Eastern Muslims hold peace rally

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 02:10 GMT]
A Peace rally organized by the Eastern Muslim Mosques' Federation (EMMF) expressing solidarity for the Muslims of Muthur and Thoppur who had been displaced in the recent fight between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was held Wednesday morning in the Ashraff Square at Kattaiady in Kalmunai municipal area in the Amparai district, sources in Amparai said.



The event concluded with the proclamation of Muthur Declaration. Large number of Muslim people from Ottamavadi to Pottuvil in the east participated in the peace rally that demanded permanent peace and equal participation of Muslims in the future peace process, sources said.

Processions from about ten villages, Ottamavadi, Kattankudy, Eravur, Valaichchenai, Maruthamunai, Malikaikadu, Ninthavur, Akkaraipattu and other Muslim suburbs in the east arrived in Ashraff Square around 10.30 a.m.

Thereafter, a special Dua prayer was held in memory of those Muslim men, women and children killed in Muthur and Thoppur, sources said

EMMF President Alhaj Moulavi S.L.M.Haniffa presided over the event. A ten-point Muthur Declaration was read out at the conclusion of the event, sources said.

"The Government of Sri Lanka should take meaningful action immediately to resettle the Muthur Muslim people displaced due to the recent fight in their historical habitat before the end of 2006.

"The GOSL should appoint a three member Presidential Commission comprising retired Supreme Court Judges to inquire into the causes for the displacement of Muslim people from Muthur and Thoppur.

"The GOSL should take steps to provide adequate compensation to the affected Muslim people for their loss of lives, properties and the economy.

"The GOSL and LTTE should stop fighting and to take steps to recommence the peace process and should recognise the internal self determination right of the North East Muslims in the future peace talks. Muslims should be allowed to participate in the future peace talks as a separate entity by the GOSL and the LTTE," the Declaration appealed.

The declaration criticized the LTTE for making the historical habitat of Muslim people in Muthur and Thoppur a battle ground. The historical blunder made in Jaffna by forcing out Muslim people from the peninsula has been repeated in the Muthur and Thoppur this time, the declaration added.

The GOSL should not fail in its moral obligation to safeguard the Muslim people in Muthur and Thoppur, the Declaration stressed.