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Children shot and injured by LTTE in Batticaloa

Two children and a jail employee were reported injured when a LTTE cadre opened fire at the chief trustee of Aanaipanthi Chinna Pillaiyaar Temple in Batticaloa town, rebel sources claimed.

Mr. Mathiyalahan, the chief trustee of the Aanaipanthi Chinna Pillaiyaar temple and a well respected figure in Batticaloa who had stood firm against the human rights violation of Batticaloa people by LTTE was fatally wounded by the shooting, sources further stated.

NUA drops bombshell, Opposes proposed joint mechanism

The Government's main Muslim ally, National Unity Alliance dropped a bombshell when it too objected to the establishment of a joint mechanism. NUA Leader Ferial Ashraff emphasized to the Norwegian facilitators that she saw no reason for her community to sit together with the LTTE.

During a meeting with Norwegian Special Envoy Erik Solheim on Friday, Ms. Ashraff said there was no compelling reason for the Muslims to share a joint mechanism with the LTTE. She said if the structure was established, the LTTE would have the 'lion's share', and thus the Muslims would be placed in a precarious position in this mechanism.

"The LTTE has upto date failed to even extend its hand of goodwill to the evicted Northern Muslims, and thus it is very unlikely that the Muslims would be given its fair share in this mechanism," she is reported to have said.

Mrs. Ashraff, who is also a senior Cabinet Minister had informed Solheim and the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar that there was no need for a joint mechanism to ensure fair distribution of aid, etc. "We will continue to do our development work in our area, and they should do their work in their area," she said.

She had also emphasized that unlike the tsunami victims, the Muslims who were evicted by the LTTE from North face a much more uncertain situation. "At least the tsunami victims can build temporary huts in the same area where their houses had been, but the evicted Northern Muslims cannot do that because the LTTE does not allow them to come back to their homes," Ms. Ashraff had pointed out.

The NUA shock comes in the wake of a written assurance given by President Chandrika Kumaratunga that she would consult the Muslim community before finalising any deal on the proposed mechanism.

"I share your concern that the interest of Muslim people be taken into consideration on any proposed mechanism to coordinate post-tsunami relief and reconstruction. I will meet the Muslim Peace Secretariat prior to concluding any agreement on post-tsunami relief and reconstruction," the President said in the letter addressed to the Head of the Muslim Peace Secretariat Javid Yusuf, copies of which were sent to Minister Ferial Ashraff and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem.