Hakim canvasses Tamil support to defeat party saboteurs

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 December 2002, 23:53 GMT]
The leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Mr.Rauff Hakim said Friday that Muslims should be allowed to enjoy the same rights and privileges provided to Tamils in the merged northeast province when a political solution is found to the ethnic conflict. Mr.Rauff Hakim was given a rousing welcome in Mutur town in the Trincomalee district Friday when he paid his first visit after he regained the leadership of the SLMC on the order of the Colombo District Court Thursday.

“We need the support of Tamils to defeat the conspiracy by bankrupt politicians who are engaged in weakening the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress which is considered the kingmaker in the country’s politics,” said Mr.Rauff Hakim.

Two SLMC parliamentarians K.M.Thoufeek (Trincomalee district) and Mr.M.S.Thoufeek (national list) accompanied the Minister Mr.Rauff Hakeem.

The minister first visited Akkaraichchenai Jumma Mosque and participated in Ramzan prayers. Later he was carried by enthusiastic supporters on their shoulders to the venue of the meeting Mutur Cultural Hall which is about seventy five yards away from the Mosque.

“The credibility of my leadership is weakened among the Muslims as the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the SLMC and LTTE has not been fully implemented. The LTTE should ensure the full implementation of the MoU making the Muslims to have trust on my leadership. The co-operation of Tamils in this regard is urgently needed,” said Mr.Rauff Hakim

Mr.Rauff Hakim further said he has decided to campaign to enlist the support of Tamils to defeat the bankrupt opportunist politicians who are bent on weakening the SLMC. He would tour the entire northeast province and would address meetings in Tamil areas too in this regard.

The late SLMC leader Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff dreamt of a merged northeast province where Tamils and Muslims could live as one family enjoying same rights and privileges, said Mr.Rauff Hakim

“Tamils have abandoned the separate state demand and come forward to live in a merged northeast province with internal self-determination. The rights and privileges enjoyed by Tamils under the proposed political solution should be given to Muslims too,” said Minister Mr.Rauff Hakim.

Trincomalee district SLMC parliamentarian Mr.M.S.Thoufeek presided.