6.4.2008
In
an interview with Asian Tribune M.L.M. Hisbullah stated
his reasons to bring about a meaningful development to
the Eastern Province. He said he had talks to unite the
Muslims, especially with Rauf Hakeem. But that failed
as Hakeem wanted to protect the United National Party
from certain defeat. He was willing to give up the Tree
symbol for which he had clamored all this time and wanted
to contest under the Eelephant symbol. I had no recourse
except to join the United Peoples Freedom Alliance and
work towards a united East and ensure the betterment of
the Msulims, Tamils and the Sinhalese, who are solidly
behind the government seeing how they were liberated from
the clutches of the LTTE, stated Hisbullah.
His
interview is given here in fulll:
Asian
Tribune: What made you to cross over to the Government
side?
M.L.M.
Hisbullah: You know that the Sri Lanka Muslim
Congress represents chiefly Muslims of the Eastern Province.
In the East Provincial Council Elections, the Muslim Community
who are almost in the majority in the Province aspires
to get the Chief Minister position. For development of
the East and to unite all three communities in the East
we longed that we should get the Chief Minister post.
But in the present political situation, we can achieve
are that target only if we join the government.
Asian
Tribune: The Target of Development …?
M.L.M.
Hisbullah : The target of Development, the target
of maintaining peace and stability in the region, the
target of bringing about peace and unity between all three
communities in the region. Then Muslim leaders, intellectuals,
Ulamas, all participated in a meeting and urged the Sri
Lanka Muslim Congress to join the Government.
Asian
Tribune: Yes Sri Lanka Muslim Congress refused
to join the Government.
M.L.M.
Hisbullah : Hakeem refused to join the Government.
Again then …. they made some arrangements and they
wanted to bring all Muslim Parties, Parliamentarians and
politicians under one umbrella only to contest in this
provincial Council election. When that was suggested,
we all agreed that we should contest on a common symbol
for this election. But Hakeem said no, I will not give
up my principle and arrogantly said, if they want they
can come and contest under his “Tree” symbol.
He said, I am not going to compromise on this issue. I
will be contesting this election only under the “Tree”
symbol, he emphasized.
Then
the other Muslim politicians did not agree to the condition
imposed by Hakeem, and they said that the common symbol
issue is the only problem we have and we will not contest
under the symbol proposed by Hakeem and they left. They
knew that not coalescing with the government meant that
they would be only sitting in the opposition. But you
may be aware that the UNP would not get any votes in the
Eastern province except in Ampara in Trincomalee and they
may get a maximum of two to three seats on the whole.
So they thought that if the SLMC were to join the UNP
they can get a maximum of 11 to 12 seats. We knew however,
that by joining with the UNP we are not going to gain
anything and we are going to sit only in the Opposition.
Explaining all this I told everyone that we will contest
under the “Tree” symbol. Please go ahead.
But finally Hakeem let cat out and said No I have to protect
the UNP.
Asian
Tribune: Did he say that he has to protect the
UNP?
M.L.M.
Hisbullah: Yes he said so. He said that if the
UNP were to contest alone they will only be able to win
two or three seats and it would very badly affect the
future of UNP’s parliament elections. He said that
it is the duty of the SLMC to protect the UNP. He said
that it is his duty to safeguard the UNP and added firmly
that SLMC will contest under the UNP banner and under
Elephant symbol. So then we discussed with our people.
We had a long discussion and my people urged me to contest
under the PA.
Accordingly
I decided to join the PA to contest in the Eastern Provincial
Council and when we met the President, he said that they
will give more seats for the Muslim community to contest
in their UPFA list and said if we Muslims win more seats
in the Provincial Council elections, he is prepared to
offer the Chief Minister post to a Muslim candidate. Subsequently
all Muslim Parties in the UPFA agreed to nominate me as
their Chief Minister candidate.
That
is why I am contesting in this election as one of the
UPFA candidate from Batticaloa. I have no problem in working
with the Tamils and Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal led
by Pillaiyan.
I
went with Pillaiyan to file the nominations symbolizing
the unity of Tamils and Muslims in the region.
We
trust that UPFA will win the East provincial Council elections
without any problem. UNP and Hakeem will be relegated
to nothing and will have to the bite dust.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune