A land which is free of fear

Christie Fernando - Chilaw special correspondent

It is foolhardy to make a compromise with a terrorist until substantial measures are adopted to rehabilitate him. This procedure is effectively triggered off by the present government in a very humanitarian and caring manner - and till such time the attitudes of remaining terrorists change, and their patriotism, love and loyalty to the country are amply demonstrated, they should not be released.

Their code of conduct and moral values should be homogenised and regulated; a metamorphosis to standardize their behaviour and to adapt them to live as law-abiding citizens in the country should be inculcated in them. Otherwise a swift transition for the terrorists to merge and intermingle as normal citizens in society is well-nigh unwieldy and impractical. No hasty action should be taken to release the remaining detainees.

Some proponents and protagonists postulate ineffectual and pseudo theories; a few members of the Opposition too may be vociferous critics of the government's stance and wish the Army should leave the North. Why should that be done?

Order and discipline

At any cost, the Army must stay in the North. Some sinister elements are vituperative of the Army continuing to stay there. They are there to maintain order and discipline and not to disrupt the peace and harmony the residents enjoy there. If the Army is removed, we can imagine the mayhem and chaos that can be created overnight by would-be terrorists.

The disinformation spread in the Diasporta to tarnish the image of our beloved county is being rectified. The sooner it is done to create a better image the better it is for our country.

However, the Westernised countries now have grasped a realistic picture of our island nation where dread and terror reigned for so long and we have been saved thanks to the concrete and tangible efforts of the government. Any traveller can discern that the government is doing all it can to develop and build the country.

We as humble citizens are deeply indebted to the government for the peace and normalcy (long elusive!) which has dawned in our country in the aftermath of three decades of hostilities and ethnic cleansing. Barbaric acts of such magnitude - and revengeful and ruthless killings and atrocities that were perpetrated by such heinous terrorists were inconceivable!

We are deeply indebted to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for paving the way to speedily revamp the country. We can now say with Charles Dickens:

It was the worst of times and now it is best of times. Then it was the epoch of incredulity. It was the season of Darkness; now it is the season of Light that is shining upon us. It was the winter of despair and we were all going direct the other way as Charles Dickens said. But now it is the spring of hope and prosperity.

Bomb explosions

There was a time when we started off from home and there was no hope of returning home. It was the time of darkness and doom. People were living with fear and trepidation. People were frightened to go by bus. Bags and baggage were examined and there was the imminent menace and threat of bomb explosions! We thank God that He has spared us; and if we lived in the North, we would have been quartered and hacked to death or lost life and limb.

The terrorists were hell-bent in killing the Sinhalese and Muslims. They mercilessly and inhumanly cut and chopped with swords and knives and human bodies were strewn helter-skelter. To end the impasse of the killings and shootings of that scale and magnitude, this government came to salvage the civilians. The Tamils and Sinhalese who lived in horror and apprehension are now liberated. We can travel freely to the North or any nook and corner of the country.

We are free and can sojourn in the country without any foreboding terror or alarm and it is our bounden duty to thank this government profusely.