Laabai Laabai, Yanda Yanda, Vegetables Laabai

Brave call from the Army that defeated Terrorist.

by Lenin Benedict

(January 15, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) Once proclaimed as the bravest army and one of the best by the people of Srilanka has been brought down to a situation to sell vegetables like vendors in the public. The Srilankan public whom adore their army as the savior of the nation will be soon calling the army as vegetable vendors. Sooner or later the army may be put to sell eggs, chicken, coconut and may be licensed to sell liquor. This is one of the greatest achievements of the Government under His Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse. The Saviors of the Nation has brought down to sellers of vegetables.

It was well known that the recruitment during two to three years before the war was done in a rapid way to strengthen the physical strength of the Armed forces and to meet the requirements. The nation was aware that most of the recruits are from rural areas of the country, with just basic education and are young men whom were given basic training. These young men who fought against the world notorious Terrorist are the treasures of Srilanka and whom to be honored and given a respect in our society. These brave men not only brought peace to the country but defeated the separatist and united the country as one from the de facto government run by LTTE. Is it necessary for the forces to be put to sell vegetables like vendors? Is this is the way to treat our brave soldiers? Do Srilankans are so ungrateful to forget the sacrifice that soon?

The strength of the Armed forces is much higher for a small country like Srilanka and the necessity of the present strength has vanished due to the fatal defeat of Terrorist. The higher Defense budget will not be feasible for Srilanka in the longer run and have to be decreased in the future phase by phase. As the defense budget gets thinner, it might be hard for the Government to take care of the large force currently serving the country but at the same time we cannot neglect the service rendered by the brave young men and women and particularly who have become disabled during the course of war. It’s the Government of Srilanka’s sole responsibility to take care of their needs. Already the pensions paid to the retired servicemen should be taking a portion of the budget and salary to the forces currently takes a huge portion as well. Would it be feasible for Srilanka to spend a large portion of its budget towards military instead of diverting for economical development? There can be no argument that our military strength to be maintained to face any eventuality by separatist elements at all times. But what might happen having a strong military with weak economy that will lead to economical unrest followed by social unrest?

As the war has caused extensive damage to our economy and infrastructure and the recent natural disaster caused by heavy rains have put the country into deeper economical trouble. Media reports says the army has called in for rehabilitation services in the affected areas and our forces has extremely good knowledge on rehabilitation due to their experiences gained during the rehabilitation done throughout the war on cleared areas as the war went on step by step while the Terrorist withdrew from one place to the other until the fatal defeat at Mulivaikkal. The armed forces have achieved the greatest experiences of saving the lives of nearly four hundred thousand people and rehabilitating them and serving their day to day needs was one of the pages recorded in the history of war. The significant medical contributions and services provided by our Military and civil doctors and nurses during the final period of war and evacuations after the war to the victimized civilians by LTTE have proved our ability in the medical services within the Asian countries, that we are not second to anyone. Such an experienced armed force cannot be brought down to a level of selling vegetables, which will be a disgrace to the whole nation.

It’s been learnt that a portion of units are deployed for landmine clearance, in search of dumped arms and ammunitions by the defeated separatist and for security in vital areas of the country particularly in the sensitive areas of the North and East. This might be an essential and of a paramount important to the security of the country which has to be continued. But it is also of paramount important that the armed forces cannot be kept idle in their barracks for a long time that their youth, experiences and intelligence to go in vain. The talented and experienced young men and women should be taught latest new technology and skills to serve more for the country. The additional strength which is excessive within the armed forces should be well trained in other fields and should be brought back to enjoy the civilian life as everyone does. These well trained skillful men and women discharged from service can be kept as a reserve force to be called at anytime in case of necessity or any national calamity. The accomplishments of the forces can to be honored only by creating a better life for them and their children exclusively to the disabled soldiers and their families. I would like remember our lost Heroes, who laid their precious live for their Motherland, that their children and families should be given top priority in setting a good future. The absence and grief of this brave men and women in their families can only be overcome by the State support and resettling their lives in our society. Though the loss of precious life cannot be compared to anything in the world, the sorrow can be reduces by giving the families the support they need.

The armed forces can bring their valuable skills, experiences and discipline into civilian life their professional status with self-esteem. Their assignments in their field of evacuation, medical assistance would have accustomed to new experiences that had given them the knowledge of quick decision making power and the capability to withstand all kind of situation and supervisory skills. They would have learned organizational skills by setting up camps and hospital for thousands and thousands of evacuated civilians. These various knowledge’s gained by experiences can be developed more by giving them additional training and put into national work force, which will also be a additional benefit to our safety network in civilian life. It all lies in the hands of the government and our society the will to accommodate these experienced men and women into civilian workforce to grow more with opportunity. If there is a will, There is a way. By doing this we will honor all those who participated in the war against Terrorist not just a few who won military honors. This will encourage the soldiers who are in living in confusions of their future of returning to a life in civil society will turn to normal life if their acceptance to work in civil society is guaranteed. The fear of loosing social status after giving up the military jobs and loosing the monetary benefits have made a fear and confusions within younger generation of soldiers, which has to be altered and change by the social and civil guarantees of Srilankan society and education, work and monetary support by Srilankan Government. I am simply calling for respect and recognition for the young and old who served the country whether anyone approves or not for various reasons including politically motivated.

There were successful schemes and methods implemented by America and Canada after the World War II veterans and soldiers discharge from service had a tremendous success in rehabilitation the returning soldiers into civilian life. These schemes include vocational and college education provides different types of loan to buy homes and start business. The decision of providing low interest, Zero down payment home loans enabled millions of the service families moved out from urban apartments into suburban homes. The Government of Srilanka should keep this in mind when allocating free lands to servicemen, to use our rural lands to get used for this opportunity to develop those areas. The extension of unemployment compensation to the soldiers was also a successful scheme until the servicemen get prepared for a new civilian life. The fees paid to the soldiers by Education Assistance program to pursue their higher education paves a big way for the younger soldiers to achieve a higher qualification and settled in high position and qualified jobs with good salary. This program includes full time/part time veteran students, certificate programs, college/degree, Technical/vocational training, apprenticeship/ job training and correspondence courses.

The major one was the Survivors and Dependent’s Education Assistance Program which provided training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who were permanently and totally disabled due to service related condition and who died on duty. Spouses of the veterans will be the most beneficiary of this program which our war widows can make use of these schemes if implemented by our government of Srilanka. It will also help the veteran’s children to proceed their higher education without getting got into financial difficulties. It’s the right of the soldiers to enjoy the benefit and also the right of the government to fulfill the dreams of the younger generation of soldiers and to accommodate them into the civil society with honor and pride. After all if people like K.P has an opportunity to rehabilitate the LTTE cadres, Why not our brave young and old who fought for decades and sacrifices their youth and life for their motherland? Does the Government of Srilanka fulfill its morale obligation and will? If the government is really committed to it, our veterans will enjoy a decent and honorable life in the civil society.