Engendering authentic harmony

Christie Fernando, Chilaw special correspondent

We laud and shower our encomiums profoundly on our President for his valiant efforts to restore normalcy and freedom from strife - which are prolifically yielding good returns.

There is exuberance, enthusiasm and joy ubiquitously at all nooks and corners of the country with the "hoi polloi," the local people animated with explosive joy by lighting crackers to show their delight that we are on a winning spree to conquer in earnest the enemy at all fronts in this long-drawn-out-war, with the soldiers undaunted by all the stiff resistance, are monopolising and dominating their power and muscle. And more significantly this is eloquent from what the soldiers themselves speak unequivocally at the battlefronts.

Security Forces celebrating a the victory of A9 road and Elephant Pass Picture by Rukmal Gamage

They vehemently declared in no unmistaken terms: "This is a do or die" battle and we are going all out to regain the remaining territories to be triumphant in the war in the non-liberated areas."

Indeed, the soldiers are going from strength to strength, acquiring more territories and winning the war to defeat the enemy.

This characteristic self-confidence and courage with which they have moved forward to wrest the rest of the territory from the enemy, should be most welcome. In truth, the "old order" is now ebbing away and changing, to pave way for a new era, flowing with milk and honey for a stable future, with the rebels vanquished and annihilated.

The serenity and peace we yearned for, so long, is now dawning; it's being tangibly felt by the people. Emotions throb deep down in the hearts of people. A new epoch is emerging with the "old order" changing and passing away. And, anarchy, insurgence and rebellion will be obliterated for ever, for a prosperous future to come in the country.

As an illustration of the on-going conflict, I wish to recount what I witnessed as a young boy when I espied a mother and daughter living at loggerheads, shouting epithets at each other the whole day.

I overheard their abuses from morning till evening. They would then stop for a while at night and start the same afresh the following morning.

What raucous cacophony it was! My aunt said they were bickering and wrangling about dowry problems or other petty little affairs. In the same fashion, this inhuman war should end without dragging out. People sighed and whined and said: "How long can we wait? This protracted war should end expeditiously with no strings attached." This crippling war, on the other hand, has cost needless lives and forfeiting millions of rupees.

In this context it is relevant to mention that according to an old folk tale, "Pestilence" was one day speeding towards Baghdad . An Arab chief, travelling in a caravan who met "Pestilence", asked why he was hastening to Baghdad . "To take 5,000 lives away," Pestilence replied.

Returning from Baghdad , Pestilence again overtook the caravan. "You deceived me," the Chief said angrily. "Instead of 5,000 lives, you took 50,000 lives! Nay, said Pestilence: "Five thousand and not one more."

It was FEAR indeed that killed the rest. We pray to the Lord to vouchsafe us length of life and give us hope of immortality.

Today, the masses are gripped with fear and apprehension and we dreaded the killings and mayhem that were then prevalent. Surely these actions have caused incalculable harm.

"Fear is the beginning of wisdom", it is said. If that is so, we should be wise enough to avert untoward events of this nature. We need to toe the line with the President in his timely efforts to win the war by all means. People feared for their lives to get about - to go in a vehicle for fear of being kidnapped, harassed or killed in an explosion, etc.

We have been living in anxiety and uncertainty for almost three decades. President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the champion and liberator of the masses has indeed gone all out to combat the enemy to end the crippling war at all costs to bring solace and consolation to all and sundry. A climate of peace is unarguably essential for our day-to-day living.

We should be able to sojourn in this isle unfettered and unencumbered - to move about freely as independent citizens or trek the length and breadth of this country at any time. If the rebels are aggressive, belligerent or hostile - and obviously fighting fiercely to divide the country for inconsequential gains, then life is not worth living especially if we remain silent.

And if like in the dark era, we are constrained to stay indoors with doors closed or are not sure of coming back in the evening after work, this can never be a free or safe place to live in.

Authentic freedom for every individual is a sine qua non. If it is denied, then no one can live happily in our dear land. It is this harmony that we have been yearning for, all these years. And peace has eluded us for some reason or other for so long.

We firmly believe and hope that under the mantle and direction of our dear President Mahinda Rajapaksa, long lasting peace will dawn in our country.

This is indeed what we expectantly aspire for harmonious and peaceful co-existence. We manifestly perceive our President's pragmatic peace initiatives which surely bear fruit, paving the way in resolving this final battle.

We also plead that every hooliganism and thuggery will be eliminated from our midst with the President's mediation. High-handed acts of criminals should be taboo in our civil society and all types of weaponry and ammunition should be taken into custody from every person for our own safety.

Thus, to live as a free nation, should be our determined hope and expectation and with the restoration of peace and harmony in our country, we could forge ahead productively and in a conscientious manner to develop the country by leaps and bounds.