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tamil tigers are
<!-- INFOBOX NOTE: THE "attacks" ENTRY IS FOR TERRORIST-TYPE ATTACKS, NOT MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS. -->
{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
|logo = Ltte_emblem.jpg
|caption =
|dates = 1972 - present
|leader = ]
|motives = The creation of a separate state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil Miniority
|area = {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} ] <br/> {{flagicon|India}} ]
|ideology = ]
|crimes = Numerous ], ], ], acts of ], ], ]
|attacks = ], ], ]
|status = Runs ''de facto'' unrecognized state, banned as a terrorist organization by 32 countries
}}
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The '''Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam''' ('''LTTE'''), commonly known as the '''Tamil Tigers''', is a militant ] organization that has waged a violent ]ist campaign against the ]n government since the 1970s in order to create a separate ] state in the north and east of ] (formerly Ceylon). The LTTE is currently ] as a ] by 32 countries (see ]). It is headed by its founder, ].
<!-- THE INTRO ABOVE IS THE RESULT OF A MEDIATION. PLEASE DISCUSS CHANGES ON THE TALK PAGE BEFORE CHANGING IT. -->

==History==
{{Sri Lankan Conflict}}
{{seealso|Sri Lankan civil war}}

===Rise to dominance===
The LTTE was founded in 1975 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, and attracted many supporters amongst disenchanted Tamil youth, who were dissatisfied with policies followed by successive governments towards solving various concerns of the nation's Tamil community. They carried out low-key attacks against various government targets, including policeman and local politicians. A notable attack carried out during the time was the assassination of the Mayor of ], Alfred Duraiyappah. Initially the LTTE operated in cooperation with other Tamil militant groups which shared their same objectives, and in April 1984, the LTTE formally joined a common militant front, the ] (ENLF), a union between itself, the ] (TELO), the ] (EROS), the ] (PLOTE) and the ] (EPRLF).<ref name='cs-tmg'> {{cite journal|title=Tamil Militant Groups|journal=Sri Lanka: A Country Study|date=1988|first=|last=|coauthors=Russell R. Ross and Andrea Matles Savada|volume=|issue=|pages=|id= |url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/72.htm|format=|accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

In 1986, the LTTE broke from the ENLF and launched an armed attack on members and training camps of ], which at the time was the largest Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka.<ref name='cw-eb'>{{cite book | last = O'Ballance | first = Edgar | title = The Cyanide War: Tamil Insurrection in Sri Lanka 1973-88 | publisher = Brassey's | date = 1989 | location = London | pages = 61 | isbn = 0-08-036695-3}}</ref> Over the next few months, virtually the entire TELO leadership and several hundred volunteers were hunted down, and the group ceased to be a potent force.<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.62</ref> A few months later, the LTTE attacked training camps of the ], forcing it to withdraw entirely from the ].<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.62</ref><ref name='cs-tmg'/>

The LTTE then demanded that all remaining Tamil insurgents join the LTTE. Notices were issued to that effect in Jaffna and in Madras, India which Tamil groups used as their main headquarters. With the major groups including the TELO and EPRLF eliminated, the remining Tamil insurgent groups, numbering around 20, were then absorbed into the LTTE. This made Jaffna an LTTE dominated city.<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.62</ref>

The reasons for the LTTE's internecine attacks on other Tamil groups are much debated. All of the Tamil militant groups, including the LTTE, had received varying degrees of support from ].<ref name='fl-11/29/97-foh'>{{cite news | first=T.S. | last=SUBRAMANIAN | coauthors= | title= Full of holes | date=November 29 - Dec 12, 1997 | publisher=Frontline Magazine | url =http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1424/14240260.htm | accessdate = 2007-09-02}}</ref> However, while other groups such as the TELO wholeheartedly embraced Indian support, the LTTE remained wary of India, particularly after ] came to power, and tried to reign in the Tigers.<ref name='cs-tmg'/> The LTTE feared that India was seeking primarily to advance its own interests, which differed from the ] interests, and could require the Tamils to accept an unfavorable ] settlement. Some commentators have suggested that the LTTE were also dissatisfied that most of the funding from expatriates went to the TELO, rather than to them.<ref>A. Jeyaratnam Wilson, ''Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism: Its Origins and Development in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries'', ] Press, 1999</ref> It has also been suggested that they believed the struggle would only be effective if the other groups, who were much more willing to compromise on a settlement to the conflict, were not operational.<ref>M.R. ], ''Tigers of Lanka: from Boys to Guerrillas'', Konark Publishers, 2002{{page number}}</ref> The effect of the attacks was that the LTTE consolidated the position as the main military group fighting for the cause of Tamil Eelam, with no credible rivals.

In 1987 the LTTE established the notorious ], a unit of the LTTE responsible for conducting suicide attacks against political, economic and military targets,<ref name='bbc-11/26/02'>{{cite news | first=Frances | last= Harrison | title='Black Tigers' appear in public | date=2002-11-26 | publisher=BBC News | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2516263.stm | accessdate = 2007-09-02 }}</ref> and launched its first suicide attack against a Sri Lanka Army camp, killing 40 soldiers.

===The IPKF period===
{{main|Indian Peace Keeping Force}}

In 1987, when the ] launched ], an assault to recapture Jaffna from the LTTE, the Indian press depicted the attack as being brutal and leading to disproportionately large ]. Faced with growing anger amongst its own Tamils, and a flood of refugees,<ref name='cs-tmg'/> India intervened directly in the conflict for the first time by initially ]. After subsequent negotiations, India and Sri Lanka entered into an ] whereby Sri Lanka agreed to a ] structure, which would grant autonomy to the Tamils, and the Tamil militant groups would all lay down their arms. India was to send a ], named the ] to Sri Lanka to enforce the disarmament.<ref>The Peace Accord and the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Hennayake S.K. Asian Survey, Vol. 29, No. 4. (April 1989), pp. 401-415.</ref>

Although most Tamil militant groups accepted this agreement,<ref>''O'Ballance'', 91</ref> the LTTE only did so very grudgingly and very soon rejected it on the grounds that the reforms were only illusory and because they were unwilling to support a referendum in the ], where Tamils were a minority.<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.94</ref> They also refused to hand over their weapons to the IPKF. As tensions grew, the LTTE declared a policy of "non-cooperation" with the IPKF on October 5th , and went on to kill an estimated 167 people over the next 24 hours.<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.99</ref> LTTE cadres killed 42 people in an ambush on a train near Batticaloa, shot dead over 40 Sinhalese civilians in their homes in the city, killed 29 in an ambush on a bus near Lahugala and murdered 35 fisherman in Eravur. By the end of the week, over 5000 Sinhalese civilians fled their homes and took refuge in Temples and army camps.<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.99</ref>

The result was that the LTTE now found itself engaged in military conflict with the ], and launched their first attack on an Indian army rations truck on October 8, killing five Indian para-commandos who were on board by strapping burning tires around their necks.<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.100</ref> The government of India then decided that the IPKF should disarm the LTTE by force,<ref>''O'Ballance'', p.100</ref> and the Indian Army launched number of assaults on the LTTE, including a month-long campaign dubbed '']'' to win control of the Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE. The ruthlessness of this campaign, and the Indian army's subsequent anti-LTTE operations made it extremely unpopular amongst many Tamils in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://nesohr.org/human-rights-reports/StatisticsOnCiviliansAffectedByWar.pdf?PHPSESSID=8204ff9bfa58e205f71a95c3899f8835|title=Statistics on civilians affected by war from 1974 - 2004|accessdate=2007-01-30 |format= |work=NESOHR }}</ref><ref name=UTHRJ>{{cite web|url=http://www.uthr.org/history.htm|work=University Teachers for Human Rights|title=History of the Organisation}}</ref>

===The post-IPKF LTTE===

The Indian intervention was also unpopular amongst the Sinhalese majority, and the IPKF became bogged down in the fighting with the Tamil Tigers for over 2 years, experiencing heavy losses. The last members of the IPKF, which was estimated to have had a strength of well over 50,000 at its peak, left the country in 1990 upon request of the Sri Lankan government. A shaky peace initially held between the government and the LTTE, and peace talks progressed towards providing devolution for Tamils in the north and east of the country. However fearing defeat in the scheduled elections for the ], the LTTE pulled out of the talks, carrying out a series of attacks beginning on June 11, 1990, which left an estimated 450 people dead within the first week.<ref>Sri Lanka; Back to the jungle, ''The Economist'', June 23, 1990</ref>

Fighting continued throughout the 1990s, and was marked by two key assassinations carried out by the LTTE, that of former Indian Prime Minister ] in 1991, and Sri Lankan President ] in 1993, using suicide bombers in both occasions. The fighting was briefly halted in 1994 following the election of Chandrika Kumaratunga as President of Sri Lanka and the onset of peace talks, but fighting resumed following the sinking two Sri Lanka Navy boats in April 1995 by the LTTE.<ref name='ips-peace'> {{cite journal|title=A LOOK AT THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS|journal=Inter Press Service|date=2003|first=|last=|coauthors=|volume=|issue=|pages=|id= |url=http://ipsnews.net/srilanka/timeline.shtml|format=|accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> In a series of military operations that followed, the Sri Lanka Army re-captured the ] peninsula, the heartland of Tamils in Sri Lanka.<ref>, '''BBC News''', December 5, 1995</ref> Further offensives followed over the next three years, and the military captured vast areas in the north of the country from the LTTE, including area in the ] region, the town of ] and many smaller towns. However, from 1998 onward the LTTE hit back, reversing these losses, culminating in the capture of the strategically important ] base complex, which is located at the entrance of the Jaffna Peninsular, in April 2000, after prolonged fighting against the Sri Lanka Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1709/17091240.htm | title= The fall of Elephant Pass | author = V. S. Sambandan | date= April, 2000| publisher =Hindu Net}} </ref> They were however unable to re-capture Jaffna from the Sri Lanka Army, as several offensives were beaten back.

===The 2001 ceasefire===
] ] north of Killinochi in ]]]
In 2001 following the ] on the United States and the subsequent launch of the ], the LTTE unexpectedly dropped its demand for a separate state,<ref>, B. Raman, ''South Asia Analysis Group''</ref><ref name='nyt-12/22/01-cf'>{{cite news | last = Dugger | first = Celia | coauthors = | title = Sri Lanka: Cease-Fire, On Both Sides | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = The New York Times | date = December 22, 2001 | url = | accessdate = 2007-06-25 }}</ref> which had never been accepted by the government or the island's ] majority. Instead, they stated that a form of regional autonomy would meet their demands.<ref>{{cite book|title=At Any Cost: National Liberation Terrorism |author= Samuel M. Katz|year= 2004|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|id=ISBN 0822509490|url= http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0822509490&id=TEY_drrYRWsC&pg=PT52&lpg=PT52&ots=zwz4YzPXqo&dq=%22ltte%22%22regional+autonomy%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html&sig=d4nc4cZcfVqubTSOWjrfU_vFSSc}}</ref> The Sri Lankan government had previously invited ] to mediate in the dispute, yet until then, they were unsuccessful in halting the fighting between the sides.

Following the landslide election defeat of Kumaratunga and the coming to power of ] in December 2001, the two sides declared unilateral ceasefires, and signed an official Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) in March 2002. As part of the agreement, Norway and the other ] agreed to jointly monitor the ceasefire through the ]. While the agreement largely held, the LTTE carried out numerous killings of member of rival Tamil groups, including over 100 members of the ], drawing criticism from the government and international monitors.<ref>, ''Human Rights Watch'', July 28, 2004</ref>

Six rounds of peace talks were held regarding a solution to the conflict were held, but were suspended after the LTTE pulled out of the talks in 2003.<ref>http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/southasia/index.html</ref><ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2216.cms</ref><ref>http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2003/04/27/bus01.html</ref> There was also political uncertainly in south of the country, after President Kumaratunga suspended the government of the Prime Minister Wickremasinghe in 2004, accusing him of being too soft on the LTTE. Yet throughout all this, no significant military engagements took place.

In the 2005 Presidential Elections race, outgoing President Kumaratunga's successor ] campaigned on a platform of being tougher on the LTTE while Prime Minister Wickramasinghe vowed to restart the stalled peace talks. The LTTE ordered a boycott of the elections amongst Tamil voters in the East and North of Sri Lanka, and forcibly prevented votes from going to polling booths. Mahinda Rajapakse eventually won the election by a narrow majority, helped by the LTTE boycott, as most Tamils were expected to vote for Wickramasinghe. The LTTE action was condemned by the ], who stated that it was an "interference in the democratic process (and) a significant portion of Sri Lanka's people were unable to express their views".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/highlights/story/2005/11/051122_ltte_boycott.shtml | title= LTTE supported Rajapakse presidency?| author =Saroj Pathirana | date= ], ] | publisher =BBC News}}</ref>

===Resumption of hostilities===
{{Expand-section|date=May 2007}}

]

Days after Rajapakse's election victory, a new round of violence erupted. Beginning in December 2005, the LTTE resumed attacks against government troops, carrying out a number of ] which killed around 150 government troops.<ref name="st1">{{cite news | url =http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060430/index.html | title =How President decided on retaliation| work =|publisher = The Sunday Times|date = ], ]}}</ref> In light of the violence, the co-chairs of the ] called on both parties to return to the negotiating table and arranged a new round of peace talks in ], ] on ] and ]. The talks were reported to have gone "above expectations", with both the government and the LTTE agreeing to curb the violence and to hold further talks on April 19-21.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4742208.stm|title = Sri Lanka foes to 'curb violence'| work =|publisher = BBC News| date = ] ]}}</ref> The weeks following the talks saw a significant decrease in violence, but the LTTE resumed attacks in April, and as the violence escalated, the LTTE officially pulled out of peace talks indefinitely, in a move which was criticized by the international community.<ref name="bbc9">{{cite news | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/04/printable/060423_eu_ban.shtml | title = EU ban on LTTE urged| work = | publisher = BBC News| date = ] ]}}</ref> The LTTE also resumed attacks on civilian targets, ] six rice farmers on April 23<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060430/index.html |title=IGomarankadawala: “We need more security say villagers |accessdate=2006-04-30 |format= |work=The Sunday Times }}</ref> and hacking a young mother to death and kidnapping her infant the next day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4937624.stm |title = 'Eight die' in Sri Lanka violence |work = |publisher = BBC News |date = ] ]}}</ref>

In the first major incident since 2001, an LTTE ] suicide bomber attempted to assassinate the commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General ] in April 2006. Lt. Gen. Fonseka and twenty-seven others were injured, while ten people were killed in the attack. For the first time since the 2001 ceasefire,<ref>http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail5671.htm</ref> the Sri Lanka Air Force carried out aerial assaults on rebel positions in the north-eastern part of the island nation in retaliation for the attack.<ref>{{cite news |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4941744.stm |title = Bomb targets Sri Lanka army chief|work = |publisher = BBC News|date = ] ]}}</ref> These attacks proved the catalyst as the European Union decided to proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organization on ], resulting in the freezing of LTTE assets in the member nations of the EU. In a statement, the ] said that the LTTE did not represent all the Tamils and called on it to "allow for political pluralism and alternate democratic voices in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka".<ref name="hindu1">{{cite news | url =http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/31/stories/2006053117200100.htm| title =European Union bans LTTE| work =Amit Baruah|publisher = The Hindu|date = ], ]}}</ref> Further peace talks were scheduled in Oslo, Norway, between June 8-9 but canceled when the LTTE refused to meet directly with the government delegation claiming its fighters were not been allowed safe passage to travel to the talks. Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim told journalists that the LTTE should take direct responsibility for the collapse of the talks.<ref name="bbc10">{{cite news | url =http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/06/060609_saroj-oslo.shtml| title =Collapse of talks | work =Saroj Pathirana|publisher = BBC News|date = ], ]}}</ref>

== Organization and activities ==
===Structure===
The LTTE is organized into two main divisions namely, a military wing and a subordinate political wing. A central governing body oversees both of those divisions, which is headed by the LTTE supreme leader, Velupillai Prabakaran.

===Military===

In the LTTE, recruits are instructed to be prepared to die for the cause, and are issued with a ] capsule to be swallowed in the case of capture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1769335,00.html| title= When Tigers Tear themselves Apart| author = Randeep Ramesh|date= ], ]| publisher = The Observer }}</ref> The LTTE also has a special squad of suicide bombers, called the ], which it deploys for critical missions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/2516263.stm | title= 'Black Tigers' Appear in Public | author = Frances Harrison | date= ], ]| publisher =BBC News}}</ref>

The military wing contains following specific subdivisions, which are directly controlled and directed by the central governing body:
* ] - an amphibious warfare unit focusing on utilization of naval firepower and logistics, mainly consisting lightweight boats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/regional_news/asia_pacific/news/jir/jir010307_2_n.shtml|title= Sea Tigers, stealth technology and the North Korean connection|date=], ]|publisher=Janes Information Group|author=Roger Davies}}</ref>
* ] - an airborne group, consisting several lightweight aircraft. It known to be the world's first air force owned controlled by an organization proscribed as terrorists. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saag.org/papers14/paper1398.html|title= THE WORLD'S FIRST TERRORIST AIR FORCE|date=], ]|publisher=South Asia Analysis Group|author=B.Raman}}</ref>
* ] - a suicide commando unit, responsible for large scale bomb attacks and the assassination of many political leaders.
* A intelligence unit which is operated internationally.
* A political office.

===Administrative===
Even though the LTTE was formed as a military group, it also carries out a number of civilian functions. The LTTE controls sections in the north of the island, especially the regions lying around the cities of ] and ]. However, it still uses the Sri Lanka rupee and many civil servants are paid by the Sri Lankan government, even in areas controlled by the LTTE. Most of the structures supporting these functions were developed during the period immediately after the ]'s withdrawal, when the LTTE controlled ] without significant opposition, due to the ceasefire agreement of the time. During this period, it transformed itself from a purely military body to a quasi-government, complete with administrative organs. Among these are:

*A broadcasting authority called the Voice of Tigers<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pulikalinkural.com | title= Voice of Tigers | author = | date= | publisher =}}</ref>
*A judicial Service<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eelamjudicial.org | title= Tamil Eelam Judicial Department | author = | date= | publisher =}}</ref> including a ] service and a public prosecution system.
*A Police force
*A banking system<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nithiththurai.com|title=Financial Wing, LTTE}}</ref>
*A "customs" agency<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nithiththurai.com/aayam|title=Custom Tamileelam}}</ref>

Although it no longer controls Jaffna, these structures continue to form the basis on which it runs the areas it does control. The LTTE's administrative agencies are integrated into the organization's overall ]. The LTTE's quasi-government is run on socialist principles. For example, all litigants before a civil court are required to pay a fine for failing to settle their dispute amicably. In recent years, the LTTE has sought wider recognition for its administrative organs. After the ], it has sought to ensure that aid to the areas under its control is routed through its own administrative agencies. It tried to enter into an agreement, called the P-TOMS, with the government of Sri Lankan president ] that would have given them credibility with foreign governments. The agreement was bitterly opposed by hardliners in the Sri Lankan government and some moderates, and it never saw implementation.

===Political===
The LTTE also has a political wing, but despite the ceasefire it has not tried to formally create a political party. Instead, in the ], it openly supported the ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3585143.stm | title= Tamil Tigers seek voters' support | author = Frances Harrison |date= ], ]| publisher =BBC News}}</ref> which won over 90% of votes in the ] of ], in the ], although just 47% the total population cast their votes.<ref></ref>

The LTTE's commitment to multi-party democracy has also been questioned. In an interview in 1986, Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE, said that a future state of ] would be a one-party state rather than a multi-party democracy, because that would help it develop faster.<ref>Hellmann-Rajanayagam 1994</ref>{{Fact|date=August 2007}} He has not repeated this proposal, and the LTTE's main ideologue, ], publicly repudiated this position in 1992, stating that it was irrelevant after the collapse of the ]. However, the LTTE's critics state that it indicates their way of thinking, and point out that it has not organized, and shows no signs of organizing, local elections in the areas it controls.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}

===Dissension===

], a one time the deputy leader of the LTTE, was accused of treason by the LTTE and killed in 1994.<ref>http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/issues/AI(96).html</ref> He is said to have collaborated with the Indian ] to remove Prabhakaran from the LTTE leadership.<ref>http://www.sangam.org/PIRABAKARAN/Part22.htm</ref>

In the biggest show of dissent from within the organization, a senior LTTE commander named ] ('']'' of Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan) broke away from the LTTE in March 2004 and formed the ] amid allegations that the northern commanders were overlooking the needs of the eastern Tamils. The LTTE leadership accused him of mishandling of funds and questioned him about his recent personal behavior. He tried to take control of the eastern province from the LTTE, which caused clashes between the LTTE and ]. The LTTE has suggested that TEMVP is backed by the government,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=11391 | title= Karuna removed from the LTTE| author = | date= ], ] | publisher = TamilNet report}}</ref> and the Nordic SLMM monitors have corroborated this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slmm.lk/intros/FINAL%20GENEVA%20REPORT%20AFTER%20CORRECTIONS%20ON%201st%20of%20JUNE.pdf| title= Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission| author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref>

After the election of president Mahinda Rajapakshe, the LTTE lost control of the Eastern province of the island. This victory to the Sri Lankan forces is some what attributed to the fact that Col. Karuna's dissension and his actions against the LTTE in the province. As of September 2007 Col. KAruna has said that he would disarm once the government of Sri Lanka is able to guarantee the security of his fractions.

{{seealso|Colonel Karuna|Mahattaya}}

===Status of women===
The LTTE advocates equality for women, and has a large number of female recruits. Female members are believed to make up between 20 to 30 percent of the LTTE's fighting cadre.<ref name='fcsa-07/28/04-ww'>{{cite journal | last = Kainz | first = Joe | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Women Warriors | journal = Focus Asia | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date = July 25, 2004 | url = http://focusasia.startv.com/indepth.php?CLIP_DATE=20040725&CLIP_NO=1 | doi = | id = | accessdate = 2007-06-25 }}</ref> The Women's Wing of the LTTE is known as ''Suthanthirap Paravaikal'' (or "Freedom Birds"). The first woman combatant to die was 2nd Lt. Malathi,<ref name='fcsa-07/28/04-ww'/> on ], ], in an encounter with the ] at Kopai in ] peninsula. An estimated 4000 women cadres have been killed since then, including over a hundred in 'Black Tiger' suicide squads.<ref name='fcsa-07/28/04-ww'/> The assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the attempt on President Chandrika Kumaranatunga and the 2006 attempt on the ] are notable instances where female LTTE cadres launched suicide attacks.

==Links to other designated terrorist organizations==
International experts have long suspected the existence of connections between the LTTE and other internationally ] including ].<ref name=stap11>http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/5_37.htm</ref> These connections came under more detailed scrutiny as a result of the ] on the United States.

Some of the incidents cited to prove these suspicions include
*The similarities between previous LTTE attacks against ] ships and the al-Qaeda ] on the ] which killed 17 ] sailors.<ref>, Eric Koo, ''Asia Times'', 2004</ref><ref>Waldman,“Masters of Suicide Bombing.” See also Amal Jayasinghe, “Tamil Tigers Mark Suicide Anniversary,” Agence France Presse, July 5, 2003.</ref>
*Evidence that the LTTE provided forged passports to ], the man who carried out the ] against the ] in New York in 1993.<ref name=stap11/>
*Increasing intelligence reports that the LTTE was smuggling arms to various terrorist organizations, including to Islamics in Pakistan to their counterparts in the ],<ref>http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/5_37.htm</ref> using their covert smuggling networks, and findings by the London-based ] that they were building commercial links with al-Qaeda and other militants in ].<ref>http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=TN&pubid=1569</ref><ref>http://www.analyst-network.com/article.php?art_id=701</ref><ref>http://www.globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=3221&cid=3&sid=74</ref>
*Allegations that the LTTE stole Norwegian passports and sold them to the al-Qaeda organization to earn money to fund their arms purchases.<ref>, Walter Jayawardhana, ''Sri Lanka Daily News'', ] ]</ref><ref>, Walter Jayawardhana, ''Sri Lanka Daily News'', ] ]</ref>

Other security experts including ], a specialist on international terrorism, have also claimed that al-Qaeda has copied most of its terror tactics from the LTTE.<ref name=at-2/12/07>, Asiantribune.com, ], ]</ref> He highlighted the LTTE as the mastermind that sets the pattern for organizations like al-Qaeda to pursue. Some of the comparisons he used to draw his conclusions are:

*The LTTE invented the modern ] and deployed it against political, military, and civilian targets. Islamic groups copied the LTTE by carrying out similar suicide attacks. But LTTE have no affiliation to any religious groups.
*The LTTE continuously attacks shipping off the coast of Sri Lanka by blowing ships up or by acts of piracy. Attacks on the USS Cole off Yemen and piracy off the coast of Somalia, a stronghold for al-Qaeda followers, followed and possibly copied the LTTE tactics.
*The LTTE attack on the ] in Sri Lanka was followed by attacks by al-Qaeda on the ] in New York.
*The LTTE's use of a women's section has being copied by al-Qaeda and ] terrorists, for example the "]" who played a role in the ] and have carried out suicide bombings.
*] in Sri Lanka are similar to the al-Qaeda attacks on public civilian transport during the ] bombings in London.<ref name=at-2/12/07/>

==Human rights and terrorism issues==
{{main|List of terrorist attacks attributed to the LTTE|Notable attacks attributed to the LTTE}}
The LTTE is labeled as a terrorist organization as part of a broader allegation that it does not have respect for ] and that it does not adhere to the standards of conduct expected of a ] or what might be called "]".{{Fact|date=August 2007}} The accusation of terrorism is based in part on claims that the LTTE kills innocent civilians, recruits ], has been responsible for ] of political figures and non-military officials, and extensively uses ].

===Attacks on civilians===

{{Main|List of terrorist attacks attributed to the LTTE}}
The LTTE has attacked non-military targets including ] resulting in large numbers of civilian deaths.

Some of the major attacks resulting in dozens of civilian deaths include the ], the ] (54 dead), the ] (146 dead), the ] (56 dead),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/51435.stm | title= Timeline of the Tamil conflict | |date=], ] | publisher =BBC News }}</ref> the ] (166 dead) and the ] (102 dead). The LTTE claims that its attacks on purely civilian targets are ].

Even after the signing of the Ceasefire agreement in 2002, the LTTE has continued to carry out attacks against civilians. They ] on ], ] and killed a further 13 laborers on ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/terroristoutfits/LTTE_tl.htm |title=Incidents involving Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) |accessdate=2006-03-28 |format= |work=SOUTH ASIA
TERRORISM PORTAL }}</ref> In one of the deadliest attacks against civilians, a ] attack by the LTTE on ], ] on a bus carrying 140 civilians killed 68 people including 15 children, and injured 60 others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=June&x=20060615115032ndyblehs0.351742&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html | title=United States Condemns Terrorist Attack on Sri Lankan Bus | publisher =US State Department }}</ref>

On ], ], a convoy carrying the ]i ] Bashir Wali Mohamed, was attacked by ] type directional mine concealed within a ], killing seven people and injuring seventeen. The high commissioner escaped unharmed. The Sri Lankan Government blamed the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?id=20040&template=Lanka&callid=0&frmsrch=1&txtsrch=Lanka | title=Lanka blast: Pak envoy safe, 7 killed | author = Rica Roy & Anisa Khan |date=], ] | publisher =NDTV }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Sudha | last=Ramachandran | title=Had enough? Tigers turn on Pakistan | date=], ] | url =http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH16Df02.html | work =Asia Times | accessdate= 2007-05-02 }}</ref>. However, the ] Bashir Wali Mohamed himself claimed that this was the work of the ] of India <ref>{{cite news | first=Sudha | last=Ramachandran | title=Had enough? Tigers turn on Pakistan | date=], ] | url =http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HI22Df01.html| work =Asia Times | accessdate= 2007-08-27 }}</ref>

{{seealso|Kebithigollewa massacre}}

===Assassinations===

{{Main|Assassinations attributed to the LTTE}}
The LTTE has long been accused of carrying assassinations of political rivals and opponents. These include:

* ], mayor of Jaffna in the attack that brought them to prominence in ]
* ], ] in 1991
* ], Sri Lankan cabinet minister and former general
* ], Sri Lankan cabinet minister
* ], ]
* ], Sri Lankan presidential candidate
* ], third-highest ranking officer in the ]
* ], Sri Lankan foreign minister, lawyer and international humanitarian.<ref></ref>
Indian courts have issued international warrants to arrest both Velupillai Prabhakaran<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interpol.int/public/Data/Wanted/Notices/Data/1994/54/1994_9054.asp | title= Wanted Notice for Velupillai Prabhakaran| author = | date= | publisher =Interpol }}</ref> and its intelligence chief Pottu Amman<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interpol.int/Public/Data/Wanted/Notices/Data/1994/43/1994_9043.asp | title= Wanted Notice for Pottu Amman | author = | date= | publisher =Interpol }}</ref> in connection with the killing of Rajiv Gandhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-today.com/jain/index.html | title= The Jain Commission of Inquiry | author = Justice M C Jain | date= | publisher =''India Today'' }}</ref> The LTTE at first denied any involvement, but later issued a statement in June 2006 acknowledging it and calling the event a "monumental tragedy."<ref></ref>

The LTTE has also been accused of killing moderate Tamils and other Tamils with whom it disagrees, such as:
* ], leader of the ] (TULF)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7752_1746757,004100180006.htm | title=Neutralisation of Tamil moderates in SL | author = PK Balachandran | date= ], ]| publisher =''Hindustan Times'' }}</ref>
* ], TULF politician
* ], mayor of Jaffna
* ], mayor of Jaffna
* ], academic and TULF politician
* ], political activist and second chief of Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat
* ] a ] priest that blessed ]

The LTTE has vehemently denied involvement in several of these incidents. Others argue these are ] killings conducted by partisans of both sides of the conflict. The LTTE argues the Sri Lankan government and government-aided paramilitaries have also targeted ].

LTTE supporters justify some of the targeted assassinations by arguing that the people attacked were combatants or persons closely associated with Sri Lankan ]. Specifically in relation to the ], the LTTE has said that it had to perform preemptive ] because the TELO was in effect functioning as a proxy for India. They also draw comparisons between the casualties caused by the LTTE's actions and the actions of European resistance forces against Nazi occupation during ]. However, the LTTE's alleged victims have included unarmed Tamil politicians and civilian moderates who sought a peaceful solution to the Sri Lankan crisis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1617/16171020.htm | title=Chronicle of murders | author =
T. S. Subramanian |date=August 1999 | publisher = Hindu Net}}</ref>

===Child soldiers===

{{Main|Military use of children in Sri Lanka}}
The LTTE's use of children as front-line troops was proved when 25 front-line troops between the ages of 13 and 17 surrendered en masse to the Sri Lankan Forces.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/442.htm | title= US State Department Human Rights Report 1998 - Sri Lanka | date=1998 | publisher = US State Department}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rsd/rsddocview.html?tbl=RSDCOI&id=43cfaea725&count=1 | title= Human Rights Watch World Report 2006 - Sri Lanka | date=January 2006 | publisher =UNHCR }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/childsoldiers0104/16.htm | title= Sri Lanka | date=January 2003 | publisher = Human Rights Watch }}</ref> Amid international pressure, LTTE announced in July 2003 that it would stop conscripting child soldiers, but both ]<ref></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/media_21990.html | title=Children being caught up in recruitment drive in north east | publisher = UNICEF }}</ref> and ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/14/slanka10016.htm | title= Sri Lanka: Child Tsunami Victims Recruited by Tamil Tigers | date=], ] | publisher =Human Rights Watch }}</ref> have accused it of reneging on its promises, and of conscripting Tamil children orphaned by the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4171251.stm | title= Tamil Tigers 'drafting children' | date=], ] | publisher = BBC News }}</ref> Civilians have also complained that the LTTE is continuing to abduct children, including some in their early teens, for use as soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1676250,00.html | title=Desperate Tamil rebels snatch village children to serve as footsoldiers | author = Dan McDougall | date= ], ] | publisher =''The Observer'' }}</ref> Moreover UNICEF states that the LTTE has recruited 315 child soldiers between April and December 2006. According to UNICEF, the total number of child soldiers recruited by the LTTE since 2001 stands at 5,794.<ref name = "outrage"></ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4712318.stm|title=UN plea to Tigers on child troops |date=] ]|publisher=]}}</ref>

The LTTE, however, strongly denies any responsibility for recruitment of child soldiers. It argues that instances of child recruitment occurred mostly in the east, under the purview of former LTTE regional commander ]. After leaving the LTTE and forming the ], it is alleged Karuna continues to forcibly kidnap and induct child soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL319390.htm | title= Agreements Reached Between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam |date=], ] | publisher = Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission}}</ref> Its official position is that earlier, some of its cadres erroneously recruited volunteers in their late teens. It says that its official policy is now that it will not accept child soldiers. It also says that some underage youth lie about their age and are therefore allowed to join, but are sent back home to their parents as soon as they are discovered to be underage.

===Suicide bombing===
The LTTE has frequently used ] as a tactic. They pioneered the use of concealed suicide bomb vests{{Fact|date=August 2007}}, which are now used by many other organisations worldwide{{Fact|date=August 2007}}. The tactic of deploying suicide bombers was used to assassinate ], who was killed in 1991 using a prototype ], and ], assassinated in 1993.<ref name = JIGR></ref>

According to ], between 1980 and 2000 LTTE had carried out a total of 168 suicide attacks on civilians and military targets<ref name = JIGR/>. The number of suicide attacks easily exceeded the combined total of ] and ] suicide attacks conducted out during the same period.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}

===Ethnic cleansing===

{{Main|Expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna|List of terrorist attacks attributed to the LTTE}}
The LTTE has been blamed for forcibly removing (or "ethnically cleansing" {{Fact|date=August 2007}}) Sinhalese and Muslim inhabitants from areas under its control, including the use of violence against those who refuse to leave. Most notably, the LTTE forcibly expelled the entire Muslim population of ] with two hours notice in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uthayam.net/articles/oct30_2005html_2.htm | title=Fifteenth Anniversary of Muslim Expulsion From Jaffna | author=DBS Jeyaraj | date=] ]}}</ref> The LTTE are also accused of organising massacres of Sinhala villagers who settled in the Northeast under the dry lands policy.<ref name="guardian1">{{cite news | title=Sri Lanka chronology | date=2003-11-14 | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,681879,00.html | work =The Guardian | accessdate = 2007-05-16 }}</ref><ref name="unhcr1"></ref><ref name="uthr1">{{cite news | title=Information Bulletin No.4 | date=1995-02-13 | url =http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul4.htm | work =UTHR(J) | accessdate = 2007-05-16 }}</ref>

The LTTE has apologized for the expulsion of Muslims and has blamed this event on the misconduct of one of its regional commanders. However these expulsions had taken place in Jaffna where the supreme leadership of the LTTE was based. It is therefore unlikely that these expulsions were planned at a local level. Furthermore no punitive action was taken against those who expelled the Muslims from Jaffna. The LTTE has taken the added step of encouraging Muslim civilians to return their homes and livelihoods and providing compensation. However very few Muslims have accepted this offer.

The LTTE feels the expulsion of Sinhalese civilian from the North East of Sri Lanka is a necessary step to safeguard the rights of the Tamil minority.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} The LTTE alleges that most of the North East lands were originally owned by Tamils, who were forcibly evicted to make way for government-aided Sinhala colonization schemes. These schemes, they argue were created with the sole intent of making Tamil civilians a minority in their traditional homelands and hence a means to further deprive them of their rights under the present district-based unitary political system.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} However, Muslims and Sinhalese have formed over half of the population of the East province throughout recent history. Furthermore, the existence of archaeological evidence shows that the ] have inhabited both the Eastern Province and the Northern Province for over two thousand years. In fact, most of the place names in the north and east of Sri Lanka are of Sinhalese origin. Scholars acknowledge the existence of a Tamil kingdom in Jaffna for about 300 years from around 1200-1500 CE, but there is no evidence of a Tamil kingdom in the Eastern province. Therefore, the basis for the LTTE's claim of the Eastern province as a traditional homeland of the Tamils remains contentious.<ref>{{cite book
| last = PARANAVITARANA
| first = SENERATH
| authorlink =
| title = Inscriptions Of Ceylon
| publisher = Archaeological Survey Department Sri Lanka
| date = 2001
| isbn = 955-9264-05-2}}</ref>
{{seealso|Gonagala massacre}}

===Execution of POWs===
The LTTE have executed ] in spite of a declaration by the LTTE in 1988 that it would abide by the ].<ref></ref> Notably, the LTTE ] captured after their surrender to the LTTE in 1990.<ref>{{citation|publisher=Asia Times Online|author= K T Rajasingham|title= Eelam war - again|date=], ]|url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DF15Df01.html}}</ref><ref> ]</ref><ref name='hrp95'></ref> The LTTE also executed 200 Sri Lankan soldiers captured during an attack on the ] army camp,<ref name='hrp95'/> and hundreds of soldiers who had surrendered during the attack on the Mullaitivu army camp.<ref></ref><ref></ref>
{{See also|Massacre of police officers in Eastern Sri Lanka in June 1990}}

===Allegation of Extortion===

Some people alleged that a group claiming to be "fund raisers for the LTTE" forced the ] to give them money.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=85944&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56 | title=Lankan expats ‘forced to fund LTTE’ | author =Rohit William Wadhwaney | date=], ] | publisher = ''Gulf Times'' }}</ref> The group threatening the safety of their relatives or property in areas of ]. This involves pressuring the people to directly give the group money, or to indirectly fund its activities by patronizing businesses connected with it (La 2004){{Fact|date=August 2007}}. Although intelligence services have raised concerns about such activities, which are particularly controversial in Canada, few formal complaints have been made. During raids by the ], the ] (alleged of funding the LTTE) was found coordinating a number of illegal activities in order to control the ] in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=7b93a298-114e-4cdc-891f-c6e27cf85db3&k=83579 | title=Alleged LTTE front had voter lists | author =Stewart Bell |date=], ]| publisher = ''National Post''}}</ref> A report by ] outlines the intimidation and extortion Tamil expatriates experience from the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hrw.org/reports/2006/ltte0306/ | title=LTTE Intimidation and Extortion in the Tamil Diaspora | author = | date=March 2006| publisher = Human Rights Watch }}</ref>

However, several pro-LTTE Tamil associations{{Fact|date=August 2007}}, from various countries mentioned in the report, have called into question the veracity and accuracy of the HRW report.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sangam.org/taraki/articles/2006/03-23_Dissecting_HRW.php?uid=1608 | title=Dissecting the Semi-fictionalized HRW Report | author = Sachi Sri Kantha| date=March 23, 2006 | publisher =Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/03/16/slanka13018.htm | title=Sri Lanka: Human Rights Watch Replies to the Canadian Tamil Congress
| author = | date= | publisher =Human Rights Watch }}</ref>

=== Proscription as a terrorist group ===
At least 32 countries have listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242 | title=Council on Foreign Relations | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/terroristoutfits/LTTE.HTM | title=South Asia Terrorism Portal | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3623| title= MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref> As of May 2007, these include:

*] (since ])
*The ] (since ])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm | title= U.S. Government| author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref>
*]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/terroristoutfits/LTTE.HTM | title=South Asia Terrorism Portal | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref>
*The ] (since 2000)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/proscribed-groups | title=UK Government | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref>
*The ] (since 2006; representing 27 countries)
*] (since 2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#ltte | title=Canadian Government | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref>

The UN has also passed ], asking member countries to identify and limit activities of any organization that carries out terrorist activities. The UN has not published its own list of terrorist groups, and has left their identification to the discretion of member countries. Former UN Secretary-General ] also suggested that the LTTE should face travel curbs and other penalties if they keep using children as soldiers. In a 2006 report to the ], Annan also recommended other sanctions such as arms embargoes and financial restrictions against the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4253745.stm | title=UN seeks Tamil Tiger travel ban |date=], ]| publisher = ]}}</ref> ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/icat/persons_entities/2_proscribed_entities_10dec2001.html | title=Australian Government | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref> and other countries have listed the LTTE as a terrorist group in accordance with Resolution 1373. Canada does not grant residency to LTTE members on the grounds that they have participated in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reports.fja.gc.ca/fc/1994/pub/v1/1994fca0318.html | title=Canadian Government | author = | date= | publisher = }}</ref>

The first country to ban the LTTE was its early ally, India. The Indian change of policy came gradually, starting with the IPKF-LTTE conflict, and culminating with the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Sri Lanka itself lifted the ban on the LTTE before signing the ceasefire agreement in 2002. This was a prerequisite set by the LTTE for signing of the agreement. However the agreement was not withheld by the LTTE, they continued terrorist like activities against the Sri Lankan Government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slmm.lk/documents/cfa.htm | title=Ceasefire Agreement | author = | date= | publisher =SLMM }}</ref>

==Criminal activities==
One factor that has benefited the LTTE greatly has been its sophisticated international support network. While some of the funding obtained by the LTTE is from legitimate fund raising and extortion among the Tamil diaspora,<ref name="gt1">{{cite news | url =http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=85944&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56 | title =Lankan expats ‘forced to fund LTTE’| work =Rohit William Wadhwaney|publisher = The Gulf Times|date = ], ]}}</ref><ref>http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=3064&</ref><ref>http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/ltte0306/2.htm</ref><ref>http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/ltte0306/1.htm</ref><ref>http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/archives/105</ref><ref>http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/220407-7.html</ref> a significant portion is obtained through criminal activities, involving ], ], ] and ].<ref name="rand">''RAND Project Air Force'', </ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2752455.stm|title= US criticises Tamil Tiger smuggling|date= ], ]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Sri Lankan pleads guilty in Tamil Tigers arms plot | date= ], ] | publisher=Channel NewsAsia | url =http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/275514/1/.html | work =AFP | accessdate = 2007-05-12 }}</ref>

===Sea piracy===
The LTTE are reported to hijack ships and boats of all sizes, and it is common practice for them to kidnap and kill the crew members on board the hijacked vessels.<ref name="saag1">''Dr Vijay Sakhuja'', ''South Asia Analysis group'', </ref>

The LTTE has been accused of hijacking several vessels in waters outside Sri Lanka including the ''Irish Mona'' (in August 1995), ''Princess Wave'' (in August 1996), ''Athena'' (in May 1997), ''Misen'' (in July 1997), ''Morong Bong'' (in July 1997), MV ''Cordiality'' (in Sept 1997) and ''Princess Kash'' (in August 1998). When the LTTE captured the MV ''Cordiality'' near the port of Trincomalee, they killed all five Chinese crew members on board. The MV ''Sik Yang'', a 2,818-ton Malaysian-flag cargo ship which sailed from ], India on ], ] was reported missing in waters near Sri Lanka. The ship with a cargo of bagged salt was due at the ]n port of ] on May 31. The fate of the ship's crew of 15 is unknown. It is suspected that the vessel was hijacked by the LTTE and is now been used as a ]. A report published on ], ] confirmed that the vessel had been hijacked by the LTTE.<ref name="saag1"/>

==== MV Farah III incident ====
In a notable incident since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in 2001, the crew of a Jordanian ship, ''MV Farah III'' that ran aground near rebel-controlled territory off the island's coast, accused the Tamil Tigers of forcing them to abandon the vessel which was carrying 14,000 tonnes of Indian rice and risking their lives.<ref name="hnd1">{{cite news | url =http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200612261552.htm | title =Jordanian crew slam Tigers for piracy| publisher = The Hindu|date = ], ]}}</ref> The crew said that LTTE fired four times to force them out of the vessel after failing to explode it in choppy seas three days ago. The skipper of the vessel said; <blockquote>"First they tried to set up a bomb and explode the anchor cable and when it failed they ordered us to weigh anchor"</blockquote> He also said that the Tigers dismantled and removed all radio communication equipment and radar from the vessel.<ref name="hnd1"/> On ], ] Sayed Sulaiman, the chairman of the ship's owners, Salam International Trading Company gave an interview to the BBC Tamil service, saying, <blockquote>"We hear from the parties who are concerned with the ship, the insurance company etc., that ... everything that could be taken – like the rice, lights, generators – has been taken from the ship. The ship is now bare." <ref>{{cite news | title=Cargo boat 'looted off Sri Lanka' | date=] | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6612663.stm | work =BBC NEWS | accessdate = 2007-05-02 }}</ref></blockquote>

===Pilferage of tsunami donations===

In May 2007, two Tamils were arrested in Australia. They were charged for raising thousands of ] in Australia under the pretense of being for charities and aid for those affected by the ], which killed 35,000 people in Sri Lanka, but instead using the money to fund the LTTE.<ref name='hs-tsunamiaid-5/2/07'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= Mark Dunn and Katie Bice | title=Tsunami aid to Tigers, says AFP | date=] | publisher= | url =http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21656730-661,00.html | work =The Herald Sun | pages = | accessdate = 2007-05-01 | language = }}</ref> ] conducted raids across ] and ] and charged the two men with "being members of a terrorist group, financing terrorism and providing material support for terrorism".<ref name='hs-tsunamiaid-5/2/07'/> The ] alleged that the men have provided significant funds as well as electronic and marine equipment to the Tamil Tigers since July 2002. Commenting on the possibility of the LTTE engaging in other similar incidents, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said "We are concerned that that sort of thing is taking place in Australia, that Australian citizens are being duped into making contributions to what they believe to be honest fundraising activities in terms of relief for people in distress."<ref name='hs-tsunamiaid-5/2/07'/>.

===Human smuggling===
The ] alleged that most of the ] of Tamil people to Western countries is done under the permission of the LTTE. However, there is no proof that LTTE benefit from this. It further alleged that the people who are leaving Sri Lanka from Tamil Tigers controlled areas pay a few hundred dollars as a forced contribution to the LTTE. In addition to this, people with special skills or a greater wealth than ordinary Tamils may have to pay thousands of dollars to be entitled to leave.<ref name="mackenzie1">, John Thompson, The Mackenzie Institute</ref>

====Allegations of forced prostitution====
According to research done by the ], an independent ] based ] to provide research and commentary about organized violence and political instability,<ref></ref> said another industry the LTTE is involved in is the ] of Tamil women who are being ] to other countries. In the mid 1990s some Sri Lankan women were abused or raped while being smuggled towards Canada by the LTTE, and some were deliberately stranded in ] and forced into prostitution there.<ref name="mackenzie1"/><ref>http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/190807-3.html</ref>

=== Arms smuggling ===
Another one of LTTE's most secretive International operations is the smuggling of weapons, explosives, and "dual use" technologies to keep up with the military operations. The part of the LTTE responsible for these activities is given the nickname ''"KP Branch"'', taking the initials of its highest level operative, ] (KP). The workers for the ''KP Branch'' are outsiders from the fighting wing of the LTTE, since the identities of the those fighters are recorded and available to law enforcement and ] agencies by India's ], who had helped train many Tiger cadres in the early 1980s. The KP Branch operates extremely secretively by having the minimum connection possible with the LTTE's other sections for further security. It finally hands over the arms shipments to a highly trusted team of the sea Tigers to deliver them to the LTTE dominated areas.<ref name="mackenzie1"/>

In order to carryout the activities of International arms trafficking, the LTTE operates it own fleet of ocean-going vessels. These vessels only operate a certain period of time for the LTTE and in the remaining time they transport legitimate goods and raise hard cash for the purchase of weapons. The LTTE initially operated a shipping base in ], but they were forced to leave due to diplomatic pressure. To overcome the loss of this, a new base has been set up on ], in ].<ref name="mackenzie1"/>

However, the most expertly carried out operation of the ''KP Branch'' was the theft of 32,400 rounds of 81mm ] ammunition purchased from ] for the Sri Lanka Army. Being aware of the purchase of 35,000 mortar bombs, the LTTE made a bid to the manufacturer through a numbered company and arranged a vessel of their own to pick up the load. Once the bombs were loaded into the ship, the LTTE changed the name and registration of their ship. The vessel was taken to Tiger-held territory in Sri Lanka's north instead of transporting it to its intended destination.<ref name="mackenzie1"/>

The Western countries are the main territory for fund raising activities of the LTTE. The money raised from donations and criminal enterprises are transferred into bank accounts of the Tigers and from there to the accounts of a weapons broker, or, the money is taken by KP operatives themselves. LTTE's need for resources is mostly fulfilled by the Tamils who reside outside Sri Lanka. In 1995, when the LTTE lost Jaffna, their international operatives were ordered to increase, by a massive 50%, the amount raised from Tamils outside of the island.<ref name="mackenzie1"/>

===Other crimes===
LTTE has also been accused of committing ] in a number of countries including India and the United Kingdom. In April 2007, the Sri Lankan High Commission in London accused the LTTE of being behind a credit card scam; however, a police spokesman said there was no definite link to the LTTE or Sri Lankan gangs.<ref name=LCH>{{cite web | title =Motorists hit by card clone scam | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6578595.stm| format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-03-27 }}</ref><ref>http://www.redhotcurry.com/news/card_fraud.htm</ref><ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/22/wtamil122.xml</ref><ref>http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1092530</ref> Williams , a writer at US Institute of Peace Press, alleged the LTTE of crimes such as ], social security fraud, counterfeit currency trading,<ref name=LCH>{{cite web | title =Tamil Tiger credit card racket spreads to Chennai, India | url =http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/4236 | format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-03-27 }}</ref><ref>{{citation|author=Pat O’Malley, Steven Hutchinson|publisher=Carleton University |title=Actual and Potential Links Between Terrorism and Criminality|url=http://www.csis-scrs.gc.ca/en/itac/itacdocs/2006-5.asp#12}}</ref> and satellite piracy.<ref></ref><ref></ref>

==See also==

*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

==Further reading==

*Balasingham, Adele. (2003) ''The Will to Freedom - An Inside View of Tamil Resistance'', Fairmax Publishing Ltd, 2nd ed. ISBN 1-903679-03-6
*Balasingham, Anton. (2004) ''War and Peace - Armed Struggle and Peace Efforts of Liberation Tigers'', Fairmax Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-903679-05-2
*de Votta, Neil. (2004) ''Blowback: Linguistic Nationalism, Institutional Decay, and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka.'' ], ISBN 0-8047-4924-8
*Gamage, Siri and I.B. Watson (Editors). (1999) ''Conflict and Community in Contemporary Sri Lanka - 'Pearl of the East' or 'Island of Tears'?'', ] Ltd, ISBN 0-7619-9393-2
*Hansard Australia (2006), Senate Transcript for ] ]
*Hellmann-Rajanayagam, D. (1994) "The Groups and the rise of Militant Secessions". in Manogaram, C. and Pfaffenberger, B. (editors). ''The Sri Lankan Tamils''. ]. ISBN 0-8133-8845-7
*Human Rights Watch (2003) ''Child Soldier Use 2003: A Briefing for the 4th UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict''
*La, J.. 2004. "Forced remittances in Canada's Tamil enclaves". ''Peace Review'' 16:3. September 2004. pp. 379-385.
*Narayan Swamy, M. R. (2002) ''Tigers of Lanka: from Boys to Guerrillas'', Konark Publishers; 3rd ed. ISBN 81-220-0631-0
*Pratap, Anita. (2001) ''Island of Blood: Frontline Reports From Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Other South Asian Flashpoints''. ], ISBN 0-14-200366-2
*Sri Kantha, Sachi.(2005) ''Pirabhakaran Phenomenon'', Lively COMET Imprint, ISBN 1-57087-671-1
*Wilson, Jeyaratnam (1999) ''Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism: Its Origins and Development in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries'', University of British Columbia Press, ISBN 0-7748-0760-1

===LTTE atrocities===
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==External links==
{{commonscat|Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}
;Official LTTE websites and LTTE related websites
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;Sri Lanka Government websites
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;Norwegian Mediators
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Revision as of 21:44, 17 October 2007

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