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| Sunday, 31 March 2002 |
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M.H. Mohammed keen on Muslim land rights in NE by FRANCES BULATHSINGHALA Minister of Western Province, M. H. Mohammed is scheduled to meet leaders of the LTTE in Jaffna in mid April to iron out issues such as Muslim land rights in the North East. Minister Mohammed who is scheduled to tour Jaffna from 14 to 17 April will meet all Muslim members of Parliament tomorrow at the Parliament Committee room to discuss issues pertaining to Muslims which should be brought to the attention of the Government and the LTTE. "We will not in anyway hinder the peace process", Minister Mohammed told the 'Sunday Observer' adding that he had appealed to all Muslim Parliamentarians to participate at the discussion, and irrespective of party barriers to 'join hands' for the sake of their community. Together with eighty five other Muslim Organisations affiliated to the United Coordinating Council of Muslims I have approached the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. We have impressed upon him mainly three issues; that the lands of the Muslims in the North East which were lost to them in 1990 be given back to them; the Muslim places of worship destroyed by the war be reconstructed and the overall rights of the Muslims to be protected along with the working out of an understanding between the Government and the LTTE", he said. A second meeting with the Prime Minister will be sought after tomorrow's meeting. "We hope to make a note of all the issues raised tomorrow by the Muslim Ministers and Parliamentarians and bring these to the notice of the Prime Minister" he added. Meanwhile former PA Minister and present Governor of the Western Province, Alavi Mowlana who is also invited to participate at Mondays' discussion is to urge all Muslim groups to solve the matter within the country, highlighting whatever grievances before the peace talks. "We do not want to sabotage the peace talks. I am now out of politics. But as I was invited, I would participate at tomorrow's discussion as a member of the Muslim community in the common interest of the Muslims", Mowlana said pointing out that certain matters related to Muslims needed addressing 'directly' and immediately'. Meanwhile Minister of Rehabilitation and Refugees, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena is to visit Muslim Refugee settlements by end of April. Minister Jayawardena said yesterday that based on the National survey on internally displaced persons conducted by his Ministry and the UNDP, a plan is to be set up with regard to the Rehabilitation and resettlement of the large number of displaced Muslims, living in Puttalam, the East and other parts of the country. |
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