No single or body of persons can claim credit for war victory against LTTE
by S.L. Gunasekara
The final defeat of the `killing might’ of the LTTE on the 18th May 2009 ushered in a new era to our tortured land – an era when People of all races, religions, genders, ages and walks of life could go about their normal avocations without fear of being torn to pieces by bombs exploded in or about crowded city centres, shops, buses and trains; when Tamil residents of the North and the East could rest assured that their little children would no longer be kidnapped for slave labour in the LTTE’s terrorist cadres or for use as `cannon fodder’; when Sinhalese and Moors could worship at their temples and in their Mosques, work in their fields, and sleep in their humble abodes without fear of being slaughtered en masse; and when Tamils, particularly those resident in the North and the East are secure in the knowledge that their hard earned money would not be extorted from them by the LTTE in the guise of collecting `taxes’.
It was no surprise, therefore, that apart from a few rank traitors within it, the Nation, comprised as it is of Sinhalese, Tamils, and Moors among others, rejoiced as one, cutting across party lines as well as racial and religious differences.
What an opportunity there was then, to build upon that new found unity to re-build our Country on a firm foundation of decency and fair-play.
Such, however was not to be; and today, we see the outrageous spectacle of an unseemly and equally petty scramble to claim the credit for that mighty victory with a view to gaining some political advantage from it. What is most tragic is that this scramble is perceived [whether rightly or wrongly] to be principally a tussle for `kudos’ between President Rajapakse and General Sarath Fonseka; and that scenting the stench of perceived discord between the two as a gadfly scents the stench of excreta, some sniveling sycophants among the lumpen elements in that band of leeches on the body politic called Ministers have been seen to make fervid attempts to belittle the mighty achievements of General Sarath Fonseka with a view to currying favour with President Rajapakse, while the dress designer turned politician who once announced that General Sarath Fonseka is fit only to lead the Salvation Army is now seeking to promote him to contest the next election for the post of President and Commander in Chief of all our Armed Forces! How queer!
Whatever anybody may say, the nation can never forget that President Rajapakse was the first President to have the courage and the political will to give political leadership to a sustained military campaign to deliver us from evil; and that but for that leadership, that mighty victory would not have taken place.
However, all that sound and enlightened leadership would have been to no avail had not the Armed Forces and the Army in particular, [for this was essentially a `land operation’ and the final phase, essentially an `infantry operation’] responded positively with excellent strategic planning and like execution of such strategy by the Commanders, commitment, dedication and limitless sacrifice.
While the Army was, without doubt, the ‘spear-head’ and the main actor in the military operations, it could not have achieved victory alone, without the magnificent contributions of the Navy, the Air Force, the STF, and so many others.
However good the strategy and command decisions of the Commanders, all that would have come to nought but for the commitment of all ranks under their command, and in particular, the enlisted men, the non-commissioned officers, and the platoon, company and battalion commanders who fought the good fight with all their might, sacrificing life and limb and suffering dangers and hardships which we civilians could scarce imagine.
They themselves could not have so fought that fight but for the backing and support they received from their families.
The contribution to the victory of those patriots of indescribable valour, the Tamil informants, who served the Country while knowing that only slow and agonising deaths awaited them and their families if they were detected, must necessarily have been great, but by reason of its nature, the extent of that contribution can never really be known.
A moot question that arises is whether our Forces with all that political and professional leadership, courage, dedication and sacrifice could have achieved that historic victory had the efforts of the LTTE at the ethnic cleansing of the North, East and the areas abutting those Provinces of Sinhalese and Moors succeeded. That effort of the LTTE failed because there were some Buddhist Monks [now virtually forgotten] with monumental dedication and like courage such as the late Chief Incumbent of the Tantirimale Raja Maha Vihara and several others who gave leadership to the residents of Sinhalese villages in and around the Northern and Eastern Provinces and gave them the courage not to flee their villages despite the genocidal attacks on them by the LTTE.
Last but not least are the long suffering People of this Country who suffered an ever escalating cost of living while witnessing the shameless extravagance with public funds of some of those in the corridors of power, their vain ostentation and their total indifference to the rights and convenience of others; fraud and corruption; broken promises, and a host of other rank injustices without resorting to agitation which would have resulted in the Armed Forces being diverted from their tasks, and thereby made this victory possible. Let us also not forget that it was these People who provided the funds for the colossal expenditure on the military operations which made the victory possible. This victory can truly be described as one achieved on the "widows’ mite"
There is, therefore, no single person or body of persons who can claim the credit for the victory. The victory was a victory of the Nation as a whole, barring the traitors in our midst. This putrescent scramble to claim credit for the victory is not only a resounding disgrace, but also a self-defeating exercise which can only detract from the victory and gladden the hearts and strengthen the hands of our enemies both domestic and foreign.
This damned nonsense must stop: and stop NOW.
17 Comments
The infighting and upstaging that is going on at higher levels of Government indicates the bankrupt policies of those in the corridors of power. General Fonseka is a straight man with the interests of the Nation in his heart. He has not directly said a word but no doubt like the rest of us is sick of the corruption and dirty politics in the higher echelons of power which is undoing the hardfought victory gained by the armed forces. He has also mentioned the need for reconcillation etc So it would be well if our political masters listen to the voice of reason rather than shooting the messenger.
hi S.L.,
You are correct "This damned nonsense must stop: and stop NOW".
"No single or body of persons can claim credit for war victory against LTTE"
Not H.E. M.R., Not Sarath Fonseka, Not Wasantha Karunagoda, Not the Sangha, and I will go even so far as to say not even the nation as a whole.
The Tigers were brought down by the One Triune God, and in the fullness of time, he will liberate all of Sri Lanka of all terrorists who rule over our forsaken nation. Till then we will continue to suffer like no other. Suffer from our own insecurities, our own hatred, our own limitations, our shortsightedness.
Till then "Que Sera, Sera"
Wow,what a brilliant analysis. A 'must read' article for all Sri Lankans, irrespective of ethinic divisions.
How about India? How come Indian MPs are allowed into the camps when none of the MPs whether sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims are allowed into the camps? (except the stooges of the Govt.) If not for Indians active participation, SL security forces could not have achieved anything!!!! That is why SL is bending backwards to India!!!!
Greatly said!!!
Tamils,journalists,political opponents of the regime and even law abiding citizens are not aware of any 'victory'.The indiscriminate arrests of tamils & others, all over the country goes on.Disappearances and extortions are common.Hundreds of tamils languish in detention,without trial,some even without being produced before a magistrate.Many more languish in detention camps and are not being released to prevent the discovery of mass graves of thousands of tamil civilians who were indiscriminately slaughtered during the last few weeks of the war, under the pretext of "mined areas" alongside which they were living for years previously.Many more cannot go back to their homes - which have been looted of everything - seized for "security zones", though the Supreme Court last year ordered their resettlement.Some resettled in the Islets of Jaffna are being held captive to snatch their votes in future elections,as was previously done.Sinhalisation of tamil areas and place names has commenced.Buddha Statues are being planted all over the northeast.Tamil MPs are prevented from visiting their constituents in the prison camps.The glorification of the army cannot erase the atrocities commited by them. Even the indictments against the "more than 600 members of the armed forces and police" for human rights violations,as revealed by the sri lanka delegation to the UN Huaman Rights Council last year (when sri lanka was voted out of the Council) are now 'buried under the carpet'.So also are the indictments of 108 lankan 'peacekeepers' who were expelled by the UN from Haiti for sexual abuse of haitian females,mostly children.Now those who praise the regime are called 'patriots' and all else are labelled 'traitors'.Corruption and waste of peoples' funds goes on.Those responsible are allowed to contest elections.The massive 113 Mega Cabinet have not declared their assets as required by law.The Junta is preparing to entrench itself for many more years riding on the 'victory wave' as revealed by many journalists in the national media.
Well said, we need more people like Mr. S.L.Goonesekera,
who can publicly state this truth which everyone knows
at heart, but some people don't want to admit.
Wasana
An ethnic minority under internal colonialism in an island in a geopolitically sensitive location in an unjust world order is dying down.
After the defeat of LTTE, there is only one terrorist organisation in Srilanka and that is the Government of Srilanka and their racists armed forces and sinhala stooges. The war has to be directed against them in order to stall their agenda of murder and ethnic cleansing of Tamils.
The world has now realised this and will come hard on these people, the first sign of this, an economic embargo is on the horizon. India will not be able to continue their appeasing Srilanka policy for long when Tamil people continue to suffer and there are signs of agitation amongst Indians to intervene. LTTE lost because of the arrogant and selfish nature of Prabaharan and his foolish actions at the instigation of a foreign agency. Whatever the Government of Srilanka would do, it cannot defeat Tamil people. Sinhala supremacists in Srilanka must take a leaf from western countries where Sinhala and Tamil people are treated equally on the basis of merit. No Sinhala person could get away after harming a Tamil person and vice versa. Come and see these countries where Tamil people are thriving economically without any threat of their properties being burned down and walking the streets fearlessly without any threat of being abducted and going missing. Only way the Tamils could get this type of life is in a homeland ruled by them.
S.L. Gunasekara: "The final defeat of the `killing might’ of the LTTE on the 18th May 2009 ushered in a new era to our tortured land"
Yes it sure did! More torture and kilings, incarceration of 300K+ Tamils in concentration camps, terrorising of the media and journalists, etc. etc.
S.L. Gunasekara: "The victory was a victory of the Nation as a whole, barring the traitors in our midst"
Oh I see! Its the traitors, the "few rank traitors", who are the problem!
And 300K+ is a few????
Actually the main ones who can claim 'credit' for the military defeat of the LTTE are the Indians and the Chinese.
Since 1948 SL Gov. has been winning side of the battle and the people losing side of the war.
Its a big joke, without india u will never have chance. dont fool your self any more. stop all noncence. LTTE's big mistake used by sinhala terrorist, unforunaltly wetamils paid a heavy price.
Even below average and ordinary lawyers are expected to use polite and decent language in giving expression to their views – even highly contentious and disagreeable. SLG comes of excellent stock, schooled by that hallowed institution by the sea and son of a Supreme Court Judge - who held Court when the quality of English was at sublime levels. From “licking ar…s” in an earlier piece to “the stench of excreta” “stop this damned nonsense” here – in a column frequented by many from the gentler sex – is infra-dig to his profession where he is considered a senior. To say the same thing in more refined and acceptable language is a challenge this able lawyer is capable of overcoming. A lady relative of mine smilingly says she held her handkerchief to her face reading this article.
ISS
You are right on the money my friend.I like your colorful description too,of the losers who are desperately trying to drive a wedge between these two, who are the architects of the liberation of the society from terrorism.
Although he is the President, Rajapaksa has to depend on elected representatives to keep the parliament under his control.Everybody knows how these elected representatives operate.So Rajapaksa obviously has to tolerate some crooked practices of these people to keep them on side. This is nothing new in Srilankan politics.
Fonseka on the other hand had absolute power ,being the Commander of a Military Force. So he did not have to tolerate crooks.I am sure Fonseka understands the limitations of an elected politician in a democracy, not to get duped by the ex Dress Makers.
Rajapaksa in his second term will rectify most of these shortcomings if he can get an absolute majority in the Parliamentary elections.It is now up to the citizens of the country to use their vote to make sure the newly won freedom is protected and nurtured moving forward.
We must allow events to playout. Everyone egged on the destruction of the Northern facists. the LTTE themselves contributed to the effort generously.
The LTTE may be done yet the root cause for the struggle is alive and well. SLG has a chequered past when it comes to national reconciliation. If a Supreme Court Judges son and a Christian educated SLG has no aspiration of accomadating our fellow Srilankans equally how can we expect the hoi polloi of Srilanka to do so.
SLG, let be known that it's people like you that got Srilanka to what we are today. A nation bleeding from it's seems with 250,000 people living in government guest houses. So, enjoy it while it lasts.
As for me I will wait for the one man or woman who will unify the nation in mind and spirit and wish myself happy waiting.
'the dress designer turned politician’
‘not to get duped by the ex Dress Makers’
Is the dress making profession so low for the patriots of Sri Lanka? If it is so why don’t they agitate to call back Prof. G.L.P. back home from canvassing EU to retain GSP + ?
Too late. The government claimed the credit for war victory during all recent elections, also made Sarath Fonseka (SF) too big for the Presidential boots. Now the strategy has backfired. Now government is attacking own campaign strategy by SF bashing. What SLG is trying is to salvage the strategy for MR. Better advised the MR to find better strategy than trying to live on a past event, the side effect of that like keeping more than 200,000 humans in captivity craeting bad image for "your" nation - where that nation exists; it is not in this Island for sure; without a proper accommodation of ethnic nations in dignified manner; sharing power by all of them with a equalitarin policies this want come. You are not for that nation. So you are still late.