I read with interest an article published by www.time.com on Wednesday, May 20, that spoke of the fall of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the death of its leader, 54-year-old Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The LTTE had been waging war in Sri Lanka for some 26 years with the aim of getting their independent homeland (eelam) for the island's Tamil minority. They also wanted greater autonomy for Tamil-majority areas to protest against what they considered discrimination against Tamils by Sri Lanka's Sinhala-speaking majority. The death toll stands in the thousands, both insurgents and civilians (mostly used as body shields).

The article spoke of different measures implemented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa which eventually led to the demise of the LTTE. I know some may not agree with the measures as they see them as barbaric, draconian, backward, definitely not for this civilised world - but they worked.

Measures to prevent war

It can also be said that Sri Lanka had a war but we don't, but we need to bend or even break the tree from it is young.

Measures implemented:

1. Brute force works - we can fight fire with fire. That may be the only way to get the point across.

2. Negotiations don't work: We say, "OK let's not be so hard on them"; "Let's implement this and that, talk with them, reason with them". As is evident, that does not work.

3. Collateral damage is acceptable: We should try as far as possible to limit civilian deaths though President Rajapaksa's disregard for civilian casualties was a key to the success of the military operation.

4. Critics should shut up. The Sri Lankan government was constantly criticised for their measures. Did they pay attention? No, they didn't. Did they achieve success? Yes, they did.

It might prove beneficial to Jamaica to look at these measures and stop crime in its track.

I am, etc.,

RACQUEL HOGG

r_hogg@rocketmail.com

Bethany

Manchester