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“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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