The SLMC on Monday called on the LTTE to shed its intransigence and participate in peace talks despite the apparent contradictions within the government.
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem told journalists that internal contradictions within the government could be the cause for the LTTE’s reluctance in engaging in peace talks but it should nevertherless get to the negotiating table.
Hakeem emphasised that the Muslims should be represented by a separate delegation at government `F1 LTTE peace talks.
"The Muslims who have been caught in the middle of the North-East conflict are the ones who have suffered the most and therefore it is necessary that a separate Muslim delegation should be included in the talks".
Hakeem said that he had expressed his concern to the Special Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi about the internecine warfare in the North-East.
Asked about the Kattankudy incident where two Muslim sects had clashed, Hakeem said that Muslims at large had been affected by the actions of a few.
"The majority of Sri Lankan Muslims belong to the Sunni sect but I think it has to be resolved through dialogue. Frustrations have apparently boiled over, but it is certainly not Islamic fundamentalism as some sections of the media might like to project it. Sri Lankan Muslims have always resolved issues through dialogue and not violence", he added.
