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Sri Lanka Tamils, Muslims iron out differences at Thai talks
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.
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