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Past actions count, no decision yet: SLMC
Tuesday, 20 September 2005 - 3:08 AM SL Time
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The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress said agreements reached by the Presidential candidates with other political parties in the past would be taken into consideration in deciding to support a Presidential candidate at the upcoming election.
Addressing the media after participating in the conference of delegates held at Digana Holiday Resort in Kandy, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said although he was concerned about the self-administrative rights of the Muslim community, special attention would be paid on the Presidential candidate who had identified the problems encountered by the Muslim community.
'There are problems which are inherent to the Muslim communities. The candidate who seeks our support should enter into an agreement to solve such problems,' he said adding that he had discussed maters with both the candidates.
However Mr. Hakeem said the SLMC had not arrived at a consensus so far with any one of them. Party representatives including General Secretary Hussain Ali, Bazeer Segu Wahid, M. Faiz and Central Provincial Councillor M. Naimulla participated.
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fahmy
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 55
Member Profile
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20 Sep 2005 11:34:19 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Mr. Rauf Hakeem has had experience working with the present President and the former Prime Minister. Whatever the decision you take is going to affect the Muslims of Sri Lanka. Muslims must be treated as any other community with dignity, self respect equal rights and so on; not as a third class community. 1) Muslims definitely deserve and need to have a separate administrative body in the Eastern Province. 2) Every effort must be taken by the SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem to ensure that the future President of Sri Lanka agrees to recognize the Muslims of Sri Lanka as a community of distinct identity by the constitution. And 3) SLMC must be recognized and accepted as the sole political party representing the Muslims and that it should be given due place and equal status with any other party in any negotiations relating to devolution of power etc.. SLMC cannot represent the Muslims under the UNP or for that matter, under any other party. The SLMC must go for a pact only with the one who agrees to these demands in unambiguous terms, . We should not be taken up by false promises 'chanda gundu' any more. |
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