In an interview with The Nation, he emphasised that the combined strength of the SLMC and the UNP vote banks would garner the necessary votes to get past the UPFA in both Trincomalee and Ampara Districts, although government machinery would be “in full swing to engage in maximum rigging.”
Speaking of the defection by his erstwhile lieutenant Hisbullah, Hakeem asserted that the people would teach Hisbullah “the lesson of his life” this time. He also spoke of the party decision to contest under the ‘Elephant’ symbol, asserting that “a symbol is only a means to an end.”
Following are excerpts: By Marianne David
Q: Why didn’t you agree to a Muslim alliance to contest the Eastern Province elections?
The SLMC is the predominant political force among the Muslims and we were quite willing to accommodate all dissident factions to appease and accommodate the request from the variety of religious and community-based, as well as regional mosque federations.
These attempts, unfortunately, lacked sincerity. We also realised that dissident members within the government had realised their weakness in getting the Muslims to vote for the UPFA.
Their motive appeared to be that, initially, they wanted to give the impression of willing to unite and that only the intransigence and stubbornness of the SLMC leadership not willing to compromise on its symbol, being the main reason for the failure of these attempts. This would finally be utilised by them to have an excuse to remain in the UPFA.
We realised this ploy from the very outset and the rank and file would never permit the leadership to dilute its identity in such a hotchpotch coalition of various dissident factions.
On the other hand, going by the past record of all these dissidents, what guarantee would we have that these people would remain within the fold of this coalition after the election?
I do not think that any of these well-meaning attempts by any given organisation would ensure any anti-defection formulas. Therefore, the decision that we took, finally, was a carefully considered, prudent one, which gives the best option to the Muslims, in the given circumstances.
Q: All Muslim parties had, apparently, agreed to join the UNP with you, but you had allegedly said that you had nothing to do with the UNP. Could you explain?
No such thing happened. All the dissidents insisted that we either join the UPFA or go it alone together, and in that case, under a common symbol. In both cases, the motive was to make the UPFA victorious. There was no guarantee, even if we did contest with the UPFA, that we would be able to overtake the Pillaiyan Group, in getting the largest number of seats and thereby, stake a claim for power within that coalition.
Q: What are your prospects of winning the province?
We are absolutely confident of winning, in the event there is a free and fair election. In any case, the events leading up to the nominations clearly show that the government has assisted armed groups within their fold to terrorise Tamil voters sufficiently enough to prevent anyone from taking an independent decision to contest under any other party. Thereby, exercise of the free will of the Tamil voters has already been prevented.
M.L.M. Hisbullah has already joined the government. Has his defection adversely affected your vote bank?
Hisbullah is known for his long record of treachery, and the people will teach him the lesson of his life this time. His opportunism and hypocrisy is well known and is despised by, not only the people of Kattankudi but, by Muslims all over the country.
Q: What are the advantages of contesting under the ‘Elephant’ symbol?
The combined strength of the SLMC’s vote bank and that of the UNP will certainly garner the necessary votes to get past the UPFA in both Trincomalee and Ampara Districts, provided the Tamil voters are allowed a free choice. In Batticaloa, the ground situation does not favour the poor and hapless Tamil civilians.
Though the climate of intimidation and harassment is somewhat less in Trincomalee and Ampara, the government machinery will be in full swing to engage in maximum rigging to distort the mandate of the people. Many candidates have been prevented from coming forward to contest and there is a heavy presence of the Pillaiyan Group in all the areas.
Q: Why did you compromise your symbol for the Elephant, after you told the Muslim parties that it was sacred?
A symbol is only a means to an end and not an end in itself. We are not going to compromise our identity and dilute it for the sake of a few dissidents. However, when contesting with a major national party with a large vote bank of its own, there could be much advantage in pooling resources together and aiming for the winning numbers.
Muslim leaders, in government, do not have any substantive vote bank, particularly, given their track record of betrayals and silence in the face of attempts by the government to grab the rights of the Muslims. There was nothing much we could gain by joining them, although they would be gaining by being on our list. As a result, there was no need for us to compromise our symbol. Doing so would have been seen as a total cave-in to a very unreasonable demand.
Q: If you fail to achieve the top slot in the EP, will you come back to Parliament as a National List member?
As for now, it is up to the party. We are confident of winning the election. In the event of our victory, it is not my intention to be the chief minister. This is a matter that we need to discuss together with the UNP and appoint someone of our choice, from one of the three districts.
I would prefer to remain outside Parliament for a few months, until the next general election, which will inevitably come soon, so that I could go around the country and organise the party.
Q: Do you still claim a non-contiguous council for the Muslims at a final solution to the ethnic crisis?
Everybody knows that a merged north-east, without any substantial autonomy for the Muslims and the Sinhalese, could never be a final solution. With this election, everyone will realise that a de-merged east would also result in unnecessary polarisation during elections and greedy, self-centred attempts to contest these elections, only for the sole purpose of grabbing the chief minister-ship from one community or the other.
This would only alienate the other community and result in unnecessary acrimony and divisive tendencies. The only way to prevent such an eventuality is to realise that the solution lies not in a permanent de-merger or, a permanent merger but, by agreeing to substantial autonomous arrangements for both Muslims and Sinhalese.
This subject has been discussed in many forums and there are various options we could experiment with to resolve this burning issue.
http://www.rauffhakeem.org/archive/news/20080430.php
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