'Muslims must support President and his Government' - Muslim National Alliance

COLOMBO: "The choice for Muslims - especially those living in the East was very clear. We have to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government if we are to live with self-respect and dignity," said the Secretary General of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) and Presidential Advisor Nazeer Ahamed at a discussion held with the Muttur refugees in Kanthalai.

He went on to say, "all Muslims including Members of Parliament must rally round President Mahinda Rajapaksa at this crucial stage of country's history, if we are to survive as a single nation."

He added, Muslim Members of Parliament should leave aside their political loyalties or any grudge they might have with the Government members and work together as one unit to bring about a permanent and peaceful settlement to the ethnic conflict.

"If we have scores to settle we can do that after peace returns," Ahamed said in a lighter vein. Nazeer Ahamed pointed out that the LTTE had treated Muslims in the most abominable manner. "I don't have to remind you that Muslims who were evicted from their 'historical habitations' in Jaffna were still undergoing untold hardships in refugee camps."

He further stated that if the LTTE was truly sincere in its apology for chasing Muslims away from Jaffna then they must prove their sincerity by paving the way for Muslims to return to their homes and hearths in Jaffna.

He pointed out there were politicians in our midst who play double games sometimes currying favour with the LTTE and then with the Government if the response from the former was not favourable. "The time for double games is over," said the MNA Secretary General.

"The choice is clear, we as Muslims must throw in our lot with President Mahinda Rajapaksa if we are to live with self-respect."