Muslim
parliamentarians from all political parties have met and resolved to
work together in facing the numerous challenges confronting the Muslim
and other minority communities. Sixteen out of 18 Muslim
parliamentarians who represent the different political parties have got
together for the purpose and written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa
stressing the “numerous challenges on Muslims and other minority
communities from the Buddhist extremist groups.”
The signatories to the letter was a mix of ministers, deputy ministers
and parliamentarians from the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance
(UPFA) as well as other Opposition and allied parties to the ruling
party. They were AHM Fowzie, Rauf Hakeem, ALM Athullah, Rishad
Bathiudeen, Basheer Segu Dawood, Kabir Hasim, Faizer Mustapha, MS
Thowfeek, Faisal Cassim, Hassan Ali, MSM Aslam, MHM Haleem, MLAM
Hisbullah, Unais Farook, Mustapha Bawa Farook.
However, UPFA MPs AHM Azwar and Abdul Cader had not joined in the collective effort by the Muslim politicians.
They also refused the allegations that some families assisted by a
Muslim minister had encroached into the Wilpaththi National Park for
settlement. They asks for the “President’s immediate intervention to
stop the harassment of Muslim lDPs who have lived in different parts of
the country as refugees and as a ‘Forgotten’ people over the last 23
years.”
Following is the full text of the letter:
“We, the Muslim parliamentarians wish to bring to your Excellency's kind
attention the continued hate campaign, intimidation and threats to
Muslims, carried out by some Buddhist extremist elements of the Bodu
Bala Sena (BBS), Sihala Ravaya and Ravana Balakaya organizations. These
groups have been targeting Muslim places of worship, Halal food, the
Muslim attire and now the resettlement of the Muslim lOPs who were
expelled by the LTIE in 1990 in the worst act of ethnic cleansing in the
history of our nation.
Your Excellency, these Muslim lOPs were labeled as "old lOPs" and did
not even benefit from the resettlement scheme implemented by the
Government and International Agencies including the cash grants provided
by the UNHCR. In the absence of any substantial support for their
resettlement, the Muslim religious, political and civil society
leadership has been soliciting support for their resettlement from
benevolent donors of Muslim countries and individuals. There has been
some positive response from some of these donors and a number of houses
have been constructed with their support.
These houses have been constructed following all due procedures of land
distribution through the Divisional Secretariat and the Presidential
Task Force for resettlement. The Bodu Bala Sena and some sections of the
media are highlighting this resettlement now as illegal, stating that
they have encroached the Wilpattu National Park. We the undersigned
kindly request Your Excellency’s immediate intervention to stop the
harassment of these lDPs who have lived in different parts of the
country as refugees and as a ‘Forgotten’ people over the last 23 years.
We thank Your Excellency for your kind intervention.”
