Government’s main Muslim ally lashes out at Tamil National Alliance

he main Muslim ally of the Alliance Government has condemned Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliament Group Leader R. Sampanthan's recent statement that ‘Muslims have not earned the right to become party to a settlement in the peace process'. Deputy Leader of the National Unity Alliance M. Abul Kalam reacting to the TNA statement termed it as ‘illogical and unfair'. "If Mr. Sampanthan says that still the Muslim community has not earned the right to be a party to solution, what does he proposes? Does he suggest the Muslims to follow the footsteps of LTTE? We don't want to do that. That's why the SLMC was formed by late leader Mr. Ashraff to avoid Muslim militancy. We can't afford another armed conflict," the NUA deputy Leader stressed.

"The argument by the Tamil Parties and leaders that the Muslims have not earned the right to participate in the peace process and to become party to a negotiated settlement is unreasonable and un-acceptable.," Kalam said during a seminar organized by the Centre for Policy Alternatives recently. He also emphasized that the Tamil parties should stop paying lip service to the Muslim aspirations and whole heartedly work for accommodating Muslim factor in the peace process. It is only then a permanent peace could be achieved in Sri Lanka He reminded that during the 1987 Indo-Lanka peace accord and the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002 the Muslim aspirations were systematically marginalized. Muslims are at the receiving end prior and after the CFA and the same situation still continues. This was evident in Muttur and Valachchenai in 2003 and what has been happening in the last 2 months in Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts. "Mr. Sampanthan with his 22 MPs has a very good working relationship with the LTTE. I appeal to him on behalf of the Muslim community to use his good office to convince the LTTE to accommodate the Muslim community at all stages of the peace process, Mr. Kalam concluded," Kalam added.

Khalid