Muslim Angle in the Sri Lankan Peace Process

by: Syed Ali Mujtaba    (syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com)

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The SLMC has alleged that the LTTE has failed to give them due importance in the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) which it had proposed to the government as a counter proposal to administer the eight districts of the North- East region. This has compelled them to spell out their own course of action.

In Sri Lanka’s ethnic profile, Muslims constitute about 7 per cent of the country’s 20 million population. They constitute about 33 per cent in the eastern province with higher concentration is in Amparai and Batticaloa districts. They speak Tamil but would like to be recognized by their religious and cultural identity. The eastern districts are described as the weakest link in the Sri Lankan peace process being hammered out between LTTE rebels and the government of Sri Lanka.

Muslims have made it clear that they would not like be part of the LTTE controlled North- East territory which is sought by the rebels as “Elam” or homeland of the Tamils. They have taken a stand that in any compromise formula; Muslims should be given a similar guarantee by the LTTE in the areas dominated by them, as what they are demanding from the government of Sri Lanka.

I had an opportunity to discuss the ground realities of the Muslim demand with SLMC leader Rauff Hakim who was recently in Chennai and is a Minister in the Ranil Wickramasinghe’s government.

Rauff Hakim said that it is true that there is serious erosion of confidence among the Muslims in Sri Lanka as they are feeling marginalized in the peace process. He said that Muslims are angry with him because LTTE has flouted the commitment made to the SLMC to ensure the welfare of the Muslims. The LTTE cadres are indulging in extortion, abduction and even killing of the Muslims, Hakim says and sounds furious over these developments.

He says, Muslims youths are becoming restless; some of them have started asking him what he is doing to stop these killings. He bemoans he is being dubbed as a funeral attending leader. The SLMC chief says he has no answers to satisfy his constituency and is finding hard to head Democratic Party.

Hakim said it’s a reality that Sri Lanka is fast becoming a fertile ground of Muslim radicalization. He reasons that the growing alienation among the Muslim youth is making them reactionary. He says the situation at the moment is not very alarming but do not rule out when it may go out of hand.

Hakim scotches off the rumor that Muslims are strengthening themselves militarily. He denied the existence of any Muslim Defence Force. He also said that there is no truth that Muslim Home Guards being armed to teeth. Hakim pointed out that they are merely civilians who are guarding the homes at night.

The SLMC leader says, those engaged in the acts of extremism are not more than six to seven local groups and are not heavily armed. They have small following but warn that if they resolve to become human bomb then it’s going to be terrible scene out there. Hakim says that this dangerous trend should be stopped at once.

The SLM leader argues that it is impossible to carry out an armed struggle by the Muslims in Sri Lanka. There is no cushion of geography, no wherewithal of terrorism among the people and there is no external support. Hakim says, Sri Lankan Muslims have no other way than to fight for their rights in democratic and political way.

Commenting on peace negotiations, Hakim says that since the outset it had been specifically defined that Muslims would be represented in the talks as a separate delegation, however, this has not taken place. Hakim feels that there is a denial to the Muslims in the peace process as he has been attending the talks on behalf of the government and not as a leader of the SLMC. The Muslim leader said that peace talks are fast loosing its credibility among the Muslims and appealed to the LTTE and the government that SLMC should be called separately for the talks when they resume.

Hakim says the question of Muslim identity is well recognized in the Sri Lankan constitution and quoted several clauses that provide safeguards for the Muslims. Among the Tamil side of the divide, he said that moderate parties have always promised safeguards to the Muslims. The LTTE too had been of the same opinion and had specifically talked protecting Muslims interests at the Kilinochi news conference. This was further reinforced in an agreement with the LTTE chief V Prabhkran on 30th April 2002.

Hakim however laments that in the counter proposal, which the LTTE has presented, there is no specific mention of the Muslims, especially in the composition of the Interim Self Governing Authority Council (ISGAC) which alarming. The SLMC leader wonders why there has been a change of stance by the LTTE.

Hakim says he is not happy with the trajectory of the peace process. He points out its flaws and says they need to be corrected before it moves forward. He sounds suspicious when he says he don’t know whether LTTE’s mind and heart both are there in the peace process. He says he is not happy with the Norwegian peace facilitators either but calls them as necessary evils because the LTTE’s trust them. Hakim says to build trust among the parties is a difficult task and therefore Norwegians are unavoidable.

Rauff Hakim says he is disappointed with the wrangling between the two Sinhala leaders. SLMC has experience of working with both them, as it was first part of the SLFP led People Alliance (PA) when Chandrika Kumartunge sought mandate and now it is part of the UNP led government headed by Ranil Wikramasinghe. Hakim says he can say with authority that the chemistry between the two leaders is not right and both have pathological aversion to each other.

Hakim thinks that the bipartisanship in the peace process provides a window of opportunity. It has an international focus and before that shifts, the peace deal must be clinched. He however calls the peace process as irreversible. It is a peace trap, which is good for every one, says Hakim adding that no one wants to see the resumption of hostilities again.

About India’s role in the Sri Lankan peace process, Hakim says frankly Muslims felt betrayed by the Indo- Sri Lankan accord in 1987. The accord did not recognize the sentiments of the Muslims but he reasons that then Muslims themselves had to blame, as they did not had any political organization to represent their case.

The SLMC leader adds that things have changed since then and India’s current stand that the interim solution should the integral part of the final solution of any peace process is very balanced. He adds that India has made it clear that the de facto status should not become de jure until it is acceptable to all section of Sri Lankan people.

Talking about the fall out of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and India’s interest in Sri Lanka, Hakim says, it is true that India has lost its edge in Sri Lanka since that incident but there is two facets this story. One that the LTTE has got emboldened that India would be reluctant to step into Sri Lanka, but secondly it also feels threatened that India would never come to their side again. Notwithstanding these facts India goodwill matters in the peace deal, says SLMC leader adding that it is New Delhi, alone which can bring the southern parties together and help kick-start the peace process.

As things stands in Sri Lanka, the LTTE has submitted a counter proposal in response to government, which tantamount to asking for a de jure status of a separate homeland comprising northeast provinces of the island. The Sri Lanka Muslim’s which dominates the eastern province have urged the government to allow them to establish a unit exclusively by themselves with a view to maintain their identity. All eyes are set on government’s response to the LTTE’s counter proposal as well as to the Muslims demand. However, at the moment Sri Lanka’s President and Prime Minister are engaged in bitter feud over the handling of the peace process. The possibility of the dissolution of the Parliament looms large. Sri Lanka’s peace process has reached a critical stage.