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| Sunday, 13 July 2003 |
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N-E Muslim leaders back Govt. interim proposals by P. Krishnaswamy In a decisive move the Muslim political leadership of the North-East have agreed to support a unified interim administration for the region, but are likely to ask for veto powers and also autonomy for financial management. Some ideas in this connection have already been shared with the government leadership and a finalised set of proposals are expected to be handed over to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to be incorporated in the Government's formula for the N-E interim administration. The North-East Muslim leadership is due to meet again tomorrow in a last minute bid to arrive at a detailed consensus formula pertaining to Muslim community participation in the proposed N-E interim administration. The government is due to communicate its N-E interim proposal to the LTTE on Tuesday. The North-East Muslim leadership held successive rounds of discussions last week under the chairmanship of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem. MPs of the SLMC, National Unity Alliance (NUA) and the Ashraff Congress (AC) participated in the four rounds of talks in Colombo. While a final consensus on the N-E Muslim community proposal could not be arrived at, a spokesman for the group told the "Sunday Observer" yesterday that the group intended to finalise matters at tomorrow's meeting. Minister Hakeem, meanwhile, is learnt to have already met Prime Minister last Friday afternoon and shared with him the tentative ideas for the Muslim formula. Wanni Rehabilitation Minister, Noordeen Mashoor MP, belonging to the AC told the "Sunday Observer" that the MPs who attended the sessions were unanimous over equal rights and proportionate representation of the Muslims in the proposed interim administrative structure. He, however, said they had not reached a conclusion on the method of power-sharing. A number of devolution options such as a separate administrative council, an appex body, district-wise co-ordination bodies and co-chairmanship in the interim administrative structure with veto powers were being considered, he said. Secretary General of the Forum M.L.A.M. Hisbullah told the "Sunday Observer" that the government's formula did not fully reflect the aspirations and rights of the Muslims, adding that their demands would be taken up at the negotiating table under the leadership of Minister Rauff Hakeem with both the Government and the LTTE since the Muslims' participation as an independent delegation in future peace talks has been agreed to. |
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