HVK Archives: Chandrika is upset as Muslim Cong. hobnobs with LTTE
Chandrika is upset as Muslim Cong. hobnobs with LTTE - The Times of India
Seema Guha
()
6 July 1997
Title: Chandrika is upset as Muslim Congress hobnobs with LTTE
Author: Seema Guha
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 6, 1997
There have been conflicting reports from Colombo of an apparent deal
between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka
Muslim Congress. Given the LTTE's past record of attacks and massacre of
Muslim peasants in the eastern province, a rapprochement between the Tigers
and the Muslim Congress raises some fundamental questions about the often
murky politics of Sri Lanka's ethnically mixed eastern province.
Recently, some local newspapers wrote about the Muslim Congress' threat to
walk out of President Chandrika Kumaratunga's People's Alliance coalition.
Their threatened action is in protest over the shifting of
telecommunication minister M.L. Hisbullah to science and technology.
Apparently Ms Kumaratunga, miffed by intelligence reports of the Muslim
Congress hobnobbing Faith the LTTE in the east, had decided to clip Mr
Hisbullah's wings.
The minister from Batticaloa was suspected of having got the green signal
from the Tigers to go ahead with repairing the telecom system in the
province. In return, lie is said to have given the LTTE at least four
satellite communication sets and provided the militants with a large number
of motorbikes.
Despite the continuing bloody battle between the army and LTTE, Sri Lanka's
political parties are quietly preparing for President Chandrika
Kumaratunga's peace package, scheduled to be placed in Parliament in
September. Intense negotiations between the Tamil political parties and the
Muslim Congress in Colombo appears to be headed towards solving the tricky
issue of creating a Muslim enclave in the eastern province.
Tamil groups, often at loggerheads with the LTTE, had in the past joined
forces to opposes separate provincial council for the Muslims in the east.
The LTTE argues that as the Muslims in the eastern province speak Tamil
there is no need to create a separate council for them.
If the peace proposals go through, the Sinhala areas would now be joined
with the southern province, while a separate provincial council will be
formed for the Muslims living in the Tamil areas and the Tamils in the
north and cast will shire one council.
H.M.H. Ashroff, the leader of the Muslim Congress has since 1987 fought for
a separate enclave for his people. The non-LTTE Tamil parties who were
earlier opposed to the idea have now mellowed and are willing to consider
autonomy for the Muslims.
Mr Ashroff a shrewd politician, however, seems to have realised that for
future security of his people lie needs to have his lines open to the LTTE.
The slaughter of hundreds of Muslims by the Tigers has convinced him that
neither the government nor the lion LTTE Tamil parties can provide security
to his people. This can only be assured by the Tigers. it is this that has
probably prompted the Muslim Congress to have a secret deal with the LTTE.
It is also being speculated here that Mr Ashroff has deputed his colleague
Mr Hisbullah, the MP from Batticaloa, to strikes deal with the militants,.
The LTTE, which is at the moment in a quandary despite limited success in
slipping behind the enemy lines and inflicting occasional heavy casualties
on the security forces, can do with whatever help Muslim villagers are,
willing to extend. It is difficult for the Sinhalese police or army to
distinguish between the Tamil Muslims, Hindus and Christians and the Tigers
can well hide in Muslim villages when the going gets tough.
The Tigers do not acknowledge the authority of the government in Colombo
and. in the past months consistently refused to allow rehabilitation work
in the areas of the north and cast still under their control. The smooth
progress in restoring telecom links under Mr Hisbullah have raised
suspicions in Colombo. The President acting in anger changed Mr Hisbullah's
portfolio, but later gave in to the Muslim Congress threat and returned the
communication ministry. Sinhala suspicions against the Muslims however remain.
The busting of a spy ring in the Lankan army, when Muslim soldiers leaked
information to the Tigers, can only add to the insecurity of the army. For
the time being when the LTTE is hard-pressed it makes perfect sense to take
the hand of friendship offered by the Muslims. But the LTTE cannot afford
to accept the creation of a Muslim enclave in the long run. Mr Ashroff is
familiar with the LTTE's penchant for switching loyalties when it pleases.
There can be no guarantee that the truce with the Tigers will last long.
Back
Top
|
