A very unsettling photo stares out of today morning’s newspapers — that of lifeless LTTE leader Prabhakaran with his eyes wide open, his head supported by two hands. Though LTTE hasn’t acknowledged his death, it hasn’t provided proof that he is alive.

It is not that there was or is no just Tamil cause. What’s debatable and widely questioned is the method adopted to realise the dream. The means to an end is as much important as the end itself.

What was the dream anyway: a homeland for Tamils or the welfare of Tamils who were persecuted and discriminated?

The just struggle — tragically blinded by the obstinacy of a leadership marooned in idealism — lost the path of realism and led itself into a cul-de-sac.

Arms for a cause anywhere serve only a limited shorterm purpose, that too with the risk of spoiling the chance of a fair permanent solution. The trick is in knowing when to lay down arms.

Irish Republican Army did that. The Maoist movement in Nepal did that. Result: the problems are resolved, nearly.

Hamas did not do that, when it came overboard to contest polls and emerged victorious. It was a golden chance missed. Result: no solution, more suffering and more misery.

The LTTE could have done it on at least two occasions. But it didn’t. Opportunities squandered. The situation only worsened. More deaths, more pain.

Now, displaced Tamils will have to be well-resettled. Their problems should be settled for all time. Eager to drive home advantage, the Lankan govt might push through radical administrative reforms improving the lot of the Tamils. A good devolution package will most proabably fall in place. India and Karunanidhi could be overtly or covertly part of the process.

But, Velupillai Prabhakaran won’t be around, so too thousands of innocents who, more than anyone, deserved peace.