In Sri Lanka, Chief Minister of the Tamil-majority Northern Province C.V. Wigneswaran has admitted that some unfortunate incidents of the past had inflicted wounds on the Muslims which are yet to heal. Addressing the 'Arise Tamil' rally at Batticaloa in the Eastern Province today, the chief minister urged the Tamils and Muslims to bury the past and unite to fight for their rights as minorities. <br/><br/>However, he did not identify the unfortunate incidents or offered any apology on behalf of the Tamil people. Dozens of Muslims minorities were killed by LTTE during the ethnic war and thousands displaced from their homes.<br/><br/>The chief minister urged the Muslims to join the Tamils struggle for a federal constitution and promised that his outfit, the Tamils' Peoples' Council (TPC) will ensure an autonomous unit for Muslims if a united North-East Tamil-speaking province is created under a federal system. He said the Tamil-speaking communities must show the international community that they are united. <br/><br/>Mr. Wigneswaran, though part of moderate Tamil National Alliance has sought a hardline stance to press for demands by organizing of such rallies. This was the second such rally organized in recent months with the first one held in Jaffna town last year.