Tamil Tigers

Categories: News | Groups & Organizations | Political Groups | Politics
    • Official Name: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelan (LTTE)
    • Separatist organization in Sri Lanka
    • Leader: Velupillai Prabhakaran
    • Founded: 1972
    • Size: 10,000 members
    • Labeled a terrorist organization in 30 countries

  • The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelan (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, is a separatist group in Sri Lanka led by Velupillai Prabhakaran. Since the 1970s the Tamil Tigers have waged an often violent campaign against the government of Sri Lanka with the stated goal of establishing an independent Tamil state in the north and west of the island.

    On April 12, 2009 the President of Sri Lanka ordered a two day ceasefire in order to allow civilians to escape the region where the last of the Tamil Tigers are trapped. The government has come under scrutiny and pressure from the United Nations to protect the over 150,000 civilians in the area. The army's push forward is expected to overtake the tigers and finish a 26 year long civil war.Times Online: President Rajapaksa orders ceasefire... (April 12, 2009)

  • History and Background

    The Tamil Tigers are recognized as a terrorist organization by 30 countries including India, the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union. Some have proposed links between the Tamil Tigers and other terrorist organizations, notably Al Qaeda. However, most analysts believe this to be unlikely, if not impossible, citing the lack of any evidence a link exists and Al Qaeda's documented hatred for secular political movements.

    Though the Tamil Tigers aided in relief operations following the 2004 tsunami in the region, they are more commonly criticized for human rights violations including targeting of civilians, use of child soldiers, suicide bombings, and alleged acts of ethnic cleansing.

  • 2009 Fighting

    Sri Lankan forces clashed with the Tamil Tigers in the northeast corner of the country in early 2009. Up to a quarter of a million civilians may live in the area where the fighting is heaviest. On Febuary 2, a hospital that was treating the wounded was shelled several times, killing at least nine people and wounding many others, forcing the evacuation of thousands of civilians.NY Times: At Least 9 Killed by Shelling at Sri Lanka Hospital (February 2, 2009) BBC News: Sri Lanka tells civilians to leave (February 2, 2009)

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