Friday, June 20, 2008

Jamiyyathul Ulama dictating terms to Muslim Provincial Councillors



The East liberated from the terrorists, has all the reason to organise itself to live in peace, and harmony. But unfortunately the Muslim Community in the East seems to have decided otherwise.

Like the TNA Parliamentarians who work in consultation with their terrorist superiors, the Muslim Parliamentarians too seem to be controlled by an “unseen” force. The Sinhala Parliamentarians take decisions in consultation with their political leaders, and seek the blessings of the religious prelates, who have no hand in the decisions taken by the Parliamentarians. And so are the Tamil Parliamentarians who take decisions in consultation with their leaders and colleagues, and then go to the Hindu Temple for the blessing for the decision they have taken.

But this does not seem to be so with the Muslim Parliamentarians. They do not seem to take decisions on their own but has to consult an “unseen” force behind them to help them take a decision. This came to light in the process of the appointment of the Chief Minister for the EPC.

When Pillaiyan was to be named the Chief Minister, Hizbullah rebelled and threatened to break away from the Government party and sit separately with his two companions, as an independent group. The President called him and explained the situation and requested to accept Pillaiyan as the Chief Minister, Then Hizbullah said that he will have to consult the Ulema before taking a decision. Is it then the Ulema, which is the “unseen force” that directs the Muslim Parliamentarians in the East.

This was further confirmed in a recent news item in the website Muslim Guardian, where proposals had been made against the TMVP by a Muslim Front Organisation. This is an extract from the news report, which does not auger well for unity and peace in the East.
”…… (MIC - sri Lanka) The Kattankudi Jamiyyathul Ulama had requested all the newly elected Muslim members of the Eastern Provincial Council to boycott its inaugural session to highlight the demand of strengthening security of the Muslim community in the east. Ethnic violence has flared in the east between the Tamil and Muslim communities since the EPC polls were conducted and tense situation prevails in the east putting into question the government claim of having liberated the east from the clutches of the LTTE. Political analysts indicate several possible reasons for the above situation.”

The Muslims in the East are organising themselves to oppose the administration of the East under its Chief Minister Pillaiyan.

This may be the beginning of an ethnic conflict in the East, and it should be stopped before it takes a greater dimension. East is home for the Muslims, Tamils and the Sinhala, therefore the Muslims should accept this reality, and learn to live with the other Communities. If instead, the Muslims were to adopt a confrontational attitude, the situation in East will soon deteriorate and perhaps the terrorists will take the opportunity to infiltrate into the region once again. Therefore, Muslims should change their attitudes for the greater good of the whole country.

Recently I had an e-mail from a friend in America, in which he had mentioned of areas in the East which are open only to the Muslims, where even the Sri Lanka Police is not allowed to enter. My friend had been told that there is a fishing harbour in Beruwela reserved exclusively for Muslim fishermen. He also mentions a Muslim Parliament with modern communication facilities. If the trend in the East is allowed to continue we may soon have other problems to deal with, after Prabhakaran’s war against the people.

We are beginning to see an end of the disastrous period of terrorism in Sri Lanka. This should therefore be made the occasion to build bridges between the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities, forgetting all our differences. The East liberated from the terrorists should be made the beginning of the communal unity. The media which complains of government interference, should wake up to their real responsibility which is to help the people to cast away their mantle of communal isolation, to develop the country together, end enmity and build a lasting solidarity, to wake up tomorrow as a happy nation of Sri Lankans.

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