Late in June the Peace Secretariat met with officials of the Muslim Peace Secretariat who briefed SCOPP on factors that led to the setting up of the Muslim Peace Secretariat. SG, SCOPP noted the reasons for this, but indicated that the GoSL Peace Secretariat was intended to function as an inclusive body representing the interests of all communities in the country. It was hoped that the Muslim Secretariat would partner it by providing specialized focus to the issues affecting the Muslim community, thereby ensuring that Muslim interests would be integrated into the initiatives implemented by SCOPP.
SG, Peace Secretariat for Muslims stated that one of the primary concerns that affected the Muslim community was Muslim representation at Peace Talks. Other concerns strongly affecting the Muslim community were the expulsion by the LTTE of Muslims from the Northern Province and the loss of land as well as the continuous suffering of the IDPs in e.g. Puttalam, livelihood needs, land issues and the destruction of cultural centres.
Some of the areas of co-operation agreed on were -
1. Representatives from the Peace Secretariat for Muslims would participate in regular meetings held at SCOPP, including in the SCOPP Community Development committees that have been established for the North and East and the SCOPP
2.Committee on Confidence Building Measures through Constitutional and Structural Reform’.
3.With regard to the reporting of abductions and killings of members of the Muslim community SG, Peace Secretariat for Muslims pointed out that the Muslim community were afraid to report such abductions and killings at police stations due to fear. It was agreed that SCOPP would act as a conduit to facilitate the reporting of such abductions and killings and were asked to encourage andfacilitate reply.
4.The land claim forms collated by the Peace Secretariat for Muslims were also to be shared with SCOPP in order that that SCOPP could try to assist in the speedy processing of claims that affected the Muslim community through co-ordination with the relevant Government departments.
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Violations Committed
by the GOSL - 351
