COLOMBO: The fact that the Muslims share the LTTE populated eastern territory in almost equal numbers with the Tamils seems to be dawning on the LTTE, 14 years after it ruthlessly embarked in an 'ethnic cleansing' , forcing thousands of Muslims to flee the northern Jaffna region at gunpoint.

In one of their sporadic goodwill gestures extended to the Muslims, the LTTE last week initiated discussions at grass-root level with Muslim non-political, mosque representatives in the east, a move which is looked at sceptically by Muslim political representatives in Colombo.

The open arms that the elusive LTTE leader and war maestro, Vellupillai Prabhakaran extended to the Muslim Congress leader Rauf Hakeem in May 2002, which many interpreted later as transforming once again into clenched fists, is apparently once again reaching out into a congenial welcome to join the bid for peace.

However, on the terms of the LTTE and delving below the seats of power, opting to hold their dialogues with Muslim representatives at the local level. "We made mistakes. We cannot let them always divide and rule the Tamil-speaking people.

We should resolve to achieve our common goal together", S. P. Thamilchelvan, head of the LTTE Political wing was quoted in the Tamil media on Monday - based on his statement at a meeting held with eastern Muslim mosque federation representatives at an a LTTE office in the densely Muslim populated Eastern district of Ampara.

Overshadowed by a larger than life portrait of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran, the LTTE political wing leader vowed that 'Muslim-Tamil' unity could succeed in achieving what he called their aspirations.

"In recent years we, the Liberation Tigers, have been trying to work towards a political settlement for the Tamil speaking people in a peaceful and civilized way," the LTTE political wing leader added.

Notably the LTTE has now adopted the term 'Tamil-speaking' as opposed to mere 'Tamil' to describe their so called 'Tamil struggle', unleashing doubts from the Muslim political leaders in Colombo as to the real motives behind the LTTE's sudden 'pro-Muslim' fervour.

An angry minister for the Eastern province, Farial Ashraff - who represents the Alliance government of President Kumaratunge - claimed that the LTTE's meetings with non-political representatives were 'useless'.

"We are concerned about the problems that the Muslims face in the LTTE-controlled regions. We are suspicious at the manner the LTTE call meetings at grass-root level with Muslim representatives, not taking any serious steps to talk to us directly", Ashraff added. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauf Hakeem expressed fear that the Muslims would be used as pawns in the LTTE's elaborate game of 'liberation'.

"What the LTTE is now attempting to do is to assimilate the LTTE identity with the Muslims to meet their own ends and thereby wipe out completely the Muslim political identity in the north-east.

This is all the more dangerous because with their inflammatory statements they could raise Muslim patriotism to suit their political purposes", Rauf Hakeem said in an interview.

"Just as the LTTE do not want to live under the Colombo rule, we too do not want to live under the Killinochchi rule", Hakeem further said referring to the region administered by the LTTE.

The Muslim Congress opposition to the LTTE's controversial Interim Self Governing Authority which seems to be the euphemistic term for the materializing of its so called 'homeland' is to be once again conveyed to the Norwegian peace facilitator, Eric Solheim when he arrives in the country this weekend, Hakeem said.

"We have our own proposals for our own administration and we are going to act on this whether the LTTE likes it or not", a defiant Hakeem said. Meanwhile, non-political Muslim leaders who live alongside the Tamil Tigers in areas controlled by the LTTE, and who had attended the recent meeting with the LTTE, say that they had accepted the LTTE invitation for discussion in order to discuss complaints that Muslims living in the north eastern areas face with the LTTE.

"We told them that we are having serious problems with their taxation and discrimination against the Muslims. We have our doubts too about these promises made by the Tamil Tigers.

We have not forgotten the abductions of Muslims that had taken place in LTTE-monopolized regions during the past two years of peace but we will continue to meet them as long as they do not violate their words any more", I.M Ibrahim, secretary of the Mosque Federations of Amparai said.