He walked that extra mile

Jaffna Commander Brigadier Susantha Mendis was one of those few military officers who made a real difference in the war ravaged northern peninsula following victory secured by the Riviresa troops in 1995. It looked as if the battle hardened soldier had ceased to believe in the use of arms to battle terrorism. He mingled with the people of the north yearning for a change and did everything possible in his capacity to rekindle the democratic process there.

He was receptive to requests made by the citizenry and it was said that at times he was too lenient and let off guard. So were Brigadiers Larry Wijeratne, and Ananda Hamangoda who brushed aside security advice pertaining to their personal safety and willingly undertook a mission of their own to bring troops closer to the people. Their missions reached fruition but they had the price: they were felled by terrorists.

From the point of view of the terrorists they had a good reason for doing what they did to those gentlemen in that dastardly manner. They were loved by the people and gave the lie to the LTTE' much publicised lie that the troops were nothing but a pack of hounds hell bent on nothing but killing Tamils.

The north was not without buyers for such propaganda. Some believed in what was palmed off as the gospel truth about the troops by the LTTE and others were helpless although they though otherwise. Dissemination of these lies and the fear of the unknown and above all the corecsion by the terorists that knew no bounds enabled that now famous exodus from the recaptured peninsula to the wilds of the Wanni led by terrorists clad in Mose's clothing.

But the promised land was not to be theirs. Things improved in the liberated Jaffna rapidly thanks to the efforts by Larry and Ananda, Susantha's predecessor and others in Jaffna.

The truth triumphed and the people returned back home.

Ananda's assassination created a vacuum to be filled by someone of the same calibre, the nerve and heart. Susantha moved in and proved a success.

Susantha as one of our staffers who visited Jaffna pointed out some time ago, had even gone out of his way to win back the estranged populace of Jaffna. Once he had, our writer said, released an LTTE suspect, who was an undergraduate of the Jaffna University. There was ample evidence to establish that the undergrad was involved in terrorists activities. The university teachers parents and the citizen committees made representations to Susantha. And much to the chagrin of those who had netted him, Susantha released the boy as a good will gesture. And his unorthodox yet humane move had the desired impact: people came to repose their trust in him and look up to him as someone who cared for their children and was willing to listen to them.

So did Larry. When a Tamil girl who had fallen in love with a soldier was gunned down by terrorists about an year ago for the 'offence' she had committed, he out of sympathy conducted her funeral at the expense of the military.

A military high ranker walking that extra mile for the people is naturally anathema to terrorists. For bridge building helps wean people away from terrorists masquerading as liberators. It also helps expose terrorist symapthisers overseas who with their lavish funds keep terrorist guns booming in the jungles. The vision that Susantha and his ilk had for the country and their dedication to their mission to make life worth living for a devastated populace are already paying dividends in terms of the swing of international opinion in favour of Sri Lanka.

Susantha also knew that another way to keep the Jaffna people happy was to give them what they liked most - soccer. He himself had the Appadurai Stadium renovated and enjoyed foot ball being played there like a little boy.

The exemplary behaviour of these gentlemen in uniform vis a vis blood letting indulged in by terrorists must have had its contribution to the change that has occurred in the thinking in the west in general and the US in particular, which has branded the LTTE a terrorist outfit. This is a goal that a country cannot achieved only by pounding terrorist targets with artillery. While those wresting control of the areas held by the terrorists should do so with the help of weapons, those who are in control of the areas so liberated have towin heats and mids of the people by sharing fruits of liberation with them.

These gentlemen towered above the awe inspiring larger than life cut outs of dead terrorists that thethe LTTE once put up at every intersection in the north. And they managed to do so by bending rigid military rules to go among the peopl. They were willing to pay the price and they did.

Susantha's death has left a vacuum once again in the north. It must be filled with some one like him capable of winning hearts and minds of the people. To do that will be the highest tribute that can be paid to an officer and gentleman that was Susantha.