Elilan turns down talks with Muslim civil leaders

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 May 2006, 16:51 GMT]
Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), turned down a request made by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) for a meeting between the LTTE and a delegation of Muslim civil leaders in Muttur to take steps to diffuse tension between the two communities, LTTE sources said. Elilan accused the Muslim leaders for serving their own self interests, and for not raising their voices against killing in Muttur east by the Sri Lanka military, sources added.

"I told the SLMM that earlier also we held talks with Muslim civil and religious leaders and signed an understanding to promote harmony and better under standing and to take immediate steps when problems affecting the two communities arose. Muslim leaders are interested only in safeguarding their benefits and personal gains. They did not condemn the aerial attack by Sri Lanka Air Force on Muttur east which killed fifteen Tamil civilians and on a Muslim village in the government controlled Muttur town killing three Muslim civilians.

"Muslim civil community did not deny the statement made by the government that these Muslim civilians were killed by LTTE artillery fire when they were killed in an aerial attack.

"Muslim civil community had not condemned or expressed sorrow over the killing of four Tamil youths in the government controlled Muttur town last week even after I spoke with several Muslim local leaders to take immediate steps to such killings.

"Hence no useful purpose would be served by holding talks with Muslim civil leaders at this stage," Mr.Elilan said.

Monitors of the SLMM based in east port town held talks with Mr.Elilan Monday evening in Muttur east as tension prevails in Muttur after killing of four Tamil youths and a Muslim trader within a week.

Mr.M.S.M.Noor, 45, a trader by profession, was hacked to death Monday early morning at 58th milepost by unidentified persons. During the last week four Tamil youths were shot dead by unidentified persons.

Mr.Elilan blamed the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) working in concert with members of an armed Muslim group for killing Muttur Tamil youths.