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Muttur explodes
On the spot report by Chris Kamalendran
Repeated gunfire, explosions of hand grenades, and pelting of stones was the scene just 100 meters away from where Defence Minister Tilak Marapana was presiding over a conference aimed at defusing tension between Muslims and Tamils in the fishing village of Muttur on Friday.

SLMC leader and minister Rauff Hakeem, Naval Chief, Daya Sandagiri and TNA parliamentarians R. Sampanthan, and K. Thurairathnasingham were meeting with the Defence Minister at Kattaiparichchan, a village bordering Muttur.

As clashes intensified, Tamil politicians made an attempt to visit the Tamil populated areas and hold discussions with the LTTE Political Wing area leader, Tilak, but were prevented by mobs forcing them to return to the army base at Kattaiparichchan where the meeting was taking place.

With tension building up Minister Marapana accompanied by Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and UNP Chairman Malik Samarawikcrema were flown back to Trincomalee town. The TNA members and the Navy Commander followed. That was how the meeting ended though it was called to discuss measures aimed at ending the high tension between the two communities in Muttur where a series of sporadic incidents have been reported.

Minister Hakeem who had invited local and foreign journalist to the violence hit Muttur area remained in Kattaiparichchan to speak to journalists, but his news conference was disturbed by repeated gunfire and loud explosions.

"We have asked for security from the government but we have not got it and you are now experiencing it," an angry Mr. Hakeem told journalists. Photo journalists at the news conference were seen rushing from the hall because the bigger news was taking place outside.

This time the firing was coming from the Army who were trying to push the Tamil gangs behind and from the Tamil mobs apparently backed by LTTE cadres who were trying to scare the Muslims. Among the Tamil gangs were about 1000 men some of them carrying automatic weapons while Army personnel fired into the air to hold them back.

On the other side, Muslim gangs were armed with clubs and rods while the army was preventing them from crossing over. Tension had been growing in the area for the past two weeks after two Muslim fishermen were abducted by suspected Tamil guerrillas.
A crisis errupted when the mother of one of those abducted, committed suicide early this week.

The LTTE has denied abducting the two youth, but Muslim villagers insist it was an LTTE job. The two youth reportedly worked closely with the armed forces and it was likely that they had been abducted as they were acting as security forces informants.
The tension in the region had been further fuelled after the intervention of the politicians where supporters of Minister Hakeem and UNF Trincomalee MP, M.A.M. Mahroof battled each other following remarks made by Mr. Mahroof.

Mr. Mahroof is reported to have said that SLMC leaders should resign because of their failure to provide security to the people. In an angry reaction Mr. Hakeem said the SLMC would be compelled to review its position in the UNF government if Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe did not intervene personally to sort out issues.

On Friday Mr. Hakeem repeated the threat saying he was under pressure from the high command to withdraw support to the government, if security was not provided to the Muslims. The incidents over the past three days have left some 3000 Muslims and Tamils displaced with about 100 houses being damaged and 15 fishing boats set on fire.
A.H.M. Munsoor, a fisherman from the area told The Sunday Times that tension has been growing after a dispute between fishermen from both communities. He said they had first lodged a complaint with the LTTE that Tamil fishermen were harassing them, but they were told to resolve the matter directly with the fishermen.

"As a result the tension was building up and differences between the two communities were emerging," he said. Soon after the mother of one of the abducted youth's committed suicide, some of the Tamil houses were attacked, followed by retaliatory attacks. As the tension grew people have been trying to come to the mainland fearing that continued incidents could lead to more violence and would result in them losing their income.

With the clashes, life in the area has come to a standstill. All shops were closed, fishing has come to a standstill, the boat services to and from Trincomalee have been restricted and electricity supplies have broken down for the past three days.

Movements of both communities have also been affected as the Tamils have to pass the Muslim villages to enter Trincomalee and the Muslims have to pass Tamil villages to enter Batticaloa.

Medical attention too has been affected due to the violence. Civilians from both sides hope that the situation would be soon brought under control and that it would not disrupt the peace process.

The Muslim issue cannot be ignored says Ferial
As tension grew in theEast, Digamadulla Parliamentarian and NUA leader Ferial Ashraff in an interview with The Sunday Times expressed concern for the safety of the Muslim villagers in surrounding parts.

Q -What are the implications of these recent incidents at Muttur on the Muslim community ?
I am concerned for the safety of other Muslim villages because they may soon feel the need to show solidarity. The tension has even spread to the Digamadulla district. One cannot say what could come out of it.

Q - The Muttur incident appears to have developed due to political differences. What do you think ?
I am not surprised. This has been a regular feature. We are used to Rauff Hakeem's actions where community interests are put aside and it becomes a clash of personalities.

Q - You have been holding talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunga over these incidents, what does she say ?
Unfortunately she didn't get involved at the very beginning so there is little she can do. She agrees with us that the problems of the Muslim community need to be addressed. She was willing to do anything to ease the tension, like informing the Army. But I believe these steps would have already been taken by the government.

Q - What steps is the NUA taking now ?
We are closely watching the situation and we hope that at least now the government and the LTTE would look at the Muslim interests. The SLMC has not been doing this and I hope at least now they realise their mistakes.
The SLMC was invloved when the MoU was formulated, and there were alterations that should have been made for the safety of the Muslim community. But these were not done. We always felt that the LTTE would want to continue with its ethnic cleansing and Muttur has always been a target.

Q -Do you think this will affect the peace process ?
I don't know. The Muslim question has to be given due consideration and I hope the parties to the peace process will at least now look at this aspect. They cannot leave aside the Muslim community when discussing the peace process, and think that the Muslims can come in whenever they feel it is necessary. After all they are talking about the North and East which is our homeland too.

Q - In the past we have seen clashes between the Tamils and Muslims upsetting the peace process ? Do you see a similar situation developing ?
I hope it doesn't upset the Peace Process. I hope the government and the LTTE take the necessary steps before it comes to that.

Q - Are you planning to take up the matter with the Prime Minister ?
Yes we want to. Our people are in the electorates right now. The NUA members will first meet and then we will talk to the people concerned.

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