TNA holds election meeting in Trinco Muslim village

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 March 2004, 21:08 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader, Mr.Sampanthan, launched the village level campaign for the forthcoming general election in the Trincomalee district from Pulmoddai, a traditional Muslim village, about 60 km north of the eastern Trincomalee town Tuesday. Two meetings were held in Pulmoddai in support of the sole Muslim candidate in the Trincomalee district list, Mr. A.H.Sahul Hameed, sources said.

Mr.Sampanthan said that the TNA has shown its true spirit by nominating a Muslim candidate that Muslims are a part and parcel of a political solution to the Tamil national question.

"We cannot find a peaceful solution to the ethnic problem leaving aside Muslims of northeast and also undermining the political and other legitimate aspirations of Muslims in northeast," he said. "Tamils cannot live in the northeast doing injustice to Muslims, another minority community."


Retired teacher Mr.Wahid speaking at the TNA election meeting in the Muslim village, Pulmoddai, Tuesday.



Sri Lanka's current crisis has been due to the dictatorial and undemocratic attitude of majority community in the country by refusing the rights of minority communities in the sphere of land distribution, education and development of their areas and to ensure the security in their historical habitat in the northeast since the island gained political independence, said Mr.Sampanthan.

Muslims should not fear about the Tamil's prominent role in the proposed ISGA of LTTE. TNA has clearly stated in its election manifesto released Tuesday that Muslims would be allowed to decide their role and representation in the ISGA administration, stressed Mr.Sampanthan. "The LTTE leadership has been firm in its commitment that the rights and political aspirations of Muslims should be safeguarded on par with Tamils in the proposed ISGA."

"Two third of Muslims in the country have been living along with Sinhalese in the rest of the country excluding northeast amid problems and clashes between them by adopting a forget and forgive policy. Why could the same policy not be adopted in the northeast province where one third of Muslims in the country have been living with Tamils for centuries?" asked Mr.Sampanthan.

Addressing the first election meeting in Pulmoddai where the island's only Ilmenite factory is located, Mr. Sampanthan, the lead candidate in the TNA list for the Trincomalee district appealed to the Muslims in the northeast that they should become a partner in the proposed Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), to develop their areas.


Former TNA parliamentarian Mr.Thurairatnasingham speaking at the Pulmoddai election meeting and ( L-R ) TNA candidate Mr.Sahul Hameed, Mr.R.Sampanthan, Mr.S.Sanmuganathan. Mr.Meera Saiboo( JP who presided and Mr.Wahid are seen next to the candidates.



Participation of Muslim representatives would be ensured at the proper time in the peace talks when the proposed ISGA is ready to be formulated for implementation. Hence Muslims need not entertain unnecessary fear about their future in the northeast interim administration, said Mr.Sampanthan.

"We, minority communities, have been suffering at the hands of a majority community since the country gained political independence. Tamils would not cause any harm to another minority community when a lasting political solution is found for the ethnic problem," said Mr.Sampanthan.

TNA candidates Mr.K.Thurairatnasingham, S.Shanmuganathan and A.H.Sahul Hameed and several others also spoke. A leading citizen of Pulmoddai Mr.Meera Saiboo (Justice of the Peace) presided. Mr.M.M.Wahid also spoke.


Mr.Sampanthan speaking at the Pulmoddai meeting held Tuesday.

 

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