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Hakeem lashes out at Muslim Ministers, warns of serious repercussions if the present trend continues
Munza Mushtaq in Colombo,
February 23, 2005, 6.23 p.m..
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem today accused Muslim Ministers of virtually doing ‘absolutely nothing’ to the community since the tidal waves devastated the nation, and in particular the Muslim community in the Eastern province.
Addressing the media today evening soon after his meeting with Norwegian Special Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader emphasised that its nearly two months since the tsunamis struck Sri Lanka and the East in particular, but ‘nothing has been done’ in the Muslim populated areas by the Alliance’s Government’s Muslim Ministers.
“If the present trend continues, we will have no choice but together with the battered masses hold agitation campaigns and demand immediate solace,” Mr. Hakeem warned. He also urged the Government to reconsider its decision to implement the 100/200 metres buffer zone regulation. “If this is implemented, there would be severe tension and chaos, due to the lack of land in the Eastern province,” he said. Adding that his party has not even been consulted on the matter.
The SLMC leader had alerted the Norwegian Envoy declaring that, “the same sense of marginalisation as in the earlier needs assessment process is creping into the Muslim areas and sentiments, and emotions are running high and we feel that if this sidelining trend continues in the future there will be a need for some serious radicalization.”
However, Mr. Solheim had assured the Muslim Leader that both the Government and the LTTE had understood the need and importance of the Muslim participation in the post tsunami reconstruction joint mechanism.
But, Mr. Hakeem had explained that the Muslims had not been engaged in any discussion pertaining to the setting up of the joint mechanism, and neither have they been informed of any such structure.
He also emphasised that the Muslims did not need mere representations at some committee, but needed active participation at the Apex Body level. “The LTTE and Government cannot decide on what role the Muslims should have, we need to be involved in the process of selecting the projects, decision making process and sharing resources in an equitable fashion,” he noted.
Published: Wed Feb 23 07:25:15 EST 2005
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Tsunami threat to water supplies
