Muslim factor in victory

The war has officially ended, stirring hopes of the millions of Sri Lankans, who have suffered immensely for the past three decades. While the people rejoice the end of war, it was also time for stock-taking. There were many paths to victory and many people paid the supreme sacrifice that eventually led to what is regarded as the greatest victory of Mother Lanka. 

The contribution of the Muslims in keeping this nation united and resisting terrorism should not go unmentioned at a time when the nation celebrates victory. Since the State Council days, the Muslims of this country have stood for an undivided Sri Lanka, much as their ancestors who even fought alongside the Sinhala kings against the European invaders. Muslim leaders like T. B. Jayah and Sir Razeek Fareed had resisted moves which they saw as a threat to a united Sri Lanka. They stood for a country where the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims would live like a children of one mother. They opposed the so-called 50-50 representation proposal that certain Tamil leaders placed as a political solution. They supported legislation that made Sinhala the official language but they also backed the Tamil Language Special Provision Bill. The Muslims also did not oppose the 13th Amendment which called for greater devolution of power to provinces, in spite of the fact that this amendment offered very little advantages to the Muslim community. Yet, for the sake of peace and national unity, the Muslims went along with proposals put forward by different governments at different times. Even today, almost all Muslim parliamentarians, whether they are on the government side or in opposition, support the government’s move aimed at ending terrorism and restoring peace.

The Muslims’ willingness to play the second fiddle in the Eastern Province following the elections there even though they had the combined strength to rightfully claim the chief minister’s post is just another example that depicted Muslim patriotism and their accommodative spirit.

Though it is unfortunate that the ethnic proportionality of the nation is not reflected in the composition of the country’s security forces, it cannot be said there aren’t any Muslims in the armed forces. Hundreds of Muslims who had joined the police and the military have laid their lives to protect the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of this country.

Scores, if not hundreds of Muslim policemen, were killed when they together with their Sinhala colleagues surrendered to the LTTE in 1991 on the advice of the then government. 

It should also not go unmentioned that the Army’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol unit which dealt blow after blow to the LTTE was spearheaded by a Muslim officer. The contribution and sacrifice of Muslim security forces officers such as the late Col. Muthalif and Chief Inspector Nilamdeen of the anti-terror unit are well enshrined in the history of Sri Lanka. 

The suffering and the hardship the Muslims underwent in the north and the east as a result of the war are too many. In 1990, nearly 90,000 Muslims were expelled from Jaffna in what could be termed as ethnic cleansing. Tens of thousands of Muslims living in other areas of the north were also expelled, while in the east, they became victims of the war. Muslims of Sampur and Muthur were made refugees overnight and while Eravur and Kattankudy witnessed massacre after massacre of Muslims. 

The Muslims in the east were terrorized by various armed groups. They were intimidated and their land and wealth were robbed at gunpoint. Hundreds of Muslim youths were abducted and killed, simply because they stood for the unity of Sri Lanka, simply because they opposed separatism. 

We Muslims not only stand for unity and national harmony, but we also stand as a bridge that can bring the Sinhalese and the Tamils together. The Muslims of this country have a long history of living in harmony with both the Sinhalese and the Tamils. It is no secret that language has been a major barrier that has stood in the way of national reconciliation between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. But a majority of the Muslims in Sri Lanka are trilingual. This has helped them maintain cordial communal relationship with both the Sinhalese and the Tamils.

 We are pleased to hear the statement made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his address to the nation from parliament on May 19, 2009 that this country has no minorities; it has only two types of people – those who love this country and those who do not love this country. The President indeed uttered what the Muslims of Sri Lanka have always stood for and advocated.