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SLMC says future in UPFA linked to Govt’s attitude towards Muslim grievances
The future of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) as a constituent member of the ruling UPFA Government would depend on the attitude of the other members of the Government and how they choose to address the grievances faced by the Muslim population of the country, SLMC General Secretary and National List MP M.T.Hasen Ali said.
At Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, there had been a heated exchange of words between some members of the Government and SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem over allegations that the SLMC provided material that was included in the US Annual Human Rights Report on Sri Lanka relating to attacks on places of religious worship.
Mr. Hasen Ali downplayed the incident and said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had sought a clarification on the matter and that Minister Hakeem had explained the matter to him.
He said that if the problems faced by the Tamils are being discussed at that level, the problems faced by the Muslims too should be discussed. “We are not trying to internationalise issues as alleged. If we wanted to do that, we would have done it a long time ago. But we have lot of issues and we cannot hide them,” he said.
He said “there is no grave situation” at preset with regard to relations between the SLMC and the UPFA but said “issues concerning the Muslims in the north and east of the country in particular need to be addressed.”
MP Hasen Ali added that whether the SLMC remains a part of the UPFA or not depends on the Government. “We have supported the Government at crucial times and we continue to do so in the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC),” he said.
The SLMC General Secretary accused certain sections in the Government of poisoning the mind of the President against the SLMC. “We are partners in this Government but some in it are trying to treat us as if we are like the LTTE or some similar group,” he said.
He said that problems of the Muslims in the North and East continue to be sidelined and cited as an example the non-inclusion of the sole Muslim member of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) at Development Council meetings held in the area.
Mr. Hasen Ali said that even though the SLMC is a constituent party of the UPFA, it is a separate party and maintains a position on several issues that are contrary to the stand of the UPFA.
Meanwhile UPFA National List MP A.H.M.Azwer said the SLMC should be cautioned to avoid the path taken by the LTTE in internationalising its grievances without seeking solutions and solving them internally. “Internationalisation of internal grievances by the LTTE and the TNA has led to a diaspora outside the country causing a serious rift within that community which eventually loses out on its entitlements in the long run,” he said.