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| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
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Step-motherly treatment to SLMC? by Rashomi Silva Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) last week voiced its opposition over what they termed as 'coupling tsunami rehabilitation with the peace process' through the Joint Mechanism (JM) and resented the non consultation with the Muslim representatives when drafting the proposals. The Party Secretary Hassan Ali called for more transparency in the process and said they had only 'an idea' of what the JM would be and the Muslim community which was most affected by tsunami was marginalised in the JM discussion as well as in the rehabilitation process. "For example we were told that there will be 5:3:2 ratio representation of the LTTE, Muslim and the Sinhalese at district level committees. But we were not consulted when they worked out that ratio and we feel being left out," Ali lamented. "We presented our grievances to the international community, and to Norway who was trying to bring about an accord between the government and the LTTE but nothing has happened so far," he said. When asked about the SLMC's suggestions on how best tsunami rehabilitation could be carried out, he said they would prefer if the assistance and aid come through Divisional Secretariats, District Secretariats and through other regional administrative bodies. "But we do not go about displaying our protest the way the JVP does," he said. "We have raised our voices in Parliament. We've spoken to the international community, and we feel there will be public protest against this unjust exclusion, he added. |
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