Muslim, LTTE delegations meet in Vavunathivu

[TamilNet, Friday, 30 May 2003, 11:04 GMT]
A Muslim delegation and representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) met Thursday morning in Vavunathivu in Batticaloa district, political sources in Batticaloa said.

Deputy Minister for Housing in the United National Front (UNF) government Mr. Segu Dawood, 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-Amparai Special Commander T. Ramesh, LTTE head of the Political section E. Kausalyan, head of the LTTE Finance division, S. Suvi, head of Economic Development k. Nizam and head of LTTE administration P. Reginald participated on behalf of the LTTE. Parliamentarians Joseph Pararajasingham and Rajan Sathiamoorthy joined the discussions.

Briefing the journalists at the conclusion of the discussions, Commander Ramesh said, "Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding we have allowed Muslim farmers to cultivate their lands in areas within our control. Equally, we are demanding that lands belonging to Tamil people currently under the control of Muslims in areas under control of the security forces be returned back to the original Tamil owners. Otherwise we would be seeking legal redress. The Muslim delegation is supporting our stand."

Both delegations expressed their satisfaction on decisions taken at these joint meetings. Muslim delegation further said that Muslim people are able to lead normal lives with many of the problematic issues resolved.

The representatives further appealed to residents to raise any issues that may arise at the subcommittee meetings.

The LTTE delegation said that issues in farming and agriculture will be discussed by the special agriculture subcommittee and that meetings of the subcommittees will be convened as often as necessary to ensure that normalcy in day to day lives of the Tamil and Muslim people prevails and any problems that arise are promptly resolved.