LTTE, Muslims meet in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 18 October 2003, 15:03 GMT]
Representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Kinniya Muslim Jemiyathummal Ulama Council (MJUC) met in the presence of two members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) based in Trincomalee met Saturday morning at Alankerni Sithivinayagar Maha Vidiyalayam, and agreed that Muslim cultivators could construct access roads and watch-huts in their paddy fields allowed for cultivation this season at Kinniya division in Trincomalee district, sources said.

SLMM deputy head in Trincomalee Mr.Kurt Spur and monitor Ms Margareta Krook are seen after the conference in front of the Alankerni Sithivinayagar Maha Vidiyalayam

On October 20th representatives of both groups will visit areas Theeneri, Kurankupanchchan and Vellankulam where paddy fields are located to take a final decision on this issue, leaders of the both delegations told mediapersons after the conference.

LTTE delegation was led by its Trincomalee district political head Mr.S.Thilak and comprised Upparu military head Lt.Colonel Vimal and TEEDOR Trincomalee head Mr.S.Tharman.

Kinniya Jemiyathummal Ulama Sabah delegation, which comprised Moulavi U.Y.Hathiathullah, A.R.M.Mohideen, M.P.A.Azeez, A.M.Nasar, A.C.M.Mussil, E.M.Mohideen, K.M.Abdul Raheem, U.A.Razzak and M.U.Wadood, was led by Mr.Ashsheik A Jabir.

SLMM was represented by its deputy head Mr. Kurt Spur and monitor Ms Maragreta Krook, sources said.



LTTE and Muslim civil society meeting in the presence of SLMM monitors



Both delegations agreed to meet on December 7 to continue the dialogue to ensure better understanding and to promote harmony between two communities, leaders of LTTE and Muslim civil society told mediapersons.

This was the second meeting between the leaders of the LTTE and Muslim civil society in Kinniya division held in a period of two weeks’ duration, sources said.

The first meeting was held on October 6 at the SLMM office in Trincomalee in the presence of the SLMM head Mr.Abdel Burkan where an agreement to allow cultivation of paddy fields which are fifty meters away from Kurankupanchan camp was signed by the both parties.



LTTE Trincomalee district political head Mr.Thilak speaking to mediapersons after the conference. Muslim representatives are also seen.