Source: Daily News Wednesday 21, June 2000
http://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/2000/06/21/new02.html
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LTTE has still not stopped killing Muslims

by Ranga Kalansooriya 

Muslims are always for a united Sri Lanka and they could never be diverted into the stream of violence, Muslim political and community leaders said. 

"We do not want to divert ourselves from democratic politics to separatism," they stressed. 

The Muslim leaders were responding to recent newspaper reports which alleged that the LTTE has made an open appeal to Muslims in the Eastern Province to join them. 

"How can we join a group that massacred hundreds of our brothers in the East," they asked. 

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader, Ports Development, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Minister M.H.M. Ashraff said that the Muslims have never supported separatism. 

"We always fought to preserve the unity and integrity of the country," the Minister stressed. 

He clarified this as a `plant' on the internet, not an accurate story. "I checked with my members of the party in the East and they confirmed to me that there were no such leaflets in their areas." 

"I am really disappointed the way it was carried by certain newspapers. Even in that internet story there was nothing about a Muslim Eelam. This is what we call irresponsible journalism," the Minister said. 

"It is total rubbish," he rejected the story. 

"The only interpretation that I can give on this issue, if there was such a move by the LTTE, that they (LTTE) have conceded the rights of the Muslims to live in this region," he added. 

Sri Lanka Muslim Kachchi Leader and recent Presidential Candidate Abdul Rassul said the LTTE should make an open apology to Muslims for killing them and chasing them away from their villages. 

"They have still not stopped the killing of Muslims. We do not trust them," Mr. Rassul said. 

UNP Parliamentarian A.H.M. Azwer said that the Muslims all over the country have a common stand, "a united Sri Lanka". 

"Where ever they may be - East or West - North or South, we will never be involved in an armed struggle. From the time of monarchy we were with the majority and there is no reason to divert from democracy," he said. 

Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Alavi Mowlana said that the entire Muslim community have the utmost faith in democracy and especially in President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. 

"According to my sources the story of the alleged LTTE leaflets is not accurate," Minister Mowlana said. 

"We have a well structured mechanism to spell out our grievances. We, the minorities have fullest confidence in the democratic arena. We have fora to talk and argue. Why should we divert ourselves?," the Minister asked. 

"We always prefer the democratic non-violent path," he added.