By Noor Nizam – Sri Lanka Peace Activist, Sri Lanka Political Activist and Independent Freelance Journalist, Canada.

The brotherhood of Muslims and Tamils enacted in Zurich, Switzerland on the 20th., to the 22nd., of November was indeed a special event to consider in the present scenario of political challenges that are thrown to the turf of national politics in Sri Lanka. Was the political playing arena in Sri Lanka not enough to stage this drama in Colombo or was it that the cools of the autumn of Switzerland was needed to nurse this bondage of political consensus between the political leaders of the Muslim community and the Tamil community of Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The media and the local press call this as the first of such meeting in the recent past, aiming for political consensus on issues concerning Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Tamil and Muslim minorities.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It has also been reported that the discussions had been arranged at the initiative of Tamil diaspora groups aboard, specially from the UK. The representative photo identifies the members participating at this discussion. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It confirms that it is being attended by several political parties representing almost all shades of Tamil and Muslim political opinion. Some representatives of the Muslim civil society are also seen in the picture. As for the Muslim community, they are fully not represented at this meeting in Zurich.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The supposed to be organizers of this meeting/discussion is the Tamil Information Center based in the UK which has had links with the Tamil militant groups, has had connections to the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil Rehabilitation Organization at one stage.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now this organization is under the control of the Tamil diaspora in Europe as explained by a pro UNF website.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Considering the number of representatives who have been invited to this gathering in Zurich and the secretive handling of the invitations extended, the spending of nearly Rs. 3 million for this drama, an important meeting as some of the representatives attending have mentioned, is full of questions and doubts. Why was so much of money spent for just creating a gathering to chat about the issues of the minorities? Who or which INGO or funding institution allocated funds to the Tamil Information Center to pay for the air travel and board and lodging costs of the invitees? Why was the Muslim representatives engaged with the government or the SLFP not invited? Why women representation had not been invited? Why was there no agenda for the discussions and the names of the main organizers of Tamil Information Center not revealed even until now?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamil and Muslim communities have a right to know who is really behind all these activities and what was the agenda/basis in which the discussions took place. The Muslim community which has been sidelined in all political discussions on the confict resolution to the ethnic problems since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement on February 22., 2002 put through by Norway, cannot be taken for another ride by any means. The fact remains that the Muslim community, which political has the value of a vote bank of nearly 820,000 votes, has much to play in the present political scenario. This resourceful political strength cannot be allowed to be manipulated for the personal or individual gains of certain political or civil society personalities who call themselves the leaders of the Muslim community for all political purposes. The reality of the truth within the Muslim community has now reached a much broader concept, perspective of politics and community understanding.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sri Lankan Muslims are now no longer thinking of party politics or regional groupings.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Muslim intellectuals and academics are much focused towards the common benefits of the community than that of the traditional narrow manner in which they grouped as representing a village, province or political segment or sector supporting a personality in the years bygone. The Muslim migrants, specially the professionals and those who have domiciled abroad, all over the world, specially in the Middle East, Europe and North America, look towards achieving a common goal for the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka, a dedication to support achieve the benefits of a common goal for their kith and kin back in their native Sri Lanka. They and the Muslim community in Sri Lanka have understood that their political leaders have failed to deliver what is political our legitimate dues, respect and rights over the years. These Muslim political personalities got the split votes in a manner that made those representatives been elected as members to the PS, VC, UC, MC,PC and Parliament, not forgetting those who also enjoyed office as nominated MPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s or bonus MPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s as a result of the Muslims voting a specific group.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Muslim Community now demands all Muslim individuals who have been attending the Zurich meeting to immediately bring awareness on the issues discussed at Zurich to the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. The delegates should not come to conclusion that may bind the Muslim community by default with the Tamil community interests that can be detrimental to the present and future political realities of the community.

In case such commitments are necessary, such commitments should be placed before the Muslim community as a whole and be deliberated for further action. In the event of a commitment being formulated, it should be done with the full consensus support of all quarters of the community being involved.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Those Muslim representatives now visiting the cools of the autumn in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Zurich in Switzerland should give due respect to the above and begin to listen to the voices of the community. The political agonies of the community, if not listened to, and remedies formulated, can result in the political representatives holding office being thrown out of politics in the coming elections. Sri Lanka Muslims are no fools anymore to be manipulated by deceptive politicians or political parties, Insha Allah.