SLMC Leader of Hakeem faults Norway for ignoring Muslim factor, proposes remedial action

(The  Island)

Leader of SLMC, Rauf Hakeem justice minister said yesterday the failure on the part of Norway to assess the "Muslim factor", even after the collapse of the cease-Oslo arranged.

The LTTE quit the negotiating table in April 2003, during the tenure of Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister.

The Minister of Justice and SLMC leader who was a member of the GoSL delegation for talks with the LTTE, said the report from Norway: Pawns of peace: the evaluation of Norwegian peace efforts in Sri Lanka had left Muslim side of the question. Hakeem made reference when he met the Norwegian ambassador Haraldstad Hild. Hakeem said the minister to a new assessment could be made now to address the lack of evaluation. It would be useful to change the perspective of the Muslim community about the situation in the country, said Minister.

Norway has commissioned the report following the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009.

Comments yesterday were the first public criticism of the assessment by the Norwegian peace SLMC leader.

The Minister and the Norwegian Ambassador also discussed several contentious issues, including the implementation of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), ongoing efforts to convince the Sri Lankan government and the TNA to return to the table negotiations. The relationship between the Government of Sri Lanka and the international community, the Norwegian contribution to the strengthening of the judicial system, using the Muslim diaspora and the proposed creation of an International Arbitration Centre.

Hakeem Minister reiterated the commitment of his party for the implementation of recommendations LLRC. The minister stressed the urgent need to implement key recommendations made by the LLRC, while revealing the appointment of a special committee to study the recommendations to make its own response.

The government is to receive the response of voters in the ruling coalition to formulate a plan, ministry sources said that 'The Island' will be implemented by a committee chaired by the presidential secretary, Lalith Weeratunga.

Hakeem Minister also informed the Norwegian envoy about his ongoing talks with TNA in an effort to facilitate a new round of talks between the TNA and the government. The Minister acknowledged the need to have a friendly dialogue between the government and the international community.