BY Mirudhula Thambiah
One time Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and one of its founding leaders, M.T. Hasen Ali said, the focus of the current leader of his party was just to obtain a ministerial position in any government and therefore, is failing to address the aspirations of the Muslim community.
Ali, who was recently removed from his long-term post of Secretary General of the party said, "I'm still a member of the High Command of the party. I will always belong to the SLMC and nobody can chase me. Sometimes, they may even remove me from the High Command as well, but I'm not worried about it."
Following are excerpts of the interview:
?: What led to the split between you and the SLMC leader?
A: It is purely based on policy differences. I, as one of the founder members of the SLMC, take the stand that our party should be based on formulating priorities to fulfil the aspirations of the Muslims of the North and East. Finding a suitable political solution by satisfying the Muslims of the North and East is a serious subject and there is no proper priority given to address this issue within the party. Instead they are concentrating and discussing only the development activities in the region.
Development activities like road construction and other projects are being carried out islandwide. It is even taking place in the North and the Tamil parliamentarians are not running behind those. Currently, the SLMC is functioning as a party that is fulfilling the needs of the contractors in the East.
There are many burning problems in the East which have not been addressed properly, there are land issues and the main problem is finding a political solution. We are still unsure of a suitable political solution. People have begun to question us and they have even asked us, whether we have spoken on behalf of them, in obtaining a suitable solution.
Everyone should know that most Muslims in the Eastern Province are well educated; they are not just ordinary people. They are aware of the situation and they tend to question. The educated lot of the East is very unhappy with the attitude of the party and the leadership. Leadership is not only Hakeem but includes me too. We do not know a proper answer to their questions. If we give an answer to the people, on the actual situation, the leader and his supporters tend to blame us saying we are acting against the party.
I was one of those who dragged the party to join the Yahapalana Government. I had to work hard to convince the members to extend their support to the current government and it was in the interest of the future. I took this move with great expectations to solve several issues of our people. However, the final result is, they have taken up positions in government and are taking revenge from us, we who dragged them to join the Yahapalana.
Initially, I was planning to crossover to extend my support to the Yahapalana coalition with some of the members in the party. If I had taken that step initially, the rest of them who are acting against me would have been left out of the scene. Yet, I always took time and convinced the entire party to join Yahapalana. But, currently even the UNP is not bothered to solve our problems.
Those who are in the government have now forgotten the struggle and sacrifices I have made on behalf of the party.
?: Why were you removed from the post of Secretary General?
A: There are many examples to prove that I have been fighting within the party urging to follow the founding policies of the SLMC; however, those who are opposing me are not in favour of my stance. They decided to isolate me, by claiming that I have been disturbing the future plans of the party. I always expected the SLMC to follow the footsteps and policies of our founder leader Ashraff. But currently they are not ready to accept the policies of our founder leader. They are trying to take the party towards a new trend and they will not succeed. People are enraged with their actions and decisions.
After I was removed from the post of General Secretary, I had my first public meeting in Nintavur last week and there was a massive crowd. This proved that people are quite supportive and people have understood that they are being taken for a ride.
?: What is your next step?
A: I will have a series of meetings and the next is scheduled in Pottuvil. Through these meetings I will express my stand on the political solution and address among the people that the North and East must be given priority within the SLMC to find a solution.
We cannot cheat people by just implementing development activities, our party is not development oriented but formed to fulfil the political aspirations of the people.
I don't understand why our party people are running behind development activities and the contractors. From choosing the contractors to implementing the projects these people are involved in fraudulent activities. They must only supervise the projects and should concentrate on the political activities. Tamil parliamentarians do not spend time on development projects, they are aware that such projects are part of government agendas. Tamil parliamentarians only concentrate on political activities.
During our founder leader Ashraff's period, when the leadership was held by a member from the East, the Secretary General's post was given to one outside the East. Accordingly in the current context, if the leadership is out of the East, the Secretary General should be from the East. But that did not happen at one of the High Command meetings.
There were many policy differences between the leader and me; the situation became more serious during the last Presidential election. He wanted to support former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, but I wanted to quit.
Later when the General Election was declared I wanted to contest. I cannot go on the National List for the third time. A sitting parliamentarian was given preference for the third time and not to me. After giving preference to the sitting Parliamentarian, he informed me by saying "Don't worry I'll see that you come to Parliament," and assured that I will be given a chance through the National List. But I didn't know that he was going to undercut me.
As I said earlier, I didn't allow him to support Mahinda Rajapaksa and he understood that he cannot proceed further if I continue to be in the same post sticking to the party policies.
I was not included in the National List and promises made were not honoured. Following which he started to campaign that I was fighting for the National List. When such a campaign was carried out against me I was helpless.
Later, at the mandatory High Command meeting he did away with the Secretary General's Post and created an alternative position saying Secretary to the High Command. He said this person shall communicate with the Elections Commissioner and announced that the term of office of the Secretary will be only for a year.
Then he announced that he will have the power to appoint and replace the Secretary. When a letter was sent to the Elections Commissioner the leader mentioned this position as the Secretary to the party instead of Secretary to the High Command. I challenged this action and that has been the reason why I was cornered. I'm still a High Command member of the party. I will always belong to SLMC and nobody can chase me. Sometimes, they may remove me from the High Command as well, but I'm not worried about it.
?: How will you compare the founder leader and the current leader of the SLMC?
A: It is similar to the difference between a mountain and the valley. The current leader cannot be compared with the founder leader. Our party is still functioning on the foundation led by our founder leader Ashraff. We cannot campaign elections or address the people without displaying his picture. He had outstanding leadership qualities.
However, the target of the current leader is just to be minister in any government.
?: SLMC is the premier political party of the Muslims, and do you think the current split between your party leader and you would create a chaotic situation within the party?
A: Yes, that is the current situation. People are behind me. They were waiting for someone to address the burning issues and very soon if the party goes on in the same trend, they will be wiped out and people will not elect them.
There is agitation among people that all Muslim parties operating in the Eastern Province must unite as one common alliance. The educated people in the East are agitating that someone should lead this single force. They have split into three to four groups and are functioning to promote leaders but not addressing the aspirations of the people. TNA is not that, there are different political parties with one goal. Therefore, even the Muslim community is urging for such an alliance.
When they approached me I told them to prepare a common programme with an agenda given to one main priority. After which they can take it to the people. Later I will consider joining them.
?: Do you think your leader had taken the decision to remove you from the Secretary General's post with the consent of other party members?
A: There are people who are likeminded to the leader. This decision was taken based on their advice or influence. According to the Constitution of the SLMC, all decisions must be taken on the Mashoora Concept. However, the Mashoora Assembly of the party was not summoned for 13 years.
The leader will listen to these people and later he will announce in public that the party had made the decisions, but in real he wouldn't have discussed it with the other members. Nobody can question him if you demand for answers; you will be thrown out of the High Command at the next meeting. Similarly around six to seven High Command members were thrown out as they questioned him.
?: Is it true that the Muslims in the East are against a North-East merger?
A: I don't think so! As long as the Muslims are recognized as a stakeholder of the political solution they are ready to accept a solution in the North-East. They are for equality!
