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| Sunday, 9 June 2002 |
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Muslim accords with LTTE on N-E by M. I. M. Mohideen In a document - Muslims in Sri Lanka: LTTE stand - Published in 1988 by the Political Wing, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam it is stated: "The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are involved in a relentless struggle for human rights which has as its fundamental objective the ensuring of the freedom, equality and the right to a peaceful and secure life of all Tamil-speaking people who live in the island of Sri Lanka, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or place of habitation. One major aspect of our struggle is concerned with Land - the regaining of he land that we have lost and the safeguarding of what we now have." "Given the reality that it is the Muslim people who have suffered most through state-aided Sinhala colonization and encroachments in their traditional areas of habitation, our determination to preserve every inch of our homeland itself is an expression of Muslims' grievance and is a tangible step towards protection of Muslims rights. It therefore becomes absolutely vital for all Muslims to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the struggle if they are to safeguard their own land and all that they hold sacred in order to survive as a people. "On our part, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam stand committed to the recognition and preservation of the Muslims identity within the Tamil nation; to ensure that the Muslim people live without fear and distrust; that they achieve the same freedom that all other Tamil - speaking people are struggling for in order to be able to promote, foster and preserve their own culture, their religion and their way of life. "We are also pledge to extend our full co-operation for the upliftment of Muslim society in the fields of education, economy and public participations; and to create special opportunities, administratively and otherwise, to confer benefits and take whatever steps necessary to ensure that they do not suffer any disabilities or inequalities, until such time as they are able to enjoy an equitable share in public life". LTTE-MULF agreement In the discussion held between the delegation of the Muslim United Liberation Front headed by Dr. Al Haj Baddudin Mahumud and representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Madras on the 15th, 16th and 19th April, 1988, common ground was found by both parties on a number of issues. Some of the key clauses of LTTE-MULF agreement of 1988 were:- * "Although the Muslim people living in Sri Lanka speak the Tamil language, we consider them as distinct ethnic group falling within the totality of Tamil nationality; and we aver that the area composed of the Northern and Eastern provinces which constitutes the traditional homeland of the rest of the Tamil speaking people is also the traditional homeland of the Muslim people. * "We affirm that the Tamil people and the Muslim people who inhabit the contiguous homeland composed of the Northern and Eastern Provinces should live in unity and peace; at the same time, it is felt, and indeed accepted as an article of faith, that since the Muslim people are minority in the area, and because it is of paramount importance that they should be assured of a life free from fear, mistrust and insecurity, that immediate steps be taken to create conditions whereby the Muslim people will be guaranteed security, equality and freedom and that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam will extend their total co-operation towards this process. It is also accepted that all provisions to ensure the security of the Muslim people guaranteed by law. * It will be ensured that all steps be taken towards safeguarding the interest of the Muslim people and the arriving at a reasonable power-sharing agreement will be done in such a way that they will not seriously undermine the territorial integrity of the homeland of the Tamil-speaking people. * Following from the above, all the Muslim people who have made the area comprising the Northern and Eastern Provinces as their homeland, have the right of enjoy the same ethnic rights, concessions, opportunities and freedom as enjoyed by the rest of the Tamil speaking people. * While the Muslim constitute 33% of the population in the Eastern Province and will comprise 18% in the combined Northern and Eastern Provinces, it is agreed that in order to ensure maximum safeguards to the Muslim people and enable them to enjoy equitable power-sharing they will be entitled to not less than 30% of the representation in Provincial Council and the Cabinet of our homeland. It is also agreed that both sides would make all efforts to facilitate the constitutional process to secure such proportional entitlement. * It is agreed that in all future land distribution, the Muslim people will be entitled to not less than 35% in the Eastern Province, not less than 30% in the Mannar district and not less than 5% in other areas. * The Muslim people will be entitled to job opportunities in the public sector in proportion to their population in each district. * No legislation that affects the rights of the Muslim people involves their identity and interests will be passed by the Provincial Council unless three fourths of the Muslim representatives in the Council vote for such legislation. * Unless otherwise a Muslim has been appointed Chief Minister of the Northern - Eastern Provincial Council - legal provision should be made to ensure that Muslim is appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of the said Council. * Appropriate political, administrative and development units should be created in areas in the Northern and Eastern Provinces where there is a predominant Muslim population to enable the Muslim people to enjoy their rightful share in the spheres of political, administrative and developmental affairs. * A de-colonization policy should be evolved in order to redress the adverse effects caused by planned Government colonization which was aimed at the destruction of economic, political and administrative power base of the Tamil-speaking people; at the changing of the demographic pattern of their homeland; and at the eventual annexation of their homeland. LTTE-SLMC joint statement The following Joint Statement came out of the meeting between Rauf Hackeem and V. Pirapaharan: * "Agreement was reached on important practical problems faced by the Muslims in the North-East. LTTE Leader Pirapaharan invited the displaced Muslims from Jaffna and Wanni to come back and resettle in their own places. It was decided to establish a joint committee of representatives from the LTTE and SLMC to facilitate the resettlement. Similarly it was decided to create favorable conditions for the resettlement of the Muslims who were displaced from minor Muslim villages in the Eastern Province. * "It was decided to help the Muslims to recultivate the uncultivated agricultural lands belonged to the Muslims in the North-East. * "The LTTE agreed to cease immediately the collection of money for the war from the Muslims in the Eastern Province. * "It was decided to appoint an SLMC representative from each district in the North East to discuss the problems faced by the Muslims with LTTE Senior Commanders and to strengthen Tamil-Muslim relationship. * "It was decided to continue similar top level meetings. * "It was decided for the SLMC representatives to participate as a group on behalf of the Muslims at the negotiations to be commenced between the Government and the LTTE. * It was decided to approach the political issues of the Muslims in the North East on a policy basis and continue discussions to foster their unique political, cultural and ethnic rights. * Since the SLMC had obtained the majority support of the Muslims, it was decided to talk to SLMC on matters pertaining to the Muslims in the North East." |
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