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1977-1984 In 1977, together with a few educationists and politically
interested people of the east he formed the Muslim United Liberation
Front. Marhoom Ashraff started his political career as a Legal
Advisor to the Muslim United Liberation Front which formed an
alliance with the Tamil United Liberation Front for the 1997 general
election.
Marhoom Ashraff contested unsuccessfully at this election.
After his defeat he left the MULF and formed his own party.
1981 On
11th September 1981
the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress was established at Kathankudy in the
Batticaloa district under the Chairmanship of Marhoom A. L. Ahmed.
Marhoom M H M Ashraff was elected its Founder President. This Party
was formed by a small group of Eastern province political leaders.
Marhoom Ashraff was a good motivator and the key mobilizer in
organising meetings, and questions and answer sessions with Muslim
youth, where he began to get people to think seriously and question
the Muslim leaders under the majority Sinhalese parties. He had the
ability to inspire the younger generation of Muslims who were losing
faith in the country. He aroused tremendous hope and optimism by
talking little things to people.
1986
In November 1986 the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress was formally
inaugurated as a political party at the "badsha" festival held in
Colombo with Marhoom Ashraff, as its Leader.
1989
Due to the untiring efforts and dynamic Leadership of Marhoom
Ashraff, in the February 1989 elections, 2 parliamentary seats were
won by the SLMC and in the August 1994 general elections 7 members
of the SLMC were elected to Parliament and 2 members were placed on
the National List.
He espoused the political aspirations of the eastern Muslims.
Marhoom Ashraff was elected Member of Parliament in 1989 and
and in 1994 received the Portfolio of Minister of Ports
Development/Rehabilitation/Reconstruction.
Whilst he was serving his people in Kalmunai that the 1983 ethnic
problem started, and he underwent emotional hardships during this
time. At that time he along with his family decided to move to
Colombo and settle down.
He
made many sacrifices for the people of his constituency. He worked
untiringly for the welfare of the community. He also assisted the
terrorist affected people and found jobs for the young.
He worked hard to lay the foundation for the upliftment of the
Muslims of the East and achieve a better life standard for them as
they were only interested in themselves. He wanted them to change
their outlook in life. He was an active social service and religious
worker.
During
his tenure as Minister he proposed to set up the South-Eastern
University and Port in Oluvil. It was his desire to see these two
projects materialize. He also wished to see the students graduate
from this University.
As a Minister he had access to a level and his main aim was
modernizing the East, which included the University, Port.
improvement of roads, housing etc., which were achieved..
His
quick decisions used to surprise people, but he was praised, for the
outcome used to be always positive.
At meetings he would first talk on 'Unity of the Community' and only
then would he get down to business. He had the knack to win over
ideas he had. He was a man with a vision He said his one big goal
was to unite Amparai.
In
September 2000 when he addressed a meeting at Ampara he said that
after elections he will work as a Leader outside Parliament and
guide them.
From an early age he had been a talented short story writer,
contributed many articles to the newspapers. He was also an eminent
Poet. His book of poems in Tamil titled 'Naan Enum Nee' was
released.
He received the Vishwa Prasadini award (political category) He got
married to Ferial in 1977 and has one son Aman Ashraff.
Marhoom Ashraff proved his talents as a Lawyer, Politician and Poet
taking both failure and success in his stride.
He established a good rapport with all Party leaders who mattered.
He was highly regarded both as a Politician and Lawyer.
Marhoom Ashraff was a dynamic Leader, a dedicated Member of
Parliament and a Minister with a vision. His valuable contribution
and efforts for our nation and the Muslim community in particular
cannot be erased from our memory. The ideals of the Muslims who
lived in Ceylon started way back in 1915.
At the
time the British were ruling the problem that cropped up between the
Muslims and Sinhalese and the riots that took place and the
subsequent things that happened made the Muslims realize that they
should be united.
After
the riots, it was a person of the calibre of Wappuchi Marikar who
started the Muslim Kalvi Sangam (Muslim Educational Society). After
this Society was formed the Muslims got together.
After
that, the Muslims who were living at that time wanted to bring the
Muslims together to build a broad-based Muslim Society. So people
like Sidi Lebbe and T B Jayah on their own initiative formed more
Muslim organisations.
Under
British rule there were many leaders who wanted to bring about
Muslim unity but they were not interested. In the same way other
communities including the Muslims thought they were divided and they
all got together and came under one roof to form the United National
Party (UNP).
When
we achieved independence in 1948, all communities came together at
that time. Muslims were serving the Majority Parties and building up
their own image and not interested in Muslims coming together as a
Muslim community. At that time the political situation was such that
most attention was given for a one-man show. All Leaders of the
Country were following British Customs. Education was given abroad
and English was the main language of the country.
As a
result the national languages and their culture were fading away and
this made a section of the majority community to start the swabasha
slogan.
Because of this reason, in the General Elections that took place in
1956 we were able to witness an unfortunate turn in the country and
the most affected community from the minority at that time were the
Muslims - language wise.
Tamils
were waiting for an opportunity to be identified as a separate
minority community. So were the Sinhalese people who wanted to be
identified as the majority Sinhalese community and the Muslims who
were in between were the most affected lot. At that time a certain
section of the Muslim Leaders were in favour of identifying Muslims
as a separate community hardly realizing that there were Muslims
living amongst the Sinhalese and Tamils and as a result they were
divided further. They also gave their full support to the majority
party and they were uttering nonsense.
All
the Muslim members who were elected at that time were doing
everything according to the wishes of the majority party and they
did not independently voice the grievances of the Muslim community.
When
the situation was like that, in 1960 the members of the Muslim
League formed the Ceylon Islamic Front, a political party which was
accepted by the Election Commissioner. Surprisingly, the members of
the Muslim League who formed the Party, they themselves said that
Muslims need not have a separate Party and the Party was put in the
backseat and did not function after that.
In
1971/72 the Sinhala extremists started functioning effectively and
with that the Tamils were alert on the situation, but the Muslims
thinking on the situation was
low-key.
In the
East where the Muslims were scattered, the Leaders who were selected
to represent the people did not think of the Muslim community, but
on building up their image. As a result there were many Leaders
coming up and it is in this situation that another Muslim Front was
started by the youth in 1976. All efforts to get recognition by the
Election Commissioner failed.
Then
in 1977 the Muslim youth were so disappointed that due recognition
was not given to their Party that they were forced to join the Tamil
United Front on an understanding that they will be contesting the
1977 Elections under the TUF banner.
It is
in this important situation, that the late Leader M H M Ashraff made
his contribution. In that election, the Muslim United Front under
the TUF symbol 'Rising Sun' contested Kalmunai, Puttalam and
Sammanthurai and lost miserably. The reason for this defeat was
because the Muslims had some misunderstanding with the Tamils.
Earlier the Muslims joined the Thamil Arasu Katchi and started their
political career. When the Muslims were treated like second class
citizens they got depressed and left the Thamil Arasu Katchi.
Thereafter they joined the majority Sinhalese Parties and got
elected to Parliament, because of that the Tamil and Muslim alliance
was rejected by the Muslims.
If the
Muslims had joined the Tamils with an understanding a new chapter
would have been opened for the separate identity of the Muslim
community, which the leaders of that time for their selfish motives
did not make use of the opportunity. At the same time the Muslims of
that time were slaves to the majority community and they behaved in
such a manner to bring about disunity amongst Tamils/Muslims. In the
same way the Tamil Liberation Front behaved in such a manner, that
the Muslims were not satisfied with them, as a result the late
Leader Ashraff used his influence and started his activities.
Then
the late leader realizing the need to join hands with the Sinhalese
majority and at the same time preserve the identity of the Muslim
community started his journey towards it.
The
Muslims who were in politics at that time realized what Leader
Ashraff said was correct and they gave their support. As a result of
that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Muslim United Front joined
together. Unfortunately, late Ashraff's ideas did not materialize.
For
their narrow political gains, the Muslim United Front instead of
identifying themselves separately they permanently joined the Sri
Lanka Freedom Party. This disappointed late Ashraff who decided that
Muslims must stand on their own as a separate Party. Therefore, he
decided against joining the already recognized big parties at that
time, as they were all opportunist, who were using the Muslims to
get political mileage for themselves.
Starting a separate Party is a long journey, but still late Ashraff
took the first step to achieve that. Therefore on 21st September
1980 the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress was formed in Kattankudy. It was
the brainchild of late leader Ashraff
It was
started very effectively, but did not get the support as expected in
the beginning. The reason was, the Muslims at that time thought that
this was not a political party they could rely on.
Most
of the members of the Muslim Congress were earlier in the UNP and
the SLFP. They on the whole were treating the Muslim Congress as a
Social Party that does only social service. As such it was very
difficult to make them understand the real purpose of the Party so
the Party's progress was very slow.
In the
year July 1983 when the riots started the Muslim Congress was not
active, so was the Muslim community, but Leader Ashraff was the only
Leader who was very vigilant. It was his statements and speeches
that appeared in the newspapers now and then.
It was
during the July riots that the Tamil demands became internationally
known. The Muslims were also to be included in the Tamil community
and be made an international affair and this led to late Ashraff to
think very deep into the matter.
It was
in 1985, that the Muslim Congress started its activities and
progress which was a very important period for the Party. When there
was no one coming forward to join the party and work for it, with a
broken heart late Ashraff thought he will put an end to his
political career and think of starting his legal profession.
Mr.
Ali (the writer of this article) and his friend a Civil Engineer -
Ismail, who were in Saudi Arabia had read some of late Ashraff's
articles in the newspapers and decided to come to Sri Lanka and join
the Muslim Congress and work with late Ashraff, who was in a state
of disappointment as the Party was in a poor state. At the first
instance 'we decided to get all the members who were in the Muslim
Congress to come together for which we had spent our full time and
we were successful. For nearly six months we worked full time and
gave strength to our Leader and in that direction we are proud to
say we were successful. On many instances our Leader gave us respect
and due place, which we can never forget.
Alhamdullilah!
The
Muslim Congress at that time made the members of the whole island
feel the difference between the rights and concessions. 'It was not
sufficient to get the rights of the Muslims from the Sinhalese
community only, but it must be got from the Tamil community as
well'. The Muslim leaders realized this later.
The
Sri Lanka and Indian governments were agreeing to bring the North
and Eastern provinces together to solve the ethnic problem. It was
late Mr. Ashraff who voiced his protest against such a move and
since then the Sri Lankan and Indian governments started paying
their attention towards him.
The
Muslim community will never stand in the way of the Tamil
aspirations. Still for all in a political solution the position of
the Muslims have to be safeguarded. This was the stand of the Muslim
Congress.
If the
Muslim aspirations were met in the solution of the conflict of the
North-East, then the Muslim Congress will be more than satisfied for
such a solution.
In
such a situation in June 1986, when there was an All-Party
Conference, the Muslim Congress was not in a position to take part
in the Conference as it was not a recognized Party, as the Muslims
who were in the majority parties represented the Muslims and
betrayed them at the Conference.
The
Muslims at that time were given positions in a big and small way.
When there was a demand from the Eastern province for a separate
Muslim Province, it was the Muslim leaders who were against it and
they were neutral in the issue for which they were awarded with
foreign appointments, ministry posts, director's posts and so on
They made the Muslims feel that they were respected by such
positions.
'Whatever positions they may have got should have been got with
honour. It should have been as a small gift and fulfilled the
aspirations of the Muslim community'. This the late leader Ashraff
brought to the notice of the Muslim community and showed a new path
for them.
In a
changing situation, in the Eastern province the Muslims were slowly
joining the freedom fighters because they did not have proper
leadership and it was late Ashraff who showed them a different path
and prevented the Muslim youth from joining the Movement on a large
scale.
Every
nook and corner of the eastern province was going towards a
destructive path. It was late Ashraff who took the message to the
young Muslim people and changed their attitude and brought the
entire youth under one leadership. It was late Ashraf who took the
Muslim Congress outside the eastern province and made the people
understand that it was a Party which cares for the people living
outside the east. He did not care whether the leaders of that time
supported the move or not, but his idea was to bring all the Muslims
in the country under one banner.
During
this time, the Muslim Congress received island-wide support and all
started praising him for his courage. On 29 November 1986 at the 'Badsha'
Festival in Colombo when the 6th Conference of the Muslim Congress
was held it was declared a Political Party. What followed after the
declaration was very encouraging and important.
When
the 6th Amendment to the Constitution was to be taken up, the Tamil
parties under the leadership of Amirthalingam was against such a
move and left the country and went to India and returned after some
years. When they returned late Mr. Ashraff and his members met Mr.
Amirthalingam and put forward their grievances. At that time Mr.
Amirthalingam informed Mr. Ashraf that the Muslims are not a
separate community but a part of the Tamil community. He named them
as Muslim-Tamils. For this Mr. Ashraff was completely against and he
made a long statement explaining the position of the Muslims and he
challenged Mr. Amirthalingam and at the 'Badsha' festival he
declared the Muslim Congress as a political party.
After
this declaration, it was the so-called Muslim leaders at that time
who were really worried and called late Ashraff a 'communalist' and
they said that he is a person who is trying to bring about Sinhala-Muslim
clashes, but many Muslims supported the Muslim Congress move.
People
like Prof. Newton Goonesinghe commented that a party of this nature
should have been started a long time ago. Unfortunately, it was not
started earlier. It is the Muslim Congress who wanted the Muslims of
Sri Lanka as a separate community with a national identity. This and
many other matters were put forward by the Muslim Congress.
The
Muslims whose mother tongue was Tamil had to live under Tamil
culture and the Muslims living under the Sinhalese community had to
keep their mouths shut and live in fear. That is why we want the
government to declare a Muslim state to fulfill the aspirations of
the Muslims of the whole country. To achieve this end, the
government must through the Education System Planning &
Implementation and inform the people that if this country is to
progress the Tamil crisis must be solved as soon as possible and not
bring in communal and religious feeling amongst the people.
Tamil
must be given equal status and Sinhala, Tamil and English must be
taught from Year One.
The
Muslim Shariah and whatever the government is planning has to be
stopped.
With
these proposals the Muslim Congress went to the people and they were
received very warmly and to achieve their goal they were expecting a
General Election.
At the
start of 1987, when the District Council elections were to be held,
the Muslim Congress could not contest as they were not a recognized
party. Still for all, the Muslim Congress members decided to contest
as an Independent Group.
During
that time when the North-East conflict was at its peak, the Tigers
wanted the elections to be boycotted. Through fear most of the
candidates withdrew their nominations and many submitted their
resignation letters. But the Muslim Congress candidates did not
withdraw their nominations, but took part in the elections. This
made the Tigers to send death-threat letters to the Muslim Congress
candidates. If the candidates do not withdraw their nominations
before the 2nd of August 87 at any cost their lives will be in
danger were the letters sent to the candidates. The candidates who
were really in a fearful situation wanted to withdraw from the
elections and be out of it. Knowing their feelings, the leader
summoned all the members who were contesting to Colombo, and
delivered an important historical speech. What he told in the speech
was he made them understand the necessity of the Muslim Congress
Party to be in the forefront of the election. He also mentioned
about Islam History. 'What could be achieved by spending thousands
of rupees we can achieve by sacrificing our lives for this cause.
Those who wish to die with me can stay and the others can go away'.
After
his speech, the candidates were in a quandary and some left the
place and a few stayed back and the Muslim Congress leader embraced
them and told that they were the true members of the Muslim Congress
and one of those who left this important meeting is a present leader
who is a challenge to the Muslim Congress.
'Later
I realized that the Muslim Congress political struggle was a bed of
thorns.
The day that this incident took place, the Indian Prime Minister,
Rajiv Gandhi was to come to Sri Lanka to sign the Sri Lanka - India
Accord. In Colombo, here and there were protest meetings and in some
places shops were set on fire. Seeing all this, the members of our
group left the following day to their respective places to take part
in the election activities.
It was
then that the government announced that the District Council
elections were to be postponed and they were preparing to bring the
Indian Peacekeeping Force to Sri Lanka. With this announcement, the
Muslim Congress political struggle took a turn for the better.
There
was a group who did not even care for their lives and were
supporting Ashraff, and the Muslim community in general. This the
government and the freedom fighters started realizing and all the
leading newspapers from then onwards were paying attention to the
Muslim Congress.
For
signing the Sri Lanka - India Accord there was an appeal by a
section of the community that J R and Rajiv Gandhi must be given the
Nobel Prize for signing the Accord. More than the Muslim community,
they were praising Jayawardena
and they gave preference to Jayawardena than to the Muslim
community. In this situation only late leader Ashraff made his
objections to the Accord. He also said that JR had stabbed the
Muslims in the back. He also made the whole world understand that
this was a move against the Muslim community.
The
terrorism that was going on in the North-East and the 5/6th majority
that the government received at that time did not prevent late Mr.
Ashraff from voicing his objections.
Finally, when he started realizing that his struggle was justified,
that the Indian High Commissioner and the government and others were
interested in discussing matters with late Ashraff and the Muslim
Congress.
Until
such time, the Muslim Congress was not recognized as a Political
Party but on 11 February 1988 the Party was recognized. After 28
years Ashraff achieved what he wanted and the Leader declared that
day as the 'Muslim Political Freedom Day'. That day is to be
celebrated by the Congress Freedom fighters every year and all are
also asked to observe a day of fasting.
In
1989, when the Provincial Council Elections were held, other than in
the North East the people gave their whole-hearted support and
elected the Muslim Congress members. By that their identity was
established.
Thereafter elections were held in the very important North-East, on
condition they support the North East Council where the Muslims
could give their support for such a move. Leader Ashraff wanted to
contest elections at any cost and gave reasons for same. He said
areas where Indian Peacekeeping forces are stationed it was
important that the Muslims field their own candidates and take part
in elections. If we did not, those areas would have been filled by
the Tamils and people by being against the Muslim Congress our
representation would have been completely deprived.
Thereafter, in the Provincial Council Elections 17 members of the
Muslim Congress were elected. Still, as the security situation was
not conducive the members could not take their oaths. After 6 months
when the security situation improved and the members took their
oaths they started functioning in the Council.
After
taking part in the Provincial Council meetings that we were able to
witness the 'Tamil Only' slogan and as a result it was felt that a
Muslim Provincial Council was a necessity.
When
the Provincial Council met once there was a motion brought up by the
Tamil parties to join the North East as one Provincial Council, but
to this the leader voiced his protest. He summoned all the members
to Colombo and instructed them as to what they should say at the
meetings.
The
Tamil parties did not like the motion to be objected by the Muslim
Congress and made an appeal to one of the Muslim Congress members to
boycott the sittings and he was successful in that and the Muslim
Congress instructed their members to boycott the sittings.
Knowing that there were some black sheep in their midst Leader
Ashraff was very alert.
It is
under the Tamil majority Provincial Council that in the East many
Muslims were killed under state patronage. Even Provincial Council
members were killed.
When
there was a move to send the Indian Peacekeeping Force out of Sri
Lanka it was leader Ashraff who wanted the Muslim areas to be
protected. He said if the Indian forces left the country all of a
sudden those places maybe filled by the Tamil groups which will be a
permanent danger. For this he was graded as a stooge of the Indian
Peacekeeping Force. Also, they said he was against the progress of
the country and they were against his action.
The
people who were against the Muslim Congress found fault with late
Ashraf and Provincial Council members.
The
Muslim Congress and its members were acting in a very responsible
manner and with dedication and left the entire issue in the hands of
Allah.
After
the incident that took place in Sammanthurai which the Indian
Peacekeeping forces were also responsible for, Ashraf was prevented
from entering the Mosque. They accused him of joining the Kafirs
(non-believers) and made various allegations. He did not know what
to do and started crying through pain of mind and we were able to
witness that. He was feeling sorry for the people who did not know
the truth and were doing all this to him. After much struggle, he
went inside the mosque and delivered a speech and the people came to
know the truth and asked pardon from him. This shows that he was a
great man and had the ability to rule and had good vision.
In the
1989 elections, he was elected to Parliament. In the history of the
Muslim community this was an occasion when a Muslim had been elected
by the Muslims. He who formed the Party and made people join it and
in that election the entire votes he got was nearly 99%, which was a
big achievement the Muslims could have been proud of.
With a
smiling face he entered Parliament on 9th March 1989 and started his
maiden speech and for the last six years he has spoken in Parliament
for 125 hours. Most of his speeches were about the Muslims and their
political future and in his maiden speech he outlined the necessity
of the Muslim Congress coming into Parliament. The unsettled
conditions and various other reasons that necessitated the Muslim
Congress to be formed.
In
this country from time to time, the Muslims were giving their
support to the UNP and SLFP. For the last 35 years their aspirations
were not fulfilled. If the Muslim Congress was not established the
grievances of the Muslim community would not have been looked into
in the proper way. So the Muslim Congress was formed 'to prevent the
government from facing uneasy situations for which you will have to
thank me' he said in his maiden speech.
Though
he was in the opposition bench, the way he performed was really
creditable. The members who were there before him were not equal to
him and nobody could find fault with him the way he performed his
duties.
The JR
administration was bringing legislation to deprive the minority
community of their representation by 12.5%, which late Ashraff tried
his level best to bring it down to 5% was one of his best moves.
From
1985 - 1994, was the best period of his time. Yet people who looked
at him in a communal line brought in unwanted allegations against
him, but he fought those battles bravely and performed his duties as
a Minister effectively.
He had
discussions with Neelam Tiruchelvam and other Thamil Arasu Katchi
leaders from time to time. He spoke about the grievances of his
people with them. He also spoke with late Thondaman and got an
agreement signed with him. Late Ashraff was a soft spoken and an
understanding man. He treated all alike and was not biased against
caste creed or religion. He comforted all who came to him.
In 1994, it was the Muslim Congress which was responsible to form
the government. He was very keen to fulfill the aspirations of the
Muslim community and to this effect he signed an agreement. But most
of the issues in the agreement were not fulfilled. The postal area
issue was one of those which were objected by certain communal
elements.
Out of
the many issues Thavayippiya a holy area was to be declared a Muslim
area which was rejected by the government.
His
idea in establishing more Muslim government schools in the Kandy and
Colombo areas did not get any response and was shelved.
Under
these situations, when important issues were being rejected, he was
preparing to meet the challenge of another General Election. He was
very keen that in the 2000 General Elections, the Muslim community
should not be deceived. Having this in mind he was doing all what he
possibly could to safeguard the Muslim community.
On the
one hand the crowd that was with him was more than satisfied with
his achievements and on the other hand he has been disappointed even
though he was a Minister he could not achieve what he desired.
In the
final days of his life he discussed many issues with his freedom
fighters and he exchanged his views with them in a free and fair
manner.
In
year 2000, when the Parliament was summoned and they were to elect a
Speaker he used this opportunity to get some of his grievances which
were unattended to, to be heard.
A
50-page letter was written by him and was to be sent to the
President but unfortunately the letter did not reach in its full
context. The people who were getting benefits out of their position
have changed the substance of the letter.
His
sudden death under unexpected circumstances left us all in sadness.
The Almighty Allah had different plans for him. He had to leave
behind his freedom fighters, his beloved friends and supporters.
His
supporters have not let him down but they are going ahead with the
aspirations towards the Muslim community.
The
establishment of the Muslim Congress was to achieve a certain goal,
which his supporters will take forward and late Ashraf's name will
not be forgotten.
A book
is to be published regarding his entire political career. Insha
Allah it will be published in the near future and given as a gift to
the future generation.
We
also sympathise with those who died with him.
May Allah console all of them.
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