Therefore, it is obvious that extremist forces have always been employing political strategies to drive a wedge between the Tamil nation and the Muslim community.

On the one hand, the government de-merges the north-east and creates dissension between the two communities and weakens them. That is one strategy. On the other hand, there are moves with ulterior motives to create mistrust and misunderstanding among both communities. That is another strategy.

With the capture of the east by the security forces and with the absence of the presence of the LTTE in the east, the Tamil people are in a pitiable plight. At this juncture, the Muslim people and their leaders have to act with the sense of responsibility.

As far as the Muslims in the east are concerned, they have paid a great price due to the o going struggle and the war in which they have no direct role to play. Their problems cannot be solved by the oppression of another minority by the powers that be.

There is controversy that 99% of the east is a Tamil area and that the Muslims who constitute 30% of the population has only 1% of their land. That is a reasonable issue.

There are 5 TNA Parliamentarians elected from the Batticaloa district. The other Parliamentarian elected from the Batticaloa district is Ameer Ali of the Sri Lanka Muslims Congress, who crossed over to the government ranks and presently holds a portfolio in President Rajaoakse government.

As an elected representative from Batticaloa representing the Muslim people in the district, he has a duty to look after the interests of the Muslim people. At the same time, he has to act with a high sense of responsibility in respect of Tamil –Muslim problems.

Minister A li is not entitled to act unilaterally on the basis that he is a minister and Parliamentarian. He must realize the reality that there are 4 Tamil MP’s belonging to TNA and elected by the people. These elected TNA Parliamentarians are unable to visit their electorates, meet their Tamil electors and perform their functions due to the prevailing precarious situation in the district.

Therefore, he has a bounden duty to appreciate plight of the people, the prevailing situation and the problems that the TNA Parliamentarians face. This pitiable situation should not be exploited by anybody for vested interests.

The issues such as the resettlement of the Muslims, creation of new educational zones and other matters should not be determined unilaterally by one individual.

Such issues should be sorted out after consultation with the other 4 TNA Parliamentarians, who have been democratically elected and who represent the interests of the Tamil people.

Minister Ameer Ali has a big great role to play in preventing ay dissention between the two communities. He has an honourable role to play to ensure the integration of both communities. It is appropriate to mention here that a match stick can light a lamp or torch.

An English translation of the Editorial in The Sudar Oli, a Tamil daily, based in Colombo

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