Hakim awaits PM decision to attend peace talks

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 January 2003, 17:08 GMT]
Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Mr.Rauff Hakim, Wednesday said he is not concerned about the accusation that he (Hakim) is not a credible representative of the Muslims to participate in the forthcoming peace talks. "The Prime Minister will take a correct decision at the correct time in this regard," Minister Rauff Hakim told media persons Wednesday.

The Alliance of Muslim Parliamentarians in a letter to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said Minister Rauff Hakim should not be allowed to participate at the next week's peace talks in Thailand as he has lost not only the confidence of Muslims but also of his own party.

The Alliance of Muslim parliamentarians comprised all Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs) irrespective of the political parties they represent, sources said.

A senior minister in the United National Front(UNF) government, Mr.M.H.Mohamed, and a former minister in the then People's Alliance (PA) government, Mr.A.H.M.Fowzie, also signed the said letter.

The dissident group of the SLMC led by Minister A.L.M.Athaullah also requested the Prime Minister not to allow Mr. Hakim to participate in Thailand peace talks on behalf of the Muslims.

Referring to the letter Mr. Hakim said the Prime Minister would take a decision on the representation of Muslims at the peace talks at the correct time. Hakim added that he has demanded that the Prime Minister permits adequate representation for Muslims at future peace talks.