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SLMC rebels vow to remain defiant
By Nilika de Silva
SLMC rebel group leader and non-cabinet minister A. L. M. Athaullah vowed yesterday that he and eight others would continue their boycott of parliament despite a call from party leader Rauff Hakeem to end the rebellion forthwith.

Mr. Athaullah told The Sunday Times that all nine dissidents were sticking to their decision and even parliamentarian Rizath Badiudeen, who had attended Friday's high command meeting and reportedly signed a document would continue the boycott.

With the SLMC in crisis and nine MPs openly defying party leader Hakeem, the high command held an emergency meeting on Friday night and ended up early yesterday with tough talk from the leader.

The nine SLMC rebels stayed away during voting time on important bills in parliament reducing the UNF to what the PA described as a "minority government."

According to party sources only one of the nine dissident MPs were present at the all night meeting where Mr. Hakeem urged them to end the defiance and the boycott lest the SLMC should lose its leverage in parliament. The SLMC's 13 votes have given it a decisive role in the UNF government but on Thursday and Friday only three SLMC MPs voted for the government.

Mr. Hakeem warned that impulsive and imprudent decisions by MPs would also weaken the party in its negotiations with the government and the LTTE to get a fair deal for the Muslims.

The nine Eastern Province MPs are rebelling against their leader who comes from the Kandy district on the grounds that he has agreed to drop the demand for a separate administrative council covering Muslim majority areas in the East.

Mr. Hakeem told the MPs that if they continued to rock, the boat the interest of the party and the community would be in jeopardy. Mr. Hakeem told The Sunday Times yesterday the SLMC high command took a strong stand against the dissident MPs.

The nine SLMC MPs boycotting parliament include Minister Athaullah, Deputy Minister Noordeen Mashoor, Thideer Thawfeeq, S.M. Thawfeeq, H.M.M. Harris, Anwer Ismail, M.B.A. Azeez, Abdul Cader and Rizath Badiudeen.

SLMC high command officials said Mr. Badiudeen who attended the emergency high command meeting as an observer gave a written pledge of loyalty to the party leadership.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday met Muslim religious leaders from the Eastern Province and gave them an assurance that their community would not receive anything less than what would be enjoyed by other communities.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's office after discussions with the Muslim religious leaders said, "The resolution of the conflict at the transitional as well as the final stages will guarantee safety, security and dignity of all communities. As far as the rights of the Muslims are concerned, their entitlement to occupy their lands and property without hindrance or impediment and to carry on their livelihood without disruption will be safeguarded by effective legal and constitutional measures."

The Prime Minister last Monday met NUA leader Ferrial Ashraff, and two leading MPs M.L.A. M. Hizbullah and Segu Issadeen amidst reports the government was trying to get their support and forge a common front for Muslims. But Mr. Hakeem has expressed reservations charging that the conduct of NUA members was inconsistent and devious.

PTA: TNA wants repeal, Govt wants review
By Shelani Perera
The Tamil National Alliance is demanding the total repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), but the government insists it is ready only to consider amendments.

TULF General Secretary R Sambanthan told The Sunday Times the TNA wanted the draconian act totally repealed.

He said the TNA was not interested in amendments but wanted the total repeal of a law which suppressed human rights and in some cases kept suspects in custody for as long as 11 years for minor offences.

More than 150 suspects being held in detention under the PTA launched a hunger strike this month and it was called off on Wednesday after peace negotiator Milinda Moragoda gave a personal assurance to the detainees at Kalutara. The assurance came after the Cabinet on Wednesday appointed a three-member ministerial committee to review the Act.

Justice Minister W.J.M. Lokubandara, a member of the committee appointed by the cabinet to review the PTA, said the Government had no intention of repealing the Act.
"Terrorism is globalised. We have to consider all aspects. Since there is no emergency, the PTA cannot be withdrawn. We will do a thorough study of the Act. The amendments will be in areas such as possession of offensive weapons. We will also see the human rights angle to this" the minister said.

SLMM chief holds more talks in Trinco
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission chief Trond Furuhovde yesterday a series of meetings in Trincomalee with security commanders and LTTE representatives to defuse tension in the east and take measures to prevent further clashes.

Maj. Gen. Furuhovde first met LTTE Trincomalee leader Thilak, then with top army officers and a third meeting with both parties.

It was decided that Army and LTTE representatives would meet on Friday and regularly after that to discuss and problems and avert possible clashes.

The SLMM chief later held a joint meeting with Army Commander Lionel Balagalle, Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri and Deputy Chief of Staff Anton Wijendra who was sent on Friday by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to assess the security situation there and an LTTE representative.

An SLMM spokesman said the two-hour meeting led to a decision by all parties to work together in keeping the peace.

On Friday, the SLMM chief met the LTTE's Batticaloa LTTE leader Karuna for extensive talks. rear Admiral Daya Sandagiri of SLN, Lt. Col Lionel Balagalle of SLA and Air Vice Marshal Donald Perera of SLF and the IGP T. Anandarajah with their officials attended the discussion.

Japan delegation pledges help to rebuild NE
A high level delegation from Japan visited the North-East and held discussions with officials of the Jaffna GA office and LTTE Political Wing Leader S. P. Thamilchelvan recently.

The leader of the team Toru Taguchi said their mission was to conduct a survey to asses rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the North and East.

Mr. Taguchi told The Sunday Times that they had visited Trincomalee Baticaloa, Ampara, Vavunia, Kilinochhi, and the needs of each area differed from one another.
He said he believed the LTTE was committed to the peace process as the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO ), LTTE and the Jaffna GA officials were planning the reconstruction of these areas.

Masato Usui, a member of the team, said they were looking into areas including health, drinking water, education agriculture, fisheries, the welfare of internally displaced peoples and de mining programmes..

He said that when the team returned to Tokyo they would study their reports and identify each area in order of priority. They would then help to finance the projects or provide personnel and other assistance.

The delegation had also met Finance Ministry Secretary Charitha Ratwatte and briefed him on their visit to the North and East

Mr. Taguchi said he believed there was a similarity between Sri Lanka and Japan since Japan too had to develop after beings ravaged by a war. He said the initiative for this mission was taken by the Japanese and not on any request made by Sri Lanka.

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