CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Mr.A.L.M.Athaulla is a Muslim, he stood up for Communal Unity.

By Charles.S.Perera

In the aftermath of the PC Elections in the East, one Muslim Politician stands out conspicuously as a patriotic Sri Lankan who, above all, values unity among the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities. He is a pride to his community for not capitulating to narrow communal sectarian politics of the other Muslim politicians of the East. We bow to his audacity, and wisdom in demonstrating his commitment to unity in the East, in the face of the unprincipled Hisbullah group defied unity.

Mr.A.L.M.Athaulla- the Leader of the Muslim Congress will remain in the minds of all right thinking people as a person of principle, outside the ordinary run of the mill politicians. He did not sell himself for narrow communalism, or for personal prestige and popularity.

Mr.Athaullah could have also walked out with Hisbullah to show his solidarity with the Muslims of the East, but he has a commitment- a commitment to stand for unity with his compatriots of the East no matter whether they are Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim. A war had been fought and won in the East, not for personal benefits for the Muslims, the Sinhalese or the Tamils, but for the benefit of all those who live in the East.

The Muslims in the East, who suffered along with the Sinhala and the Tamils, during the last three decades under terrorism, should show their Islamic generosity in accepting a Tamil as a Chief Minister, more so because of the government's continued effort to free the North from the ruthless terrorists.

When Rishard Badiudeen , a Hisbullah follower was told by Keheliya Rambukwella, and Rajitha Senaratne that he should not make racist proposals as that would only create space for Prabhakaran to creep back into the East, Hisbullah had replied, "we are Muslims, and we will have to answer to the Muslims. Before the election, we promised them that they would have a Muslim Chief Minister if we polled the higher number of votes. After the election, we are saying they can't have a Muslim Chief Minister despite getting the required votes. How can we possibly go before the people?"

Hisbullah had no right to give false hope to his community by promising to get the Chief Ministerial post, for the Muslims. That itself shows his greed for the Office, for personal enrichment. But, in saying that he did not take into account that, if each one of the contestants of the provincial elections promised the Chief Ministerial post to one's own community, it would have been an unsolvable problem. Hisbullah in making that promise to his community has created a communal division in the East, he should make amends not by sitting with his two followers as independents, but by showing his religious generosity in accepting his error, and cooperating with the UPFA under which he contested.

It would otherwise be seen as a fault of the Muslims wanting to help and stand by the Muslims, what ever happens to the other communities. Unlike the rich Arab States giving aid to Islamic countries, or provide money for special projects for Muslim Communities in developing countries, the Muslims in Sri Lanka have a greater responsibilities to extend their hand of friendship to all Communities to bring them together in to a united whole- a Sri Lankan Nation.

The Muslims of the East shutting down shops to join in a manifestation to show their disapproval of appointing Pillaiyan as the Chief Minister, shows that they have short memories. Two years ago it would have been impossible even to think of a democratic election for a Provincial Council in the East.

It was made possible by Karuna breaking away from the LTTE terrorist group, refusing to sacrifice the youths from the East for Prabhakaran's personal war against the Sri Lanka Government. If not for Karuna's fearless act, the East would have been still under the terrorists, and the people caught between the gun battles between the terrorists and the Government forces.

The Muslims in the East were not alone to suffer under terrorism. The Tamils and the Sinhala living in the area went through the same suffering. The Muslims of the East cannot now think only of their suffering. They should wake up to reality, and build unity among the communities, and face the future together to bring peace and prosperity to East of Sri Lanka, without bickering over personal benefits.

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