National question cannot be solved through secret pacts - M. M. Zuhair

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have ignored the existence of over 50% of Tamils and nearly 2/3rd of the Muslims outside the North and the East co-existing peacefully and doing their day to day business activities with all others successfully.

The TNA and the SLMC have chosen the path of confrontation instead of cooperation by raising the demand of self - rule instead of power sharing, an ethnic homeland in place of a shared homeland, re-merger without the consent of the three communities in the East and other similar demands.

This was stated by M. M. Zuhair PC, former Member of Parliament. The people of the North and the East have suffered enough through avoidable confrontation. They have suffered death and destruction.

They need a respite. They need peace. They need redevelopment. They are anxious to live in harmony with all others, he said.

Zuhair has stated further that President Rajapaksa had commenced addressing these issues. It is only six months since a 30 year war was ended. Substantial work has already been done in the Eastern Province by way of redevelopment. Much remains to be done both in the North and the East.

Reactivating the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) and the search for national reconciliation will receive urgent attention, soon after the elections. The "Mahinda Chintana for a bright future 2010" has pledged to hold elections for the NPC very early so that the newly elected leaders of the province will run the affairs of the North.

They would also participate in the All Party Conference to seek a true concurrence for the national question, as pledged in the Manifesto.

The national question cannot be solved through private treaties or secret agreements. A fully transparent and acceptable solution must be found and can be found through cooperation avoiding confrontation, he has said.