S Murari - The Prabhakaran Saga: The Rise and Fall of an Eelam Warrior

Perhaps this war will pass like others
which divided us
leaving us dead, killing us along with
the killers
but the shame of this time puts its
burning fingers to our faces,
who will erase the ruthlessness hidden
in innocent blood

Pablo Neruda, Water Song Ends

The decimation of Prabhakaran and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Nanthikadal lagoon in May 2009 is undoubtedly one of the defining moments in contemporary Sri Lankan history. The victory is remarkable because, not so long ago, Sri Lanka watchers around the world, which include S. Murari and myself, were unanimous that neither side could impose its will over the other through military means and the only solution to the protracted ethnic conflict was for the two warring sides to come together and negotiate a political settlement along a federal model.

While the military dimension of estranged Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism has come to an end, the problems of economic rehabilitation and, what is more important, the challenges of ethnic reconciliation and nation building still remain to be addressed by the ruling elite. These important subjects will continue to dominate the political discourse in the island republic in the immediate future.

This interesting and informative book, written by Shri S. Murari, former Associate Editor of Deccan Herald, provides refreshing insights into the political developments of the fractured island from July 1987, when the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was signed, to the present day. Shri Murari has visited Sri Lanka several times for an on-the-spot study of the problem. His thorough grounding in the subject, coupled with lengthy discussions with several dramatis personae, is an additional plus factor. What is more, his relations with several leaders went beyond professional contact, and Shri Murari has the uncanny knack of befriending several people. To cite one example, his friendship with Shri Anton Balasingham, the spokesman and the ideologue of the Tigers, enabled Shri Murari to have a thorough grasp of the phenomenon of Tamil militancy, the fratricidal intra-militant clashes and the differences between Prabhakaran and Balasingham. Shri Murari perhaps was the last Indian journalist to have lengthy discussions with Shri Balasingham in London during the latters convalescence.

I recall my conversation with Shri Balasingham at the end of 1983 when he visited me in the University of Madras, Chennai, India, for a chat. In the course of our conversation, I pointed out to Shri Balasingham that the sharp differences between New Delhi and Colombo, on important foreign policy issues impinging upon Indian security, were God-sent to the Tamil militants. The consequence was the pursuit of the contradictory policy of trying to mediate a solution while providing military training to the Tamil militants. I also pointed out that this situation need not continue for a long time. If Colombo, due to the pressure of changing circumstances, was willing to subserve Indias foreign policy goals, India will turn out to be the guarantor of Sri Lankas territorial integrity. In such a situation the Tamil militants will be placed between nutcrackers. Shri Balasingham did not respond; perhaps he did not want to think of such a scenario.