Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Quick Facts: Who was Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam?

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Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

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Tamil militant organization fighting for an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka.

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Origins & Early Life

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE; Tamil: தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள், romanized: Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ, Sinhala: දෙමළ ඊලාම් විමුක්ති කොටි සංවිධානය, romanized: Demaḷa īlām vimukti koṭi saṁvidhānaya; also known as the Tamil Tigers) was a Tamil militant organization, that was based in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. LTTE sought to create an independent Tamil state called Tamil Eelam in the northeast of the island in response to violent persecution and discriminatory policies against Sri Lankan Tamils by the Sinhalese-dominated Sri Lankan government. The leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran, cited the 1958 anti-Tamil pogrom as one of the factors that led him to militancy. In 1975, he assassinated the Mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiappah, in revenge for the 1974 Tamil conference incident. The LTTE was subsequently founded in 1976 as a reaction to the Sri Lankan Constitution of 1972 which prescribed Buddhism as the primary religion of the country, and Sinhala as its national language.

Career & Major Achievements

The LTTE was involved in attacks on government targets, policemen and local politicians and moved on to armed clashes against the armed forces. Oppression against Sri Lankan Tamils continued by Sinhalese mobs, notably during the 1977 anti-Tamil pogrom and the 1981 burning of the Jaffna Public Library. Following the watershed Black July anti-Tamil pogrom in 1983 orchestrated by members of the government, there was a dramatic growth of Tamil militant groups and a full-scale insurgency began, marking the start of the Sri Lankan civil war. By 1986, the LTTE had emerged as the dominant Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka. It would go on to be widely regarded as among the most effective and disciplined insurgent groups in the world.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Initially starting out as a guerrilla force, the LTTE increasingly came to resemble conventional armed forces with a well-developed military wing that included a navy, an airborne unit, an intelligence wing, and a specialised suicide attack unit. The LTTE perfected suicide bombing as a tactic. It engaged in a hybrid warfare encompassing both military and civilian targets. The LTTE was also notable for using women and children in combat, and carrying out a number of high-profile assassinations, including former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. The LTTE was designated as a terrorist organisation by 33 countries, including the European Union, Canada, the United States and India.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1958: 1958 Milestone — The leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran, cited the 1958 anti-Tamil pogrom as one of the factors that led him to militancy.
2. 1975: 1975 Milestone — In 1975, he assassinated the Mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiappah, in revenge for the 1974 Tamil conference incident.
3. 1976: 1976 Milestone — The LTTE was subsequently founded in 1976 as a reaction to the Sri Lankan Constitution of 1972 which prescribed Buddhism as the primary religion of the country, and Sinhala as its national language.
4. 1977: 1977 Milestone — Oppression against Sri Lankan Tamils continued by Sinhalese mobs, notably during the 1977 anti-Tamil pogrom and the 1981 burning of the Jaffna Public Library.
5. 1983: 1983 Milestone — Following the watershed Black July anti-Tamil pogrom in 1983 orchestrated by members of the government, there was a dramatic growth of Tamil militant groups and a full-scale insurgency began, marking the start of the Sri Lankan civil war.
6. 1986: 1986 Milestone — By 1986, the LTTE had emerged as the dominant Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka.
7. 1991: 1991 Milestone — The LTTE was also notable for using women and children in combat, and carrying out a number of high-profile assassinations, including former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

True or False: “The LTTE was founded primarily as a direct response to the 1972 Constitution which mandated Buddhism as the primary religion.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The constitution's provisions regarding religion and language were major catalysts that fueled separatist ideologies among Tamil leaders.

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