Admirable chronicle of defeating a terrorist outfit

Reviewed by Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

Wars unsettle societies and nations. They radically disrupt individual lives. Mourning, wailing, lamentation and endless litanies of woe, overwhelm peaceful human existence. Joy and happiness are trodden underfoot. Indiscriminate massacre, wide-spread bloodshed and gruesome destruction of life and property become routine. Panic, alarm and trepidation dominate the total community. Death lurks everywhere. Hope flees, leaving no trace.

In our recent history, the gentle and humane culture of our noble land, suffered the worst pangs of war, for thirty long years. During these darkest and most dismal three decades of Sri Lanka's recent history, the land was held in the relentless throes of the world's most repugnant and ultra cruel terrorist gang.

The lives of all citizens, in our compact island home, were smeared one way or another - by the bloodied claws of terrorists. The total population was taken hostage by these sub-human hordes. In the virulent atmosphere they unleashed, even the simplest act of life seemed an orderal. Bitten by the terrorist bug, a national paralysis seemed to have set in.

Pessimism

The unsung gloom of pessimism was so dense and overpowering, that, many citizens felt, that the only option left for the land was to await the inevitable fate of being swallowed up by the terrorist monster.

Leadership

But a courageous leadership, emerged determined to reverse this state of wide-spread depression, and to rid Sri Lanka of the debilitating cancer of terrorism.

So was it decided and so was it done.

In an operation that was globally impressive for its surprising humane dimension, total peace was triumphantly restored to this island-haven of compassion.

The unwinnable, was finally won, totally and comprehensively - to the utter amazement of the global community.

Author J.F. Ranjith Perera an erudite and perspicacious commentator of current issues celebrates this epochal victory, in his latest book WInning the Unwinnable War.

Purpose

The avowed purpose of his work is to record his appreciation of the services and sacrifices of all those who made this achievement possible. But, in reality, the scope of the book is far wider, than his avowal.

In a brief survey of the early history of Sri Lanka, the author quotes Dr. Nandadeva Wijesekera, to establish that, over a span of about 18 centuries nearly 16 South Indian invasions troubled Sri Lanka.

The author has a very specific reason for quoting Dr. Nandadeva Wijesekera. In the early days of Sri Lanka's internal conflict. Dr. Nandadeva Wijesekera had uttered a strange prophecy. Asked about the despicable effort of the insurgents to set up a separate state, Dr. Wijesekera had spoken his prophetic words.

As quoted by the author, this was Dr. Wijesekera's view of the future, at a time when the internal conflict had just begun to stir: "....this thrice-blessed land, is protected by unseen forces. After some time, a heroic leader will emerge - most likely from the South and he will bring into being, the required military potential to counter this hideous threat and will re-establish the unity of our land."

Author Ranjit Perera, embellishes the prophecy with this own note: "If Dr. Nandadeva Wijesekera were alive today, he would be absolutely happy that his prophecy became a reality."

Tribute

Prior to the paying of one tribute, the author launches upon a definition of the esteemed expression "A national hero." To the author, the mere possession of exceptional talents is not sufficient to make an individual a national hero. To aspire to that prestigious position, a man or woman should use those exceptional talents for the benefit of the nation, at times of crisis.

What distinguishes the author's narration of the story of the war against the terrorist military machine, is its authoritative detail. The author's entrenched patriotism and his unabashed admiration of those who carved out the victory, with their sweat and blood, do not prod the writer to be cloyingly effusive or irrationally smarmy in his chronicle.

He preserves his objectivity, as much as is humanly possible, in such a heavily weighted emotional context.

A goodly portion of the work is dedicated to the recording of the heroic and historical role of the armed forces, the civil defence force and the police force. As an entry into this segment, the author devotes several chapters to evaluate the strength of the LTTE and the part played by its backers.

Compliment

As is logical in such a survey as this, the writer pays an initial compliment to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the quality of the leadership they provided. The author is keenly aware, that, bereft of a focussed and unswerving leadership a massive anti-terrorist campaign of this astounding scale, is impossible and even unthinkable.

In his authenticated detail of the progress of the campaign, the author displays a level of research, that is undoubtedly praiseworthy.

The author profusely quotes the central players of this epic anti-terrorist drama, to provide a comprehensive profile of Sri Lanka's campaign against the world's most virulent terrorist horde.

At the end of it all, this work is, in effect a proclamation to the totality of the global community, to take adequate note of this mercy mission, driven by an utter compassion towards those millions of helpless victims of terrorism.

As it worked out, the campaign was essentially a mercy mission, in total contrast to the brutal and ruthless inhumanity of the terrorists. The author's end-note, on "the protection provided to civilians by the security forces, during the humanitarian operations," bears out vividly, the merciful and compassionate aspects of the operation towards the civilian victims of the terrorists.

Progress

The author traces the progress of Sri Lanka's security forces, in its final operation against terrorists, from Mavil Aru on July 21, 2000, to its final phase, culminating at Puthukkudirippu on April 5, 2009 and Vellamulli Vaikkal, May 18, 2009.

The author makes a passionate plea: "The unitary nature and the sovereignty of our nation must be preserved at all costs by perpetuating a strong democratic, centralized system of government."

All told, the work is an admirable chronicle of the winning of an unwinnable war, narrated with a praiseworthy equilibrium between the head and the heart.