The Tigers have resisted the demand of Muslim parties, including the SLMC, for a separate Muslim delegation to the peace talks. Mr Thamilchelvan says that the LTTE are negotiating with the Sri Lankan state on the basis of strategic military parity that was achieved by waging war for 25 years. The Muslim leadership, on the other hand, he alleges, has always chosen to be an integral part of governments in power in Colombo and therefore has no right to demand separate representation at the peace talks.
SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem criticized the LTTE stand and indicated that his party is currently discussing its own proposals for an interim administration in the north-east. Meanwhile, the Council of Muslims in Sri Lanka (CMS) has called for a referendum in the Eastern Province to decide whether it should be merged permanently with the Northern Province. CMS says the temporary merger of the two provinces has resulted in Tamil domination of the Muslims.