Monumental rescue mission

Sri Lanka yesterday witnessed a monumental landmark in its history when the country’s Security Forces succeeded in pulling off the biggest known human rescue mission at any time anywhere in the world.

Tens of thousands of civilians who were held prisoners by the LTTE, yesterday, breathed the fresh air of freedom thanks to one of the bravest manoeuvres by an armed forces in the known history of mankind

It was certainly the biggest hostage drama in recorded history and every Sri Lankan to a man no doubt would be proud of this mind boggling achievement which put their country on the world map and brought honour and glory to the Security Forces.

At the time of writing, tens of thousands of civilians were still pouring into the Government controlled areas after the Forces breached the last earth bund blocking access into the No Fire Zone beginning what is certainly one of the biggest human exodus reminiscent of biblical times. Television showed men women and children enmasse carrying with them their meagre belongings walking out to freedom a la Cecil B de Mille masterpiece of yesteryear.

According to latest reports when the Forces overran the earth bund at Puthumattalan on the edge of the No Fire Zone tens of thousands of civilians broke free and surged out of the NFZ even as the LTTE kept firing at them. But not even the incessant firing by the LTTE were able to halt this massive avalanche of civilians in their quest for freedom from the harrowing ordeals they were put through during the past few months when they were used as a human shield by their so called liberators.

Reports also said that clashes had broken out between the civilians and the LTTE cadres who were trying to staunch the avalanche. From the trend that is being witnessed it is doubtful if all the LTTE guns will be able to stop this massive exodus.

As we commented yesterday in this column, the civilians have had enough. Not for them, any longer are the promised land of Eelam or any other utopian dreams. Their sole intent is to escape fast into a new dawn of freedom. This they have now achieved ending their long struggle against tyranny and oppression.

No doubt all eyes of the world will be on Sri Lanka marvelling at the magnitude of the achievement of its Security Forces - even though grudgingly in certain quarters, and also pondering on the mind boggling humanitarian drama that is unfolding.

Our solders have come in for high praise from world’s military powers with some describing Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka as the best military Commander in the world for his insistence on zero casualties while battling the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world.

This praise and commendation has now proved to be not misplaced. For the Army had taken great care not to open fire even when the LTTE was using its heavy weapons from the No Fire Zone, fearing harm to the civilians.

It was only the other day that the Television showed the Forces enjoying Avurudu fare with the civilians who has escaped the LTTE. No doubt this camaraderie and togetherness would be a harbinger of a greater bond between the Tamils and the majority community now that all barriers are fast being dismantled paving the way for a new beginning in a united Sri Lanka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Commander-in-Chief can justly be proud of this monumental achievement of the Armed Forces.

There were both overt and subtle pressures to halt the on going humanitarian operations or at least to go slow on the current offensive. Shuttle diplomacy by roving ambassadors, vocal protests in Tamil Nadu failed to sway the President from his single minded goal to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism. In this, he was assisted by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, himself a battle hardened warrior, and the unswerving commitment of the Three Service Commanders.

As for Velupillai Prabhakaran it is immediately not clear what his next option is. But even he should realise that this is the end of the road for his Eelam dream. The Tamil people on whose behalf he professed to have fought, have now abandoned him and the LTTE.

There is now no way that he could achieve his separatist dream. In any event, there will be no people to populate this utopian state. They have now crossed the Rubicon and have expressed the desire to be willing partners with the majority community. As President Rajapaksa said he can now only jump into the deep blue sea or take cyanide and end his miserable life.

The exodus has sounded the death knell of Tamil Eelam. It is now time for everyone to embrace our Tamil brethren who had come into their midst after their harrowing experience, with open arms and start building fresh bonds that would ensure they all live as brothers and sisters under one banner in a single nation.