"We understand the political aspirations of Muslims" - Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 20 December 2003, 13:58 GMT]
"It is not a problem for us to understand the political aspirations of the Muslim and to reach a solution guaranteeing their security and future interests. But this will not be possible when the Muslims are encompassed by Sri Lankan state power and seek to fulfil their aspirations having them centered within that power", said Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing when the Muslim Press Association of the Eastern Sri Lanka met him at the LTTE political headquarters in Kilinochchi yesterday, 19th December 2003, the LTTE peace secreatariat website said.

38 delegates from the Muslim Press Association arrived at Klinochchi via Jaffna on Friday afternoon and met Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan at the LTTE political headquarters in Kilinochchiin a meeting lasting two hours. Mr. R. Thurairatnam, the president of the Press Association briefed attendees on the political situation prevailing in the East, the third party interference with Tamil-Muslims affairs and the impact of this on daily life in the east.

Thamilchelvan added "we are quite aware of attempts at present by various forces to gain political mileage through creating a rift in Tamil-Muslim relationship by causing confrontations between the two communities. There are times when our relationship in the integrated NorthEast was strong.

"In later days when our liberation struggle was at its peak the communal elements among the Sinhala majority, with their motives to weaken our struggle attempted to cause rifts in our relationship... today we are strong and vigorous enough to govern ourselves. This is why we met the Muslim leadership soon after signing the MoU. We commenced with a program of work to rebuild our good relationship in order to progress toward a future of political stability. Even that has unfortunately got weakened," said Thamilchelvan.

Thamilchelvan appealed to the Muslims not to pawn their security and political future on short term gains in power but to work together to build a cordial relationship to establish unity in NorthEast.

External Links:

LTTE:

LTTE Peace Secretariat