Hakeem castigates PA for "injustices" to minorities

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 August 2001, 16:38 GMT]
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (Hakeem wing) has blamed the People's Alliance (PA) government for racial violence perpetrated on Muslims and other minority communities in the island since 1994. "The Muslim community in the country has witnessed more than seventy incidents of racial violence against it under the present government," said Mr.Rauff Hakeem, the Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, addressing a public meeting at Panduwasnwara in the Kandy district Thursday evening.

"Several organizers and supporters of the ruling PA were behind those atrocities," said Mr. Hakeem. "Not only the Muslim community but people of Indian origin were also subjected to discrimination and violence under the present government. Chauvinist elements in the ruling party are engaged in inducing violence and other discriminatory acts again minority communities."

He continued, "the minority communities expected that their rights and privileges would be guaranteed and safeguarded with the advent of the PA government in 1994. But the PA's actions have shattered those expectations. The PA government has done immense injustices to minority communities in its seven year rule."

Referring to the present political crisis in the country, Mr.Hakeem said that almost all political parties in the country are trying to avoid a general election. "Some parties are buying time to prepare for a general election by submitting proposals to install an interim or national government. The PA is now trying its best to be in power with the support of the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). But the SLMC is for a general election," he said.