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• Velupillai Prabhakaran, also known as Thambi, was the leader of the Tamil Tigers, a separatist organization in Sri Lanka that has fought for a territory in the south Asian country for over two decades.

  On May 18, 2009, the Sri Lankan military claimed that they had ended the 25-year-old Tamil uprising and killed several leaders including Prabhakaran, although they were holding off on an official announcement until the results of DNA tests would be released. On May 24, 2009, the Tamil Tiger's have confirmed the death of their leader, as he was killed in the fighting with Sri Lankan troops on May 17.Guardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009) Guardian: Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers (May 18, 2009)Al Jazeera English: Tamil Tigers confirm leader's death (May 24, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Also known as: Thambi
  2. Born: November 26, 1953
  3. Died: May 24, 2009
  4. Spouse: Mathivathani Erambu
  5. Family: three children
  6. Founded the Tamil Tigers in 1972
  7. Has a 12 grade education
  8. Suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes
  9. Wanted to establish a separate homeland for TamilsGuardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009)
  10. Tamils are considered a terrorist organization by many countriesGuardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009)
  11. Alleged to have had Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi killedGuardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009)
  12. Invented using women as suicide bombersGuardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009)
  13. Said to have invented the "suicide belt"Guardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009)

• Revolutionary Socialism

  In rare public statements and interviews, Prabhakaran described his ideology as one seeking "revolutionary Socialism and an egalitarian society." He also argued that he has led his group to unconventional armed combat against the Sri Lankan government after observing the disparity in resources between his forces and those of Sri Lanka's military and that "non-violent resistance is ineffectual." Prabhakaran is currently wanted by Interpol on charges of terrorism, murder, organized crime, and conspiracy. Sri Lanka's Air Force claimed he was seriously wounded during an air raid in 2007.

• Career Highlights

  As the supreme commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Prabhakaran presided over a mini-state in northern Sri Lanka, where the Tigers ran their own courts, police force and banks. But attempts at political settlement failed, and in early 2009, an all-out army offensive by the Sri Lankan government killed over 7,000 ethnic Tamils.Guardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009)

  On May 18, 2009, the Sri Lankan claimed victory over the LTTE, and announced that several leaders of the movement were killed, including Prabhakaran himself.Guardian: Profile: Velupillai Prabhakaran (May 18, 2009) Guardian: Sri Lanka declares end to war with Tamil Tigers (May 18, 2009)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Tamil Tigers | Sri Lanka | Terrorism | Pakistan | India | Malaysia | Indonesia | Thailand | Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani

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