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The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) dissident group led by Highways Minister A. L. M. Athaullah is pressing ahead to secure support from other MPs in the Eastern province for an independent delegation to represent their community at the next session of the Government-LTTE peace talks, according to reports. One source for the dissident faction said that SLMC leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem would be consulted in the process. Minister Hakeem told the "Sunday Observer" that he welcomed the move but warned against divisive politics.

Wanni Rehabilitation Minister Noordeen Mashoor, a frontliner of the dissident group, told the "Sunday Observer" that a joint representation on this issue would be submitted to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe shortly.

The representation will also be made to the President, all MPs, the Norwegian facilitators and foreign diplomatic Missions in Colombo, he added. He further said that the support and collaboration of SLMC leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem will also sought in the matter.

When asked for his position in the matter, Minister Hakeem said that 'unity among Muslim parliamentarians is a vital need which will decide the fate of the Muslims' representation at the peace talks but that goal has to be achieved with proper strategy and a rational approach'. 'Impulsive and irrational outbursts may not yield anticipated results', he further said.

Minister Hakeem also said that the issue of independent representation of the Muslims was raised at the pre-negotiation stage but there has been some deliberate intransigence against which the SLMC had constantly recorded its disapproval. He also sounded a warning against divisive elements which were undermining the unity of the Muslims and were pursuing diabolic and destructive political agendas. "The absurdity of their futile rebellion is being exploited by vested interests which are out to deny the Muslims' due share in the ongoing peace talks", he said.

At a delegates' conference of the party held last week in Colombo, he has sounded a warning that if the dissidents failed to rejoin him, they would be dismissed from the party.

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