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LTTE proposals and their impact on Muslim community

by A. M. Sameem

The LTTE proposals should be read in conjunction with the Thimpu Declarations and with the 'Heroes Day' speech of their leader Prabakaran. Their proposals are based on their policy declarations at the Thimpu talks held on July 30, 1985 let me, quote;

"It is our considered view that any meaningful solution to the Tamil National question must be based on the following four conditional principles."

1. Recognition of the Tamils of Ceylon as a nation.
2. Recognition of the existence as an identified homeland for the Tamils of Ceylon.
3. Recognition of the right of self-determination of the Tamil nation.
4. Recognition of the right of citizenship and the fundamental rights of the Tamils of Ceylon (Unquote).

This is the basis of their demand.

Next we should read the speech of the LTTE Leader Prabakaran made on the Heroes' Day on 27.11.2003.

Prabakaran relates the struggle of the Tamils under the oppressive rule of the majority Sinhalese. He refers to the various attempts made by the Tamils for a peaceful solution of their problem. Quote. Every time an agreement was made it was torn and thrown into the dustbin due to the pressure brought by the Sinhala racists. The Tamils only wanted Regional Self Rule under a unitary system of government ruled by the majority Sinhalese. He said that instead, they were suppressed with violence. Their lands taken over, their rights denied, and many were either tortured or killed. They had to take to arms to defend themselves, but the oppression of the Sinhala Government went beyond the limits of human rights. Their homeland was destroyed.

Their houses were bombed and many were made destitutes and had to leave their homes as refugees. The atrocities of the Sinhala Government knew no bounds. After 20 years of war what they are asking is to live in peace and develop their land, rehabilitate their people and reconstruct their destroyed land. For this, they want an interim council with authority for a short period. This in short, is the leader's speech.

He also gave a warning, that if the Sinhala Government does not concede the above demands, there will be no alternative, but to go to war.

The above two documents, the Thimpu Declarations and Prabakaran's speech throw light on the background to the LTTE proposals for an ISGA.

Let us examine the LTTE proposals in detail. The proposals have a preamble which traces the history of Tamil struggle, Tamil demands and the complete rejection of the Tamil demands by the Sinhala majority government. The last straw which broke the camel's back was the expulsion of the Representative of the Tamils from the Parliament.

The entire composition of the ISGA shows that the LTTE will control this Authority and the LTTE will enjoy the monopoly of power. It is doubtful whether any other so-called representative will even have a say in the activities of the LTTE dominated ISGA. The LTTE backed by its military force will exercise dictatorial power in the Region. The LTTE is a fighting unit. It will maintain its Fascist character in its governance of the Region.

The police and the other security forces and even the judiciary will be under the control of the ISGA. The ISGA will exercise even financial power. The ISGA will have complete control over land distribution, resettlement, rehabilitation etc., In short the ISGA will exercise all the powers that the Sri Lankan Government is exercising at present. In other words, it will function as a separate state with all the ramifications of an independent state. At no place is it stated that the Muslim or the Sinhala minorities in the region will be given an equal share in the governance of the region.

More than 100,000 Muslims have been displaced and are living as refugees in other parts of island. The Muslim in the East are essentially an agricultural community while the majority of Muslims in the North are a trading community. Land is the backbone of the economy of the Muslims in the East. Most of the agricultural lands of the Muslims are in Tamil populated areas and the lands which were leased to the Tamils for cultivation, are now being owned by the tenant farmers who are Tamils and the Tamil tenants could claim prescriptive rights over these lands. To all intents and purposes the Muslims have lost these lands.

The LTTE proposals and Prabakaran's speech refer to rehabilitation and resettlement of the Tamils and nowhere have they mentioned the Muslims' plight. During the 5-year period the LTTE with its police and judicial powers may either eliminate the Muslims in their region or resort to ethnic cleansing of Muslims, so that not a single Muslim will be left in the Eastern Region. The Hindu animosity against Islam as seen in the Indian sub-continent will have its repercussions in this Hindu dominated region.

The Muslims although they speak the Tamil language are essentially a religious community. They differ from the Tamils not only in religion but also in culture. The Muslim Culture is based on the Teachings in Islam and are diametrically opposed to the Hindu Culture. There could be a clash of civilisations. The fact that the Muslims of Nallur were driven out of this area, centuries ago may be repeated in other areas in the region. The LTTE's demand of complete control over sea around the area will toll the death - knell for Muslim fishing. The Muslims who live near the sea coast, earn their living from fishing and when there is rivalry between the two communities, It goes without saying that the scale will tilt towards the Tamils.

The trading activities of the Muslims would come to a grinding halt. Already we could see the activities of the LTTE cadre in the Batticaloa town of forcing the Muslim pavement hawkers from their places of trade and replacing them with Tamil traders. The extortion or kappam insidiously called 'tax' on the Muslim traders in Kalmunai and Kattankudy is a forerunner to what is to come under an LTTE dominated administration. The partisan attitude of the Police in Gujarat and Coimbatur in Tamil Nadu, when the Muslims were hacked to death and their houses and businesses establishments burnt down, may be repeated in an LTTE Government. What is the assuarance the Muslims have about their safety in such a situation?

The root cause of the Kinniya incident is the forcible occupation of a Muslim school and its land by the Tamils who called themselves refugees, ably supported by the LTTE cadre. The Sri Lankan Government under Chandrika Kumaratunga could not prevent the forcible expulsion of the Muslims from Jaffna and Mannar, where they have been living for centuries by contributing immensely to the economic prosperity of both these areas. The weak-kneed policy of the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government just turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed against the Muslims in Kinniya, Mutur and Valaichenai etc.

The UNF Government is prepared to sacrifice the Muslims at the altar of the so-called peace initiatives by the GOSL and to get the applause of the international community for its commitment to peace. Never did the leaders of the UNF Government think of the plight of the Muslims and never did they offer an alternative solution to ameliorate the grievances of the Muslims when they talked of peace with the LTTE. They did not have a plan for the Muslims in their agenda.

They had Rauf Hakeem, the leader of SLMC, as only a member of the government team. Only after the pressure brought out by the Muslims of the east in one voice, that Rauf Hakeem started talking of a Muslim Delegation because he feels his leadership is at stake. Although the Muslims are insistent in their demands for a Muslim delegation, the government is only paying lip-service, saying it understands the plight of the Muslims but doing nothing. The statement of Ferial Ashraff that the Muslims of the east will take to arms if their grievances are not settled is a loud-sounding nothing, which can bring more problems to the Muslims.

There needs to be a strong voice and it should be in one voice that the Muslim demands be met. The Ranil Wickremesinghe Government will drag its feet with regard to the settling of the Muslim problem. The fact that this government is backed by the USA and Israel and the fact that there are in the party and the Cabinet supporters of US policy, the future of the Muslim Community is doomed.

The USA and Israel are determined to exterminate the Muslims wherever they are, in the name of anti-terrorism. It is an irony, that the Muslims as a whole are identified as 'terrorists' while the USA and Israel are massacaring innocent Muslims in Iraq and Palestine. We have in our midst Ministers who openly support the terrorist activities of both USA and Israel and one Minister is on record saying that the USA should act as a policeman of the world. The Sri Lankan Muslims are peanuts to the USA and Israel, when compared to their anti terrorism against the Muslim countries.

They have stabilized bases in Central Asia in Kazakastan, Kyrgistan, Tajikistan not to mention Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain and Oman. Their next target is Sri Lanka. The UNF government with its pro USA policy will do anything to satisfy its masters. The Muslims can never hope to get justice from the UNF government. The Muslims of the eastern region welcomed the take over of the Ministries of Defence and Internal Security by the President. But their jubilation is short-lived when the Muslims are being killed and tortured under the Chandrika administration.

What hope can the Muslims have on Chandrika when she appoints one of the accused in the Udathalavinna massacre of ten Muslims at the last General Elections as the national organizer of the SLFP. Her track record of blaming the Muslims in the incidents in Mawanella and other places in the clash between the Sinhalese and Muslims should be an eye-opener for the Muslims. Can we trust Chandrika? It is a debatable point.

The entire LTTE proposals should be reviewed with the Muslim interest in the background. The Muslims of the east are in a dilemma, whether to totally reject the LTTE proposals or suggest amendments within the parameters of the proposals which will safeguard Muslim interests. It is to be noted, that the Muslims form 40% of the population in the east. With the 25% Sinhalese they together form 65% of the population nearly 2/3. To reduce this 2/3 to 'zero' is an affront both, to the Sinhalese and Muslim intelligence. It is the height of absurdity. The LTTE proposals, in actual fact will reduce the Muslims and the Sinhala Communities to nothing.

Solutions
Accepting the LTTE proposals I am suggesting five options.

Options

1. The Muslims and Sinhalese should have equal representation equal to the Tamils in the ISGA.

2.a) A different ISGA for the Muslims with the same authority and power of the Tamil ISGA, to look after the governance of Muslim areas, like the Canton system in Switzerland. b) Similarly, a separate ISGA for the Sinhalese.

3. No law should be passed discriminating the minorities. Although this is mentioned in the LTTE proposals, there is no mention of any action, in case this is violated. In case this clause is violated, the affected party shall have the right to appeal to the Central Government and prevent any such action.

4. Muslim representatives should have the power of veto, to veto any resolution against the Muslim Community.

5. Muslims should be appointed to all the Authorities to be established by the ISGA with adequate say and power on the activities of the authority.

The LTTE is basing its arguments on the principle of self determination. Self determination by any minority in any Nation State is not permitted by the UNO. Self determination by a nation against a foreign power that is occupying its land is recognized. If the Tamils are allowed to have regional autonomy, then this same principle should be applied to the Muslims living in the North-East.

(The writer was a member of the SLMC)

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