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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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More SLMC members join Government The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) split into another faction reducing its numbers when three of its elected members joined the Government ranks yesterday while another member was expected to join soon. These three parliamentarians of the alternative group of the SLMC yesterday took oaths as non Cabinet Ministers before President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Altogether there were 10 members in the SLMC. Member Husain Baila joined the Government at the beginning. Thereafter, three other elected members joined the Government rank yesterday and another member Fizal Cassim was expected to join the Government soon. After taking oaths the three members Abdul Majeed, Abdul Risath Bathiyndeen and Ameer Ali Shihabdeen who were sworn in as Non-Cabinet Ministers of Rehabilitation and District Development for Trincomalee, Vanni and Batticaloa appeared before the Media and demanded SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem to step down in order to unite the SLMC which has been fractured to four groups due to his weak leadership. They blamed the SLMC leader for selling the party to the UNP and dancing according to the tune of the UNP leader by way of signing an electoral agreement with the UNP. "According to the agreement the SLMC leader has to inform the UNP leader all the decisions and actions of the party. In other words the UNP is running the SLMC indirectly for its agenda," they said. "We could not tolerate this nonsense any more as we are dignified members of the Muslim community. That is why an alternative group was formed. Four elected parliamentary members are in the alternative groups and only appointed members are with Hakeem", Deputy Leader of the SLMC alternative group M.Shaheed told the press. We support this Government for its endeavour to bring peace to the nation. We were forced to form this alternative group due to the behaviour of the SLMC leader because of his alliance with the UNP, he said. "The high command of the SLMC decided to participate at the inaugural session of the National Peace Council and nominated the party's General Secretary. But suddenly leader Hakeem called another high command meeting at his private residence and decided to get an appointment with President Kumaratunga to discuss certain issues in order to avoid participating at the Council meeting because the UNP had decided to boycott the meeting" Minister of Rehabilitation and District Development for Batticaloa Ammeer Ali Shihabdeen said. That prompted us to operate as an alternative group supporting the peace efforts of the Government. Because of the war Muslims have suffered to its maximum. We can not bear their plight any more. We want to see an early settlement to the North-East problem to help our people, he added. Deputy Secretary General of the alternative group Y.L.S.Hameed said that the late leader Ashraff did not form the SLMC to be used as a UNP puppet for its political gain. The sole purpose was to voice the plight of the Muslims of this country. When asked whether the group will support the proposed constitutional amendments of the Government they said that once they are made public they will take a decision. Replying to another question from the press they said that they do not intend to contest the forthcoming Presidential election, if it was not abolished but will support any candidate who will look after Muslims, he said. (JSN) |
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