Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
Name(s). Tamil Tigers.
Goals and Objectives. The LTTE is a Tamil separatist group in Sri Lanka that initially aimed to establish an independent state including the ethnically Tamil regions of the island. Recently the group has softened its insistence on an independent Tamil state, declaring that it will accept a solution that respects the principle of self-determination, possibly an autonomous area for Tamil-speaking peoples within a federal structure (see below).
Favored Tactics. The LTTE’s tactics have ranged from full military operations to terrorist attacks against civilian centers and political assassinations. Inspired by the apparent success of suicide bombings by Hizballah in the latter’s campaign against foreign occupation of Lebanon in the 1980s, the LTTE launched its first suicide attack in 1987. The group subsequently conducted the bloodiest suicide campaign on record, involving more than 150 attacks. The LTTE is also noted for the first and most active use of female suicide bombers, who have carried out 30-40% of the suicide attacks of the LTTE.

Brief History. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were founded by the charismatic Vellupillai Prabhakaran and arose in the 1970s as the strongest of a number of Tamil groups opposing discrimination against Tamils by the dominant Sinhalese ethnic group. In 1983, in retaliation for the deaths of thirteen Sinhalese soldiers, several thousand Tamils were killed in riots that marked the beginning of full scale separatist war. In the ensuing 20-year war, an estimated 64,000 people were killed and between 800,000 and 1.6 million persons were displaced. The Tamil Tigers have gained control of portions of the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka and have a substantial arsenal including artillery, mortars, and anti-aircraft weapons. They also have a naval component with speedboats, demolition teams, and fishing boats. The LTTE’s most infamous element is the Black Tigers, the 500 plus member highly-trained unit that carries out the group’s suicide attacks. The LTTE has engaged in a large number of political terrorist attacks and killings, most notably including the assassinations of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa. It is the only terrorist group ever to have assassinated two heads of state. And in December 1999, three days before re-election, current President Chandrika Kumaratunga lost vision in one eye to a LTTE suicide attack that killed 26.

Citing fundamental changes in international attitudes towards violence for political ends after the September 11 attacks, experts say support and funding for the LTTE from the Tamil diaspora fell off dramatically. This was apparently a factor bringing this group to the negotiating table. Since December 2001, the LTTE has largely respected a cease fire negotiated with the Sri Lankan government. In September 2002, the LTTE and the Columbo government held their first peace talks in seven years. In December 2002 both sides made what could be the most important breakthrough by issuing a statement saying, "The parties have agreed to explore a solution founded on the principle of internal self-determination in the areas of historical habituation of the Tamil-speaking peoples, based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka."  Such a statement marks significant concessions from the LTTE who have always sought independence rather than autonomy, and from the government in Colombo, which would be accepting the idea of federalism for the first time.

On the 4th and 5th of November 2003, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga removed three top cabinet officials, suspended parliament, and deployed troops around the Sri Lankan Capital of Colombo. The political crisis apparently was a result of a power struggle between President Kumaratunga, who represents the more hardline faction within the government, and the more conciliatory elements led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. After reviving the Norwegian brokered peace talks in late 2001 Wickremesinghe has made significant gains, including a permanent cease-fire established and more-or-less respected since February 2002 and several rounds of successful talks. However, fearing Kumaratunga could veto any agreement, Wickremesinghe proposed a constitutional amendment (the 19th) that would eliminate the President’s power to dissolve the parliament. Kumaratunga and her supporters are opposed to any settlement that would establish a federal system and infringe on Sri Lankan sovereignty. They believe the Norwegian mediators are biased in favor of the rebels. This crisis is as yet unresolved.

Favored Tactics. The LTTE’s tactics have ranged from full military operations to terrorist attacks against civilian centers and political assassinations. Inspired by the apparent success of suicide bombings by Hizballah in the latter’s campaign against foreign occupation of Lebanon in the 1980s, the LTTE launched its first suicide attack in 1987. The group subsequently conducted the bloodiest suicide campaign on record, involving more than 150 attacks. The LTTE is also noted for the first and most active use of female suicide bombers, who have carried out 30-40% of the suicide attacks of the LTTE.

Anti-American Activities. The LTTE has not targeted or attacked U.S. interests.

Areas of Operation. The LTTE operates mainly in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, but has also operated throughout the island and in India. Most notably, there was the assassination of Rajiv Ghandi on May 22, 1991 while he was attending an election rally in Sriperambudur, India.

Strength and Composition. The State Department estimates that LTTE has between 8,000 and 10,000 armed combatants plus substantial numbers of supporters within Sri Lanka and overseas.  The Black Tigers, which are the elite unit believed responsible for most of the suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks, reportedly have some 500 members.

Connections With Other Terrorist Organizations. The Tamil Tigers are not believed to have connections to Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups. LTTE suicide bombing tactics have been copied by various groups, however. For instance, Soosai, the head of the Sea Tigers, who carry out the LTTE’s naval attacks, claimed in a November 2002 interview that Al Qaeda’s attack on the U.S.S. Cole in 2000 had been inspired by LTTE naval operations.

State Supporters and Other Sources of Funding. LTTE has raised funds among the Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Asia, and from smuggling and businesses in Sri Lanka. The most common estimates state that before 2001, the Tigers collected up to $1 million a month from expatriates in Canada, Britain, Switzerland and Australia, making it among the most well-funded terrorist groups in the world. This flow of funds was apparently significantly reduced after the September 11th, 2001 attacks.

Originally Designated as an FTO. October 8, 1997.

Re-designated. October 8, 1999, October 5, 2001.

Issues of Concern for Congress. Although it is still early to be certain, this extremely violent, territorially-based group may be an example of a group that has been moved by the war on terrorism (among other things) toward negotiation and peaceful resolution. The apparently dramatic fall-off in funding after September 11th was an important development. The evolution of the LTTE and its relationship to the Sri Lankan government bears close scrutiny in future months. For example, the extremely authoritarian nature of Prabhakaran’s rule over the LTTE realm may pose difficulties for trying to reach a settlement on northern Sri Lanka that would be at all democratic.