Jaffna Muslims express solidarity with LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 February 2004, 15:48 GMT]
"We accept the leader of Libertion Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Pirapaharan, as our leader. We are not in a position to accept the leadership of Rauf Hakeem from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress," said Al Aleem Marleen, President of the Jaffna Muslims Peace Consortium speaking to reporters in Jaffna.

Jaffna Muslims are organizing a march Friday in Jaffna town to emphasize the need for permanent peace.

"By its recent actions, LTTE has clearly demonstrated its desire to satisfy the aspirations of the muslim people," said Mr.Marleen.

By its recent actions, LTTE has clearly demonstrated its desire to satisfy the aspirations of the muslim people. Aleem Marleen, President, Jaffna Muslims Peace Consortium

"Col.Kittu, Lt.Col.Thileepan and several others from Jaffna worked together with muslim people in Jaffna and sacrificed their lives for the benefit of all tamil speaking people. Mistakes were made during the heat of war with the Sri Lanka state and muslims went through a lot of hardship. However, we are happily resettled back in our own homes in Jaffna and muslim people in Vanni also have expressed the same feeling," added Mr.Marleen.

"We do not agree with the views of SLMC casting aspersions on the integrity of the LTTE. On the other hand, I am disappointed that the SLMC has failed in safeguarding and promoting the interests of Muslim people," said Mr.Marleen.