The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was a militant organization founded in Sri Lanka in 1976. The group was fighting for an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka, which they referred to as Tamil Eelam. The roots of the conflict date back to the early days of Sri Lanka’s independence, with ongoing discrimination and persecution against the Tamil minority by the Sinhalese majority.
LTTE’s Objectives and Ideology
The LTTE’s primary objective was to create a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka. The group was inspired by the Marxist-Leninist ideology and was fighting for a socialist Tamil state. The group believed in the principle of armed struggle and considered it a necessary means to achieve their goal. The LTTE believed that non-violent protests and negotiations with the government would not succeed in bringing about an independent Tamil state.
Tactics Used by LTTE
The LTTE was known for using unconventional tactics and was considered a highly effective guerrilla force. The group’s tactics included suicide bombings, targeted assassinations, and mass attacks on military and government installations. They also used child soldiers and women in combat roles, which drew international criticism. The group’s use of suicide bombings was particularly notorious, with attacks on high-profile targets, including the Sri Lankan President and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Consequences of LTTE’s Activities
The LTTE’s violent activities resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, both civilians and military personnel. The group was responsible for many high-profile attacks, including the assassination of Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993 and the Central Bank bombing in 1996, which killed nearly 100 people. The group’s activities also resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and caused significant damage to Sri Lanka’s economy.
The LTTE’s activities drew the attention of the international community and were condemned by many countries and organizations, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union. In 2006, the Sri Lankan government declared the LTTE a terrorist organization, and in 2009, the Sri Lankan armed forces successfully defeated the group, resulting in the death of its leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
