|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 11 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Politics | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
| DUA welcomes President's call to all parties for discussions The government's move to solve the nation's ethnic conflict through negotiations has drawn the Democratic Unity Alliance (DUA) to highlight on behalf of the Muslim community enlightening their political aspirations for a permanent political solution, said DUA Secretary-General Hafiz Nazeer Ahamed. Having submitted a proposal achieving a durable solution to the Muslim community, before the Party's Leaders' Council, after two months deliberation, Ahamed pointed out that so far no concrete proposals had been forwarded incorporating the Muslim community's political aspirations from the Muslims or Muslim political parties. "This is a deplorable situation as to what stand the Muslims should take is not known yet. Not only Tamils but also Sinhala communities as well as the international community are eagerly awaiting to see the proposals that the Muslim community is going to put forward,: he said. Ahamed added that DUA as a responsible political Party does not welcome the continuation of the present state of affairs. If the political aspirations of the Muslim people are not taken up at the important moment, there is every possibility that at the time of a final solution to the ethnic conflict, the Muslim Community will be side-lined as in the past. "If we are to change this stance in the Sri Lanka political arena, we have to strongly put forward our political proposals with due consideration to protect our motherland, economy, culture and the political rights of the Muslims living in the North-East and those living outside North-East". he said the party has taken this decision after lengthy consultations with community representatives. "Our proposals include winning the rights of the Muslims in the East with an Administrative Council for the East and also a Mannar District Administrative Unit based in Mannar for the Muslims in the North and at the same time to ensure the protection of the Muslims in the South covering security, education, employment, housing and economy. A reasonable solution to the ethnic crisis, let it be an interim or permanent should be acceptable to all sections of the people in Sri Lanka. It should be democratic and entertained by all communities and should ensure unity among all communities. This is DUA's final decision to solve the ethnic crisis," Ahamed said. "At this stage, there are three important factors to be taken into consideration. Firstly, in the North-East, where multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and pluralistic societies are living, has been the motherland of these people. In this area, we cannot find solutions for one group of community or to one organisation and it is impossible to find a solution by giving them exclusive political powers. Secondly, with regard to the North-East merger or de-merger, our position is very clear. The people who advocate the merger or de-merger, are trying to disturb the peaceful settlement of the on-going crisis. Why we should merge or de-merge? The people who cry, do not have a concrete answer to justify this concept. As far as the Muslim community is concerned, this is not the actual problem. The Muslims living in the North and East are expecting security and political rights in par with other communities. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
