| �Restored ancestral Tamil-Muslim affinity and 
			solidarity is the need of the time� 14 February 2005 �Tamils and Muslims, principally by virtue of their mother tongue 
			and historical habitation of the East with togetherness, have a 
			commonality when it comes to sharing power and enjoying freedom with 
			equality in this island and therefore we must make use of this 
			opportunity of restored ancestral Tamil-Muslim affinity and 
			solidarity that has been achieved now to strengthen the ties between 
			the two communities� said Mr.Abdul Jawath, Vice President, 
			Federation of Mosques and Muslim Institutions, Kattankudy in a
			
			meeting on 14 Feb 2005 with the Head of the LTTE Political 
			Division and other senior commanders at Kokkaticholai in Batticaloa.
			 
 Muslim religious heads and representatives from Muslim Civilian 
			Based Organisations from Oddamavadi, Valaichenai, Eravur, 
			Batticaloa, Kattankudy, Nintavur, Sammanthurai, Kalmunai and Amparai 
			participated in this meeting at the LTTE District Political Office 
			in Kokkatticholai, presided over by the Head of the LTTE 
			Batticaloa-Amparai division Mr. Marshall.
 
 In his opening address, Mr.Marshall traced the events during the 
			post-tsunami period when the then Head of the LTTE Batti-Amparai 
			division 
			Mr.Kaushalyan was fostering unity between the two communities 
			and bring them together to face the challenges before them on 
			account of the tsunami impact and lamented that such a leader has 
			been targeted by elements that are opposed to Tamil-Muslim unity.
 
 Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Division traced the 
			ancestral unity that prevailed between the two communities that had 
			many things in common and regretted that political forces that were 
			interested in power and not peoples� interests, created dissension 
			which resulted in suspicion and fear over each other. �We understand 
			and recognise that the Muslim people do have problems over land and 
			their identity and we trust that the right environment has now been 
			created for both the communities to work in unison respecting each 
			others rights� said Mr.Tamilselvan.
 
 Speaker after speaker from the various Mosque federations and Jamiat 
			Ulamas reiterated that the day-to-day problems faced by the Muslim 
			peasantry relates to their lands and that the new LTTE leadership in 
			Batticaloa-Amparai has convinced them that sincere and genuine 
			attempts are being made to settle all disputes through frequent 
			interaction. They also expressed their sense of satisfaction in the 
			manner in which senior LTTE leadership has comprehended the problems 
			and the right approach with which they have moved forward in 
			bringing about amity.
 
 Head of the Eastern Province Jamiat Ulama, quoting the Prophet�s 
			Holy Script Quran, said that Truth, Righteousness and Justice 
			ultimately wins and therefore the Tamil Freedom struggle based on 
			those three cardinal principles, would eventually win. 
			Mr.Balakumaran, Mr.Para, Head of the Tamil Eelam Judiciary and 
			Special Commander Bhanu also addressed the gathering. Free exchange 
			of ideas between the leaders in a most cordial atmosphere, was a 
			special feature in this confab.
 
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