Sattahip, Sept 17: Sri Lanka's minority Muslims, who could make or break peace talks underway here, have clinched an agreement with Tamil Tiger rebels on resolving their differences, official sources said today. The only Muslim delegate in the four-member Sri Lankan government team, Rauf Hakeem, has been invited by the rebels for a separate meeting with top guerrilla leaders to hammer out outstanding issues, the sources said. As the second largest minority, Muslims have considerable political leverage over the co-habitation government. "Muslims must be on board for the talks to succeed and give it credibility," Hakeem said before he sat down as a member of the government delegation to talk peace with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Hakeem, who is also the minister of ports in the Colombo cabinet, said he hoped to play a "pivotal role" in the peace process.

LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham acknowledged recognition of the Muslims as a key factor and noted that the island's north-east was also the "traditional homeland" of the community.
Despite such apologies, inter-communal tensions have continued to simmer. Both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government have an interest in keeping Hakeem and his Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) on board because their withdrawal could bring down the Colombo administration.

Bureau Report