by Franklin R. Satyapalan in Kalmunai
SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem yesterday shot down reports in two Tamil dailies alleging that he had set a deadline for withdrawing his support from the UNF government in a letter to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe saying this was a "canard" and "absolutely untrue."

While Hakeem did not deny that he had written to Wickremesinghe expressing disappointment over the postponement of the local polls in the north-east and the noninclusion of SLMC demands in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the LTTE, he said that there was absolutely no truth in the statement that he had threatened to withdraw his support from the government on these issues.

Hakeem who addressed several meetings in the eastern province referred to his disappointment over the postponement of the local elections in the north-east and also said it was unfortunate that the Muslim standpoint was not reflected in the MoU.

During the minister’s eastern swing, he also indicated that the Muslims will hold "awakening" rallies on the lines of the Pongu Tamil (Tamil awakening) events organised by the LTTE. The first of these is due to be held in Kalmunai on April 16.

Hakeem said that he was endeavouring to bolster the peace message among the masses stressing the urgent need for the Muslims to take a united stand on their aspirations, especially of those members of their community living in the north and east.

"That is why I am seeking the endorsement of party members and the community in the east for a unified stand on the future of the Muslim people. There is overwhelming support for our decision to invite all Muslim MPs from different parties to present their views and proposals on the aspirations of the Muslim people,’’ he said. He argued that just because the SLMC was predominantly a Muslim political party, that should not prevent them from reflecting the aspirations of all Sri Lanka for a united stand for a permanent peace at this crucial and historic moment.

Hakeem said that there had been a belief in the south that the security of some areas could only be guaranteed militarily. Similarly, some sections of the Muslim community too felt that their security also necessitated a military role.

"I wish to say that it is only in an atmosphere of peace that the security of all communities can be guaranteed and we Muslims must grasp this at this time when the winds of peace are blowing. We must have faith in Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and support his government in its peace efforts," Hakeem said.

BBC’s Sandesaya programme reported last week that Mr. Vidar Helgesen, the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, had said during an interview in Bangkok that they were well aware of the situation of Muslims in Sri Lanka.

This was in response to a question stating that Hakeem had written to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe complaining that Muslims of the east are being continuously harassed by the LTTE.

Helgesen had told Sandesaya that the position of Muslims is explicitly stated in the ceasefire MoU and measures to restore normalcy and stop harassment are included in the agreement.

If there are continuing allegations of breaches of the ceasefire agreement, they should be dealt with by the Sri Lanka monitoring mission, Helgesen was quoted having said.