Muslim-Tamil amity crucial for peace - Ramesh

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 April 2003, 14:10 GMT]
Though the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has temporarily suspended participation at the peace talks, its talks with Muslim representatives will continue, as strengthening Tamil-Muslim amity is crucial to the two communities regardless of the state of the peace process, Mr. Ramesh, the LTTE’s special commander for Batticaloa-Ampara, told journalists after the second round of talks between the LTTE and Muslim representatives Tuesday.

The second round of meetings of the subcommittee focusing on the problems faced by Muslim people in the Batticaloa district was held as planned on Monday at the Vavunatheevu divisional secretariat, with LTTE representatives led by Mr. Ramesh, Muslim representatives led by the Deputy Minister for Housing, Mr. Basheer Segu Dawood, the deputy leader of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in the Batticaloa district, Ms. Laila Badaway, and the Batticaloa Government Agent, Mr. R. Mounakurusamy, attending.

Representing the LTTE at the meeting with Mr. Ramesh were Mr. R. Kousalyan, the Political division head of the LTTE in Batticaloa, Mr. R. Kousalyan, Head of the Finance Division, Mr. S. Suvi, and Head of the Treasury division, Mr. K. Nisam and Head of the administrative division, Mr. P. Reginald.

Mr.U.L.M.N. Mubeen, Mr. M.M.Y. Athamlebbe, Mr. M.T.M. Fareed, Mr. M.L.M. Ossein and Mr. S.H. Abu Haniffa also participated on behalf of the Muslim people.

Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarian, Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, and Head of the Development Committee, Mr. Rajan Satyamoorthy, also participated at the meeting.

Monday’s talks focused on the progress made with regard to matters discussed at the first meeting, such as the lands and paddy fields in areas under the control of the LTTE and the lands taken away from their rightful owners by force in Sri Lankan military-controlled areas, sources said.




Mr. Ramesh told journalists that following the first round of talks, 90% of the paddy lands owned by Muslim people in areas under LTTE’s control has been made available to them for cultivation. “The Muslim representatives thanked us for this and said that they are already cultivating the lands. Some committees have been formed to tackle any problems during cultivation,” said Mr. Ramesh.

Expressing satisfaction at the progress in the meeting, Mr. Segu Dawood said that the talks focused on difficulties in implementing the agreements reached at the first round of talks, and that the LTTE had given an assurance to solve problems as they arose.

On the issue of lands under the Military-controlled areas, both Mr. Ramesh and Mr. Segu Dawood said that three committees under the direction of the GA would be formed, with nine representatives from each community, to find solutions to the problems of the people.