited for a discussion on October 7 at the residence of the Minister. Rauff Hakeem, the Leader of the SLMC, Mrs. Ferial Ashraff, the Leader of NUA, Kabir Hashim and Myown Musthafa of the UNP, Faizer Musthafa of CWC, Anver Ismail, Chairman of the National Muslim Congress were among the leading Members of Parliament who were present at the meeting. Attending the meeting together with them were the Media Deputy Minister and the Secretary General of NUA Cegu Issadeen, Secretary General of SLMC M. T. Hassen Ali, Members of Parliament Rishard Badiudden, Najeeb A. Mageed, Ameer Ali, Nijamudeen and Hussein Bhaila. The necessity for all Muslim parliamentarians to act together in the common interest of the community, particularly at a time when a solution for the National ethnic problem is being actively pursued, was emphasised at the meeting. It was resolved that an Independent delegation should participate in the political negotiations for resolving the ethnic problem. Although this decision had been emphasised earlier, it was unanimous view that all Muslim parliamentarians should act collectively in common national issues. The parliamentarians, during their three-long-hour meeting, also discussed the security concerns of the Muslims. The following resolution was unanimously adopted at the meeting. "We the Muslim members of Parliament, having met on October 7 in Colombo, fully appreciate and welcome the efforts taken by the President to resume the 'Peace Negotiations' with the LTTE and in that context we do express our sincere hope that the talks will result in success. In the event of the resumption of the 'Peace Talks', we do hereby resolve to request the President to accommodate an independent Muslim delegation in order to safeguard the Muslim interests and to achieve their political aspirations." Minister Fowzie said a follow-up meeting will be convened in a couple of weeks to review the situations. |
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