Not ministerial portfolios for discredited politicians
By Latheef Farook
Muslims
who voted for President Maithripala Sirisena as a whole seems to be a
disturbed lot today. They voted in the hope of solutions to their
burning problems and not reward their discredited politicians with
ministerial portfolios.
Their
spontaneous decision to vote for President Maithripala was the result
of their losing confidence on their politicians who, true to their past
record, once again failed to raise issues concerning the community.
This
has been the main topic of discussion in almost every gathering, from
dinner parties to wedding parties, and that too at all levels ever since
Muslim politicians were awarded with ministerial portfolios for joining
Maithripala Sirisena camp.
Their
common grievance is that Muslims throughout the country voted for this
government on their own, without being influenced by their politicians
or any others, to free themselves from the atrocities unleashed by state
backed racist elements such as Bodu Bala Sena.
They
were not only fed up with defeated president Mahinda Rjapakse
government for its open support to saffron gangs who terrorized the
community but were also fed up with their own politicians for clinging
on to the very same government which protected these lawless elements.
Time and again Muslims of all walks of life expected their politicians
to either get their government to solve their burning issues or leave
the government to send a message that they are concerned about
community’s interest. However they failed, but continued to be
constituent members of the Rajapaksa government which openly allowed
racist mercenaries to continue their attacks on Muslim religious places,
business establishments and other such places aimed at crippling the
community.
As
a result helpless and voiceless Muslims were left with no one to turn
to. This is the reason why the community rejected their politicians and
voted for President Sirisena.
On
the other hand these politicians were weighing the pros and cons of
clinging on to the then government and joining the then opposition
presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena till last minute. Finally,
days before the 8 January 2015 presidential elections, they realized the
growing countrywide support to Mr. Maithripala Sirisena camp and joined
them leaving the government. Thus they supported President Sirisena for
their own benefits and not in the interest of the community or the
country.
“Under
such circumstance why should they be rewarded with ministerial
portfolios which are of no use in solving community’s main issues? This
is the question Muslims all over the country ask.
Many
point out that the policy adopted by the Tamil National Alliance, TNA,
which supported President Sirisena, but did not accept ministerial
portfolios as they were keen solving serious issues faced by Tamils.
Thus
from the time they decided to support Mr. Maithripala Sirisena they
were calling for solutions to Tamil problems. This strategy started to
work with President Sirisena himself calling for the need to return
lands illegally acquired by the previous government.
A
senior Tamil journalist told me in Colombo that it is a welcome sign
that the government began taking confidence building measures. He cited,
in this regard, the appointment of a Tamil as chief justice, a Tamil as
governor of the Western province, a Tamil as governor of central bank
and other such measures such as stopping land about to be acquired just
after the elections.
Besides
there were other positive developments too. For example the military
governor was removed and a civilian was appointed as the new governor in
the north. Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran
assured that she would specially concentrate on more than 8000 women who
became widows due to the war in the North and Eastern Provinces
Added
to this Minister of Resettlement and Reconstruction and Hindu Affairs
D.M.Swaminathan disclosed that the government has assured that its
utmost priority under the 100 day program is the resettlement of the
remaining Internally Displaced People, IDPs, and repatriation of Tamil
Refugees living in India. He assured that he would take necessary steps
to resettle them in their places of origin with the required
facilities.
Added
to all these Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph said that President
Maithripala Sirisena assured him that Tamil political prisoners who were
languishing in prison would be released within a year without any
action being filed against them.
These are all positive developments welcome by all those who are keen on reconciliation and communal harmony.
Now
the question Muslims in general ask is why not Muslim politicians take
up serious problems faced by the community and help solve at least
urgent ones within the 100 days.
For example;
01-
Around 130,000 Muslims, according to some latest estimates, evicted
from north by the LTTE quarter century ago, are still awaiting
resettlement. Rajapakse government, with a hostile agenda towards
Muslims, took no initiative to solve this problem and virtually turned
blind eye to their plight. Today they remain abandoned.
02-In
the east Muslim owned cultivable lands forcefully taken over by Tamils
during the LTTE war are yet to be returned. However no one is interested
and the victims continue to suffer.
03-
Muslims who lived in small villages around Batticaloa during the ethnic
war moved to Batticaloa for safety. These Muslims wanted to return to
their lands, but unable to do so with no one taking any interest in
their plight. There are such disputes in many areas awaiting settlement.
04-Land
issue, involving more than 30,000 acres, remains the most burning one
in the entire east affecting relations between communities and thus the
urgent need for settlement to pave the way reconciliation.
05-This
situation was further aggravated by Rajapaksa government’s sinister
Sinhalisation program under which Muslim owned lands were acquired by
armed forces under the guise of security purpose.
06-
Muslim owned land acquired by the armed forces in Pulmoddai and the
hardships caused to them there. Muslims in the area also explained the
implications involved in the utilization of these lands for various
purposes.
7- Muslim owned land forcibly acquired in other areas.
6-
Five hundred houses built by Saudi government for Muslim tsunami
victims in a model village in the Akkaraipattu district gather dust
covered with growing jungle as they were not allowed to occupy. It was
built as a model village with all facilities. However the project
remains a symbol of discrimination and chauvinism. This was especially
so in the context of the shameful and heartless robbing by the system
of billions of dollars of aid flowed into the country to help tsunami
victims .There are Muslim tsunami victims still living in huts ignored
by all?
07-Fishermen
in the area face numerous problems due to obstacles they face ever
since Oluvil Harbour was built .This issue needs immediate solution to
ensure fishermen’s livelihood.
Muslims
expect solutions to these problems and so far no Muslim minister or
parliamentarian took up these issues. This is the reason why the Muslim
community is convinced that ministerial portfolios are of no use to
them.
However
there is a general feeling among Muslims that even in the forthcoming
parliamentary elections they would vote for President Maithripala
Sirisena’s candidates as they are convinced that, though an uphill task,
yet he is the only leader who could bring about reconciliation and move
the country ahead for the benefit of all.
Though
Muslim ministers and parliamentarians failed to attend to these needs
the National Shoora Council, the umbrella organization of 19 different
organizations, had submitted a memorandum to all highlighting some of
the major issues which need urgent attention. Ends
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