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| Tuesday, 2 December 2003 |
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| Muslim MPs complain about Trinco situation to Speaker by our Parliament correspondents Government Muslim MPs from the Trincomalee district yesterday requested Speaker Joseph Michael Perera to summon the Defence Secretary and Interior Ministry Secretary to discuss the tense situation in Trincomalee district. Trincomalee district Muslim MPs including Deputy minister of Housing Basheer Segudawood and M.A.M. Maharoof came to the Speaker's Chair personally to make the request. Responding to the request, the Speaker said he would take whatever within his power to redress the situation. MP Maharoof in his speech explained the tense situation arisen in the Trincomalee district, following the killing of seven people during the past seven days. He accused the LTTE of creating this situation. The MP said that not a single Muslim has weapons to face this situation or to create such a situation in the area. Chief Government Whip and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe endorsed the Muslim MPs' view and urged the Speaker to summon the Defence Secretary, Interior Ministry Secretary and three Forces Commanders to discuss the situation. The House turned unruly as JVP Parliament group leader Wimal Weerawansa rose to explain that the insecure situation in Trincomalee was due to the so-called peace process undertaken by the UNF Government. The Speaker disallowed Weerawansa's comments saying that he cannot permit him to make political speeches instead of expressing views on the subject matter. In the face of strong protests, the Speaker said he was not acting according to the JVP or the UNP. Kandy district PA MP Tilina Bandara Tennakoon, was his feet to express views, said the insecure situation in Trincomalee arose following the implementation of the so-called peace process of the UNF Government. He said the President, though she took over the Ministries of Defence and Interior, cannot take the responsibility of this situation since this situation was there for the last two years. The Muslim MPs are scheduled to discuss the Trincomalee situation today, during an adjournment motion moved by Deputy minister Basheer Segudawood. |
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