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Hakeem hopes for Muslim consensus at talks
By Nilika de Silva
Minister and SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem is hoping to bring all shades of Muslim opinion to a consensus and a united front at the peace talks in Thailand.

In an interview with The Sunday Times Mr. Hakeem said his talks with LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in London last Monday made him optimistic that the interests of the Muslim community would be safeguarded.

Excerpts

Four in Muslim delegation
At the second round of talks the Muslim delegation led by SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem will consist of four members.

Mr. Hakeem on Friday night briefing the SLMC High Command and Politburo about his recent visit to London and meeting with LTTE negotiator Anton Balasingham said that the delegation would represent the Muslim community.

However, Mr. Hakeem had not named the members who would be on his delegation for the second round of talks.

* What exactly did you and Mr. Balasingham talk about in London?

We clarified the position regarding the SLMC's role in the peace talks.

The government had indicated that I would be part of its delegation while the earlier LTTE, SLMC understanding provided for a representative from the Muslim community. There was some confusion and we wanted to get it cleared.

The London meeting was friendly and Mr. Balasingham understood our position.

* After the first round of talks you are to meet LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. What would you take up with him?

When we met the LTTE leader on April 13, we took up confidence building measures and left contentious issues for a later date. But the trust broke down in the aftermath of violence in the East. Now we need to restore the trust and discuss how the provisions of the MoU with the LTTE could be implemented to sort out day to day practical problems of the Muslims besides working out a deal on devolution of power.
n What will be your role as a government representative in the first round peace talks in Thailand?

According to plans the two main parties, the government and the LTTE will make statements of intent and agree on a framework for talks. At every stage of the talks there will be implications for the Muslim community which has a separate identity and I will watch those interests.

* What do you hope to do in the second round of the Thailand talks?

Both the government and the LTTE wish to see the Muslims represented by a united front. We are working towards that.

Some SLMC dissidents now in the PA have indicated they might join us. Minister M.H. Mohamed and ex minister A.H.M. Fowzie have also claimed leadership of the Muslims.

There is some intrigue also but the SLMC with a majority of seats especially from the East hopes to bring about consensus among Muslims.

At the first round of talks peripheral matters are likely to be taken up but there will be implications for the Muslim community also and I will watch those.

At later rounds when the interim council and core issues are taken up I will directly represent the Muslim community.

* What assurances did Mr. Balasingham give you?

The LTTE agreed to honour promises given to the SLMC and we also decided that the dialogue needs to continue

* Are you coming together with NUA for the peace talks?

I would rather refer to them as a breakaway faction of the SLMC than to say NUA. Some of them are anxious to return but they are acting discreetly.

Company manager alleges
he was tortured by CID
The alleged Rs. 30 million fraud in a Colombo investment company has taken a torturous turn with the family of the young manager claiming he was hung, hit with poles and his genitals sprayed with high pressure water hoses after he was taken in by CID officers.

The wife and father of the private investment company manager Sharon Wijewardane alleged that the torture had left him with severe swelling and inability to urinate for a week.

They said Sharon Wijewardane had been examined by the Acting JMO who had directed that he be given immediate treatment at the Ragama hospital.

A CID officer however claimed the 27-year-old Mr. Wijewardane had suffered the injuries before he was taken in by the CID. Responding to this family members said that if Mr. Wijewardena was injured when he was taken in, the CID was legally obliged to produce him before a Government Medical Officer.

The family members said Sharon, a father of two was handed over to the CID last month by his uncle after the family was assured that the CID only wanted to get assistance from him in probing the alleged fraud at the investment company which is a subsidiary of a well known banking group.

Family members claimed Sharon was surrendered to a senior CID officer who in turn handed over him for questioning to the inspector in charge of the investigations unit.
They alleged that the inspector and some others had then tortured Sharon.

The alleged fraud was first discovered in June and the manager had claimed that a junior officer was responsible for it. He claimed the company management had however terminated his services after some Rs. 1.5 million had been re-imbursed.

Family members said that on June 20 Sharon had gone to Singapore in search of a job. They said three days later CID officers had questioned family members and told them they would have to report to the CID once in three days till Sharon came back. They said that to save them from harassment Sharon had come back to Sri Lanka on August 20 and his uncle took him to the CID on August 26.

The family members said that after the alleged torture Sharon was produced in the Gampaha courts last week and the magistrate had directed that he be examined by a JMO.

They said prison officials had delayed for two days before taking Sharon to a JMO.
The case is to be taken up again on September 16.

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