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| Wednesday, 20 October 2004 |
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| Deputy SLMC Leader sends hard hitting reply to party Secretary General Deputy Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress N.M. Shaheid in a hard hitting reply to SLMC General Secretary M.T. Hassen Ali States that he did not intend to violate or contravene the decision of the high command, but, acted in the spirit of the decision taken where it was decided that in the event the President grants an appointment as requested, the party would participate in the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR). Shaheid further states that as a responsible member of the party, having taken the community, party and the national interest into consideration, he had to take a decision to participate as the leader as you (M.T. Hassen Ali) were not available. The full text of the letter: Mr. M.T. Hassen Ali, "I wish in response to your letter dated 6-10-2004 received by me on 8-10-2004. "You have requested me to explain my attending the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation held on the 4th of October, 2004 at the Presidential Secretariat. "Although I am surprised to note the position you are adopting, I am writing this note to you as a matter of courtesy, without prejudice to my legal rights. I also nevertheless reserve my right to question the legality of your stated intention of tabling this before the High Command. "You will recall that an emergency High Command Meeting was held at "Dharussalam" on 26-9-2004, in order to take a decision as to whether to participate at the inaugural meeting of the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR) scheduled to be held on the 4th of October, 2004. It was decided at that meeting that the Secretary General of the Party, that is you, would represent the Party, at the said inaugural session. "On 1st of October, 2004, another emergency meeting was summoned at the Leader's private residence in Colpetty. You were a notable absentee at that meeting. At the said meeting it became apparent that there was a political maneuvere to shift from the earlier decision taken to send you as a representative of the Party and seek an appointment with the President to clarify certain matters as regards the purpose and structure of the NACPR before considering participation at the inaugural session. The foremost among them was about having a separate Muslim delegation at future peace talks. Despite several views expressed against changing the previous decision, it was resolved to take a decision regarding participation, after hearing from Her Excellency, the President. I became aware that on 2-10-2004, the Leader has written a letter to the President seeking an appointment with her, prior to participating at the inaugural session of the NACPR to discuss details about the role of the NACPR and other matters connected therewith, having given her less than two days for such a meeting. I also became aware that the Leader's letter, which was delivered to Her Excellency's office on Saturday, (2-10-2004) has reached the President on Sunday (3-1-2004). On receipt of this letter, Her Excellency immediately responded agreeing to grant an appointment to discuss, though it was not practically possible, given the very short notice. However since the leader was not available in Colombo, such a meeting with the President became a non event. On 4-10-2004, I returned to Colombo around 12.30 p.m. after attending my Junior's wedding in Kattankudy. I found there was a message from the Presidential Secretariat requesting me to locate the whereabouts of the Leader, as Her Excellency wished to speak to him regarding his participation at the inaugural meeting in the afternoon. I tried my best to reach the Leader on the phone but no avail. I informed the Presidential Secretariat of the inability to trace the Leader. Thereupon, I was informed that the President had already agreed to meet delegation from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress to discuss the role of the NACPR and the other concerns, stated in his letter of 2nd October, 2004. I was urged to convince the Leader to send a member of the SLMC to the inaugural session, at which he could express the concerns, which the Leader had articulated in his letter and any other views that he might wish to express. "As all my efforts to contact the Leader as well as you failed, I had to take a decision to attend the inaugural session of the NACPR in the best interests of the Muslim community, which is largely represented by the SLMC. as well as in the national interest. 1)" It is the concern of every Muslim in the country that the peace talks that came to an abrupt end in April, 2003 should recommence, in pursuit of a lasting solution in the form of a political settlement of the conflict in the Northeast. A pressing demand to which all section of discerning people of this country have been subscribing all along, has been that Leaders of all political parties and other concerned groups should deliberate together in order to find a solution to this national question. 2) I participated at the inaugural session, because I had no alternative given the inability to contact both, the Leader as well as you and given the manifest intention of her Excellency, the President in her capacity as the Head of the State to reach the desired objectives of a solution to the pressing ethnic crisis, as a matter of paramount national importance. Once again given the inability, despite my best efforts, to contact both you and the Leader, I when confronted with the exigencies created by the concerted efforts of her Excellency as well as indeed the collective efforts of the nation to foster peace, took the course of action which in my judgment appear to be in the best interest of the party and the Muslim community. 3) Attempts have been made in the past to find a workable compromise to the ethnic question in the country. However, such efforts and attempts failed to achieve the desired objective of finding a solution, chiefly due to political opportunism and expediency indulged in by parties. This national question is so intricate and sensitive, that it cannot be resolved by the efforts of one single or a combination of a few parties. A consensual approach is therefore essential. It is in this background, I firmly believed that the participation of SLMC in the NACPR would, if not ultimately providing the party, a meaningful opportunity to agitate and espouse the Muslim cause, at least be perceived as an indication of responsible interest in the collective efforts towards peace. 4) Our demand for the participation for an independent and separate Muslim delegation in talks with the LTTE stems from justifiable concerns of the Muslim people living in the Northeast. The LTTE clearly and vehemently rejected this demand. Consequently the UNP regime was helpless in helping the SLMC in this matter, despite our Party being a partner in the UNP regime. However, the UNP has now openly declared that the present day Government should start dialogue with the LTTE on ISGA proposals. It is patently clear, that the UNP is trying to please the LTTE. In this context, is it not the paramount duty of the SLMC to seriously consider the explicit danger that will befall the Muslim people of the North and East, if the peace talks resume on ISGA proposals without sufficient safeguards. In my opinion, this required very serious consideration and deliberation by all parties concerned, where the SLMC must articulate the grievances of the suffering of Muslim people, to urge for a separate and independent Muslim delegation in the future peace talks. 5) Whatever the objectives of the Government may be, the people of this country, particularly the Muslim community expect their representatives to put national interest before their political fortune and resolve the pressing ethnic crisis and politically sensitive issues by peaceful means of negotiations. 6) In any political solution to today's national crisis, it is obligatory on the SLMC to agitate and struggle to achieve the social, political, economic and cultural rights of Muslims who live within and outside the Northeast. If we do not ensure our representation in important political discussions and dialogues of this nature, there is a great danger that the aspiration of the Muslims will not only go by default but also be neglected and marginalized under pretence that we have failed to emphasize and declare our stand. At the inaugural session, I delivered a short speech, where I placed the party stance in having a separate and independent Muslim delegation in the future peace talks and urged Her Excellency, the President and the distinguished Members who participated that not only the principles of the Oslo Declaration but also the Principles of Tokyo Declaration be given meaningful effect to, in the pursuit of finding a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis. "I did not intend to violate or contravene the decision of the High Command, but I acted in the spirit of the decision taken where it was decided that in the event the President grants an appointment as a requested, the Party would participate in the NACPR. As a responsible member of the Party, having taken the community, party and the national interest into consideration, I had to take a decision to participate, as the Leader and you were not available." Thanking you, |
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