Muslims request wider representation
The Co-ordinating Centre for Relief & Rehabilitation (CCRR), an umbrella body of over 50 Muslim organizations, has called for wider representation of the Muslim community within the relief process.
It says that the Muslim community has suffered considerable losses with over 50% of the total deaths and a similar proportion of properties and livelihood lost. It is estimated that the community has lost at-least 1% of its population in the tsunami disaster. In an appeal through the ambassadors of USA, Japan, European Union and Norway the co –chairs of the Tokyo conference on reconstruction and development the CCRR points out that it is very unfortunate that the statement of the co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction & Development which met in Brussels on January 25, 2005, did not address the importance of dealing with the Muslim dimension of the post Tsunami situation. They urge the co-chairs to do so in the spirit of the Tokyo declaration formulated by them which recognized the right of the Muslims to be included in the peace process. Speaking to Sandeshaya M.N Ameen of the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum a signatory to the appeal said that the absence of Muslim representatives in the policy formulation, as well as implementation mechanisms set up by the State has further contributed to the sense of isolation and feeling of neglect experienced by the Muslims. Responding to a question on why the Muslim leadership in parliament has not been able to bring adequate representation into the relief process Ameen said “there are twenty five Muslim parliamentarians and the worst hit Ampara has ten of them but they are divided into so many fractions and nothing constructive is happening. They have still not been able to shed off differences and come up with a common programme.”