Muslim MPs' Forum undecided on delegation for Geneva talks

BY RASHOMI Silva

THE Muslim MPs' Forum, the Muslim legislators body that looks into the concerns of the Muslim community are still debating over the issue of a separate Muslim delegation for the Geneva talks, convenor of the Forum and Minister of Transport A. H. M. Fowzie said yesterday.

The forum dwelt on many issues ranging from the stake of the Muslim community in the peace process to less serious issues such as day-to-day concerns of the community, the Minister said.

"Some of our members were absent, while others had to be in their electorates in view of the upcoming Local Council elections," he said.

"We could not agree on the issue," he said referring to the separate delegation, but stressed that the Forum would not be putting any conditions on the government by unduly pressurising it and risk derailing the peace process, "We would be only advocating our cause," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress said the party stands for a separate delegation for talks which was also one of their election pledges.

Party General Secretary Hassan Ali said: Independent of the stance of the Muslim MPs' forum on the issue the SLMC still stands for a separate delegation. "We want the community to be represented by an independent delegation to that of the government team in Geneva," he said.

"Muslims in the East are facing a lot of hardships, due to the CFA. Therefore, we strongly feel that the community be a part in the CFA revival process," he added.

He said the party also encourages an Indian model for power devolution on ethnic and communal lines and based on non-contiguous units..

Whilst maintaining that, they have not deviated from their initial stance to support government moves to bring an end to the ethnic crisis through negotiations, he said they have an independent stance from that of the UNP, their senior partner in the Parliamentary collation.

"Though we are in the UNF we have a different and independent stance on the peace process," Ali explained, and added the conditions forwarded by the UNP are not applicable to the SLMC.