View source for Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

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{{Short description|Tamil militant organisation in Sri Lanka (1976–2009)}}
{{Redirect|LTTE|letters to the editor|Letter to the editor}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2021}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox militant organization
| name             = Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
| logo             = Ltte_emblem.jpg
| caption          = LTTE emblem
| native_name      = தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள் <br /> දෙමළ ඊලාම් විමුක්ති කොටි සංවිධානය
| native_name_lang = ta
| other_name       = Tamil Tigers; LTTE
| leader           = [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]]{{KIA}}
| dates            = 5 May 1976–18 May 2009<br>({{age in years and days|1976|05|05|2009|05|18}})
| predecessor      = [[Tamil New Tigers]]
| country          = [[Sri Lanka]]
| motives          = Creation of an [[independent state]] of [[Tamil Eelam]] in the [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern Province]] and the [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|Eastern Province]] of [[Sri Lanka]]
| ideology         = [[Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism|Tamil nationalism]]<br />[[Left-wing nationalism]]<br />[[Revolutionary socialism]]<br />[[Egalitarianism]]<br />[[Secularism]]<br />[[Separatism]]
| status           = {{ubl|Inactive|Militarily defeated in May 2009}}
| size             = 18,000, as of 2004, excluding divisions<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://acd.iiss.org/armedconflict/MainPages/dsp_ConflictWeapons.asp?ConflictID=174&YearID=961#2007 |title=''Armed Conflicts Database'', 2007 |access-date=27 November 2020 |archive-date=11 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511134040/http://acd.iiss.org/armedconflict/MainPages/dsp_ConflictWeapons.asp?ConflictID=174&YearID=961#2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| revenue          = US$300+&nbsp;million prior to the military defeat<ref name="lakabim"/><ref name="icg1"/>
| financing        = Contributions from Tamil diaspora (mostly voluntary, sometimes coerced), overseas investments,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chalk|first1=Peter|title=The Tigers Abroad: How the LTTE Diaspora Supports the Conflict in Sri Lanka |journal=Third World Quarterly |date=2008 |volume=9|issue=2 |page=101 |jstor=43133783 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43133783 |access-date=31 July 2024}}</ref> smuggling<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sutton |first1=Mitchell |last2=DeSilva-Ranasinghe |first2=Serge |title=Transnational crime in Sri Lanka |journal=Australian Strategic Policy Institute |date=2016 |url=Australian Strategic Policy Institute (2016)}}</ref> and taxation under LTTE-controlled areas<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stokke |first1=Kristian |title=Building the Tamil Eelam State: Emerging State Institutions and Forms of Governance in LTTE-Controlled Areas in Sri Lanka |journal=Third World Quarterly |date=2006 |volume=27 |issue=6 |page=1034 |doi=10.1080/01436590600850434 |jstor=4017738 |s2cid=45544298 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/4017738 |access-date=15 December 2023| issn = 0143-6597}}</ref>
| battles          = [[Sri Lankan civil war|Sri Lankan Civil War]]
| flag             = [[File:Tamil Eelam Flag.svg|120px]]
| website          = {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20050412081730/http://www.eelam.com/ }} (now defunct)
}}
{{Sri Lankan Tamil history}}
The '''Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam''' ('''LTTE'''; {{langx|ta|தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள்|translit=Tamiḻīḻa viṭutalaip pulikaḷ}}, {{langx|si|දෙමළ ඊලාම් විමුක්ති කොටි සංවිධානය|translit= Demaḷa īlām vimukti koṭi saṁvidhānaya}}; also known as the '''Tamil Tigers''') was a [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamil]] militant organization, that was based in northern and eastern [[Sri Lanka]]. The LTTE fought to create an [[Independence|independent]] [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamil]] state called [[Tamil Eelam]] in the northeast of the island<ref name=":6" /> in response to [[List of attacks on civilians attributed to Sri Lankan government forces|violent persecution]] and [[Sinhala Only Act|discriminatory policies]] against [[Sri Lankan Tamils]] by the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]]-dominated [[Government of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan government]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kingsbury |first=Damien |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zroYEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA54 |title=Separatism and the State |date=27 February 2021 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-000-36870-3 |page=54 |language=en |access-date=8 March 2024 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308051932/https://books.google.com/books?id=zroYEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA54 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 Thangarajah Duraiappah|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 language|Sinhala]] as its national language.<ref name="auto1">{{cite book |last1=Vukovic |first1=Sinisa |author-link1= |date=2015 |title=International Multiparty Mediation and Conflict Management |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=9781317610724 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_PuoCgAAQBAJ&dq=Ltte+riots+1956+Prabhakaran&pg=PT167 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020100005/https://books.google.com/books?id=_PuoCgAAQBAJ&dq=Ltte+riots+1956+Prabhakaran&pg=PT167 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Hogan |first1=Patrick Colm |author-link1= |date=2009 |title=Understanding Indian Movies: Culture, Cognition, and Cinematic imagination |publisher=[[University of Texas Press]] |isbn=9780292779556 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O1yubyUWGuMC&dq=Prabhakaran+1958&pg=PA59 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020100003/https://books.google.com/books?id=O1yubyUWGuMC&dq=Prabhakaran+1958&pg=PA59 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Arena |first1=Michael P. |author-link1= |last2=Arrigo |first2=Bruce A. |author-link2= |date=1974 |title=The Terrorist Identity: Explaining the Terrorist Threat |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=9780814707593 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-C6hBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA189 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-date=20 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020100004/https://books.google.com/books?id=-C6hBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA189 |url-status=live }}p.189</ref> The LTTE was involved in attacks on government targets, policemen and local politicians and moved on to armed clashes against the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces|armed forces]]. Oppression against Sri Lankan Tamils continued by Sinhalese mobs, notably during the [[1977 anti-Tamil pogrom]] and the 1981 [[Burning of Jaffna Public Library|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 [[Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups|Tamil militant groups]] and a full-scale [[insurgency]] began, marking the start of the [[Sri Lankan civil war]].<ref name=":8" /> By 1986, the LTTE had emerged as the dominant Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cronin-Furman |first1=Kate |last2=Arulthas |first2=Mario |date=2024-09-01 |title=How the Tigers Got Their Stripes: A Case Study of the LTTE's Rise to Power |journal=Studies in Conflict & Terrorism |volume=47 |issue=9 |pages=1006–1025 |doi=10.1080/1057610X.2021.2013753 |issn=1057-610X|doi-access=free }}</ref> It would go on to be widely regarded as among the most effective and disciplined insurgent groups in the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moorcraft |first=Paul L. |title=Total destruction of the Tamil Tigers: the rare victory of Sri Lanka's long war |publisher=Pen & Sword Military |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-78159-153-6 |location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire |page=91}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Hashim |first=Ahmed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kFHEMaLZx6gC&pg=PA34 |title=When Counterinsurgency Wins: Sri Lanka's Defeat of the Tamil Tigers |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-8122-4452-6 |pages=32-34}}</ref>

Initially starting out as a [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla force]], the LTTE increasingly came to resemble conventional armed forces with a well-developed military wing that included a [[Sea Tigers|navy]], an [[Air Tigers|airborne unit]],<ref name="BBC 2007-04-29">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6604645.stm|title=Sri Lanka rebels in new air raid|agency=[[BBC News]]|work=|date=29 April 2007|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416221254/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6604645.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> an intelligence wing, and [[Black Tigers|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.<ref name=":7" /> The LTTE was also notable for using women and children in combat, and carrying out a number of high-profile [[#Assassinations|assassinations]], including former Indian prime minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]] in 1991.<ref name="Stanford">{{Cite web |title=Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam &#124; Mapping Militant Organizations |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/225 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123020237/https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/225 |archive-date=23 November 2017 |access-date=26 April 2019 |website=}}</ref> The LTTE was [[#Proscription as a terrorist group|designated as a terrorist organisation]] by 33 countries, including the European Union, Canada, the United States and India.

Over the course of the conflict, the LTTE frequently exchanged control of territory in the north-east with the Sri Lankan military, with the two sides engaging in intense military confrontations. It was involved in four unsuccessful rounds of peace talks with the Sri Lankan government and at its peak in 2000, the LTTE was in control of 76% of the landmass in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Humanitarian|title=Humanitarian Operation Timeline, 1981–2009|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)]]|access-date=2 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827212530/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Humanitarian|archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref> Prabhakaran headed the organisation from its inception until his death in 2009.<ref name="lttldr">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-ltte-prabhakaran-death-srilanka|title=Prabhakaran's death and fall of LTTE lead to street celebrations in Sri Lanka|author=Mark Tran|date=May 2009|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=24 August 2011|location=London|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701111859/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/18/tamil-tigers-ltte-prabhakaran-death-srilanka|url-status=live}}</ref> Between 1983 and 2009, at least [[Casualties of the Sri Lankan civil war|100,000 were killed]] in the civil war, of which many were Sri Lankan Tamils.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka's war 10 years on: Finding Father Francis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48300279 |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=18 May 2019 |location=London, U.K. |archive-date=10 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210234516/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48300279 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mahr|first=Krista|title=Sri Lanka to Start Tally of Civil-War Dead|url=https://world.time.com/2013/11/28/sri-lanka-to-start-tally-of-civil-war-dead/|magazine=Time|date=28 November 2013|via=world.time.com|access-date=26 April 2019|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225155736/http://world.time.com/2013/11/28/sri-lanka-to-start-tally-of-civil-war-dead/|url-status=live}}</ref> Many Sri Lankan Tamils also left Sri Lanka for various destinations, mainly Western countries and India, forming the pivotal [[Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora|Tamil diaspora]] estimated at one million.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oj7VEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA243 |title=Hindu Diasporas |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-19-886769-2 |editor-last=Jacobsen |editor-first=Knut A. |page=243}}</ref>

==History==
{{cleanup rewrite||section|date=December 2012}}

===Background===
{{See also|Origins of the Sri Lankan civil war}}
Emergence of Tamil militancy has its roots in the political developments and ethnic tensions in post-independent Sri Lanka. Sinhalese-led governments attempted to reduce the increased presence of the Tamil minority in government jobs,<ref name="sherman"/><ref name="secu"/> which led to ethnic discrimination, seeded hatred and divisive policies<ref name=DailyFT>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ft.lk/opinion/Sinhala-Only-Act-destroyed-peaceful-Sri-Lanka--Prof--Rohan-Gunaratna/14-650183|title=Sinhala Only Act destroyed peaceful Sri Lanka|website=ft.lk|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701111844/https://www.ft.lk/opinion/Sinhala-Only-Act-destroyed-peaceful-Sri-Lanka--Prof--Rohan-Gunaratna/14-650183|url-status=live}}</ref> including the "[[Sinhala Only Act]]" and [[1958 anti-Tamil pogrom|anti-Tamil riots]], which gave rise to separatist ideologies among many Tamil leaders.<ref name="auto1"/> By the late 1970s, initial non-violent political struggle for an independent Tamil state was used as justification for a secessionist insurgency led by the LTTE.<ref name="sherman">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BlCXRQo__6oC|title=The Political Economy of Armed Conflict: Beyond Greed and Grievance|publisher=[[Lynne Rienner Publishers]]|last=Sherman|first=Jake|year=2003|location=New York|page=198|isbn=978-1-58826-172-4}}</ref><ref name="secu">{{cite book|title=Security And Development: Investing in Peace And Prosperity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXHRX20ibVAC|publisher=[[Routledge]]|last1=Picciotto|first1=Robert|last2=Weaving|first2=Rachel|year=2006|location=[[London]]|page=171|isbn=978-0-415-35364-9}}</ref>

In the early 1970s, the [[United Front (Sri Lanka)|United Front]] government of [[Sirimavo Bandaranaike]] introduced the [[policy of standardisation]] to curtail the number of Tamil students selected for certain faculties in the universities.<ref>Chelvadurai Manogaran, Ethnic conflict and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, University of Hawaii press, 1987, p116</ref><ref>A. Jeyaratnam Wilson, The Break-up of Sri Lanka
The Sinhalese-Tamil Conflict, Hurst Publishers, 1988, p131</ref><ref>C.R. Da Silva, The impact of Nationalism on Education: The school Take-over 1961 and the University Admissions Crisis 1970-1975, Collective Identities, Nationalism, and Protests in Modern Sri Lanka, pp.486</ref> In 1972, the government added a district quota as a parameter within each language. A student named Satiyaseelan formed ''Tamil Manavar Peravai'' (Tamil Students League) to counter this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sangam.org/articles/view2/?uid=991|title=Pirapaharan, Chapter 42|author=T. Sabaratnam|publisher=Sangam.org|access-date=27 July 2011|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701054055/https://www.sangam.org/articles/view2/?uid=991|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamilnation.co/forum/sivaram/940508eelam_history.htm|title=The Exclusive Right to Write Eelam History|author=Taraki Sivaram|date=May 1994|publisher=Tamil Nation|access-date=27 July 2011|author-link=Taraki Sivaram|archive-date=19 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119055553/http://tamilnation.co/forum/sivaram/940508eelam_history.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> This group comprised Tamil youth who advocated the rights of students to have fair enrolment. Inspired by the failed [[1971 JVP insurrection|1971 insurrection]] of [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]], it was the first Tamil militant group of its kind.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebottomline.lk/2007/11/28/B34.htm |title=The JVP and Tamil militancy |author=T. Sabaratnam |publisher=BottomLine |access-date=17 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929235805/http://www.thebottomline.lk/2007/11/28/B34.htm |archive-date=29 September 2008 }}</ref> It consisted of around 40 Tamil youth, including [[Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran]] (later, the leader of the Sivakumaran group), K. Pathmanaba (one of the founder members of [[Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students|EROS]]) and [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]], an 18-year-old youth from [[Valvettithurai]] (VVT).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dspace.vidyanidhi.org.in:8080/dspace/bitstream/2009/5624/4/JNU-2005-087-3.pdf |title=Formation of the TULF: A formal background |access-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004015600/http://dspace.vidyanidhi.org.in:8080/dspace/bitstream/2009/5624/4/JNU-2005-087-3.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2011 }}</ref>

In 1972, Prabhakaran teamed up with Chetti Thanabalasingam in Jaffna to form the [[Tamil New Tigers]] (TNT), with Thanabalasingham as its leader.<ref name="rohang">{{cite web|url=http://212.150.54.123/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=57 |title=International and Regional Implications of the Sri Lankan Tamil Insurgency |author=Rohan Gunaratna |date=December 1998 |access-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930204349/http://212.150.54.123/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=57 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |author-link=Rohan Gunaratna }}</ref> After he was killed, Prabhakaran took over.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4lurfqV-60AC&pg=PA73 |title=Cold Terror: How Canada Nurtures and Exports Terrorism Around the World|author=Stewart Bell|access-date=27 July 2011|isbn=9780470739051|date=23 July 2009|publisher=Wiley }}</ref> At the same time, [[Nadarajah Thangathurai]] and [[Selvarajah Yogachandran]] (better known by his ''[[nom de guerre]]'' Kuttimani) were also involved in discussions about an insurgency.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vgweb.org/acslu/tamil_view.htm|title=Separatist Conflict in Sri Lanka: A Tamil View|publisher=vgweb.org|access-date=27 July 2011|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213850/http://www.vgweb.org/acslu/tamil_view.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> They would later (in 1979) create a separate organisation named [[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation]] (TELO) to campaign for the establishment of an independent [[Tamil Eelam]]. These groups, along with another prominent figure of the armed struggle, Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, were involved in several hit-and-run operations against pro-government Tamil politicians, [[Sri Lanka Police]] and civil administration during the early 1970s. These attacks included throwing bombs at the residence and the car of [[SLFP]] [[Jaffna]] Mayor, [[Alfred Duraiyappah]], placing a bomb at a carnival held in the stadium of Jaffna city (now "Duraiyappah stadium") and [[Neervely]] bank robbery. The [[1974 Tamil conference incident]] during which intervention by Sri Lankan police resulted in 11 dead<ref>{{Cite journal |last=DeVotta |first=Neil |year=2009 |title=The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Lost Quest for Separatism in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2009.49.6.1021 |journal=[[Asian Survey]] |volume=49 |number=6 |page=1027 |doi=10.1525/as.2009.49.6.1021 |jstor=10.1525/as.2009.49.6.1021 |access-date=20 February 2021 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213848/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2009.49.6.1021 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> also sparked the anger of these militant groups. Both Sivakumaran and Prabhakaran attempted to assassinate Duraiyappah in revenge for the incident. Sivakumaran committed suicide on 5 June 1974, to evade capture by Police.<ref name="sivakum">{{cite web|url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/6/29020_space.html|title=Pon Sivakumaran, The first Martyr decided to die than suffer the torture in the event of enemy capture|publisher=Sri Lanka Newspapers|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904004112/http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2008/6/29020_space.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 July 1975, Prabhakaran assassinated Duraiyappah, who was branded as a "traitor" by [[TULF]] and the insurgents alike. Prabhakaran shot and killed the Mayor when he was visiting the Krishnan temple at Ponnalai.<ref name="rohang"/><ref name="Hoffman139">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RSzyEx4do48C|last=Hoffman|first=Bruce|title=Inside Terrorism|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|location=New York|year=2006|page=139|isbn=978-0231-126-99-1}}</ref>

===Founding and rise to power===
{{See also|Sri Lankan Civil War|List of commanders of the LTTE}}
[[File: Uniform of LTTE Cadres.png|thumb|TL: Ground Troops, TR:Air Force, BL: Black Tigers (Suicide Bombers) and BR: Naval Forces]]
The LTTE was founded on 5 May 1976 as the successor to the Tamil New Tigers. [[Uma Maheswaran]] became its leader, and Prabhakaran its military commander.<ref name="jbsj6058">{{cite web|url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/6058|title=Thirty Sixth Birth Anniversary of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|publisher=dbsjeyaraj.com|date=5 May 2012|access-date=5 May 2012|last=Jeyaraj|first=D. B. S.|author-link=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508114714/http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/6058|archive-date=8 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> A five-member committee was also appointed. It has been stated that Prabhakaran sought to "refashion the old TNT/new LTTE into an elite, ruthlessly efficient, and highly professional fighting force",<ref name="Hoffman139"/> by the terrorism expert [[Rohan Gunaratna]]. Prabhakaran kept the numbers of the group small and maintained a high standard of training.<ref>[[Rohan Gunaratna|Gunaratna, Rohan]], "The Rebellion in Sri Lanka: Sparrow Tactics to Guerrilla Warfare (1971–1996)," p. 13.</ref> The LTTE carried out low-key attacks against various government targets, including policemen and local politicians.

====TULF support====
[[Tamil United Liberation Front]] leader [[Appapillai Amirthalingam]], who was in 1977 elected as the [[Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)|Opposition leader]] of [[Sri Lanka Parliament]], clandestinely supported the LTTE. Amirthalingam believed that if he could exercise control over the Tamil insurgent groups, it would enhance his political position and pressure the government to agree to grant political autonomy to the Tamils. Thus, he provided letters of reference to the LTTE and to other Tamil insurgent groups to raise funds. Both Uma Maheswaran (a former [[surveyor]]) and Urmila Kandiah, the first female member of the LTTE, were prominent members of the TULF youth wing.<ref name="rohang"/> Maheswaran was the secretary of TULF Tamil Youth Forum, Colombo branch. Amirthalingam introduced Prabhakaran to N. S. Krishnan, who later became the first international representative of LTTE. It was Krishnan who introduced Prabhakaran to [[Anton Balasingham]], who later became the chief political strategist and chief negotiator of LTTE, which split for the first time in 1979. Uma Maheswaran was found to be having a love affair with Urmila Kandiah, which was against the code of conduct of LTTE. Prabhakaran expelled him and Maheswaran formed [[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam]] (PLOTE) in 1980.<ref>{{cite book |last=Clarance |first=William |title=Ethnic warfare in Sri Lanka and the UN crisis |year=2007 |publisher=Pluto Press |location=London |isbn=9780745325262 |pages=43 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1980, [[Junius Richard Jayewardene]]'s government agreed to devolve power by the means of District Development Councils upon the request of TULF. By this time, LTTE and other insurgent groups wanted [[Tamil Eelam|a separate state]]. They had no faith in any sort of political solution. Thus the TULF and other Tamil political parties were steadily marginalized and insurgent groups emerged as the major force in the north. During this period of time, several other insurgent groups came into the arena, such as [[Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students]] (1975), [[Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization]] (1979), PLOTE (1980), [[Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front]] (1980) and [[Tamil Eelam Liberation Army]] (1982). LTTE ordered civilians to boycott the local government elections of 1983 which TULF contested. Voter turnout became as low as 10%. Thereafter, Tamil political parties were largely unable to represent the Tamil people as insurgent groups took over their position.<ref name="rohang"/>

====Thirunelveli attack, 1983====
{{See also|Four Four Bravo}}
[[File:LTTE leaders at Sirumalai camp.jpg|thumb|LTTE leaders at Sirumalai camp, Tamil Nadu, India in 1984 while they are being trained by [[Research and Analysis Wing|RAW]] (from L to R, weapon carrying is included within brackets) – Lingam; Prabhakaran's bodyguard ([[AK-63|Hungarian AK]]), [[Batticaloa]] commander Aruna ([[Beretta Model 38]] SMG), LTTE founder-leader [[Prabhakaran]] ([[pistol]]), [[Trincomalee]] commander Pulendran ([[AK-47]]), [[Mannar, Sri Lanka|Mannar]] commander Victor ([[M203]]) and Chief of Intelligence [[Pottu Amman (Tamil militant)|Pottu Amman]] ([[M16 rifle|M 16]]).]]

Following a Sri Lankan Army ambush in Meesalai in which two LTTE members were killed including its military commander [[Seelan]], the LTTE sought revenge by launching its first attack on the Army. On 23 July 1983, the LTTE ambushed the Army patrol [[Four Four Bravo ambush|Four Four Bravo]] in [[Thirunelveli, Sri Lanka|Thirunelveli]], Jaffna, and killed thirteen soldiers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Jeyaraj |first=D.B.S. |date=19 July 2023 |title=Black July begins: Meesalai Army attack and Thinnavely LTTE ambush |url=https://www.ft.lk/columns/Black-July-begins-Meesalai-Army-attack-and-Thinnavely-LTTE-ambush/4-750783 |website=Daily FT}}</ref> The ambush provided the pretext for the pre-planned [[Black July]] pogrom to be unleashed against the Tamil community in which 3,500-4,000 Tamils were killed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeyaraj |first=D.B.S. |date=12 July 2023 |title="Black July": Anatomy of an Anti-Tamil pogrom |url=https://www.ft.lk/columns/Black-July-Anatomy-of-an-Anti-Tamil-pogrom/4-750491 |website=Daily FT}}</ref> Before the pogrom the LTTE had only 30 full-time members.<ref name=":2" /> Subsequently, thousands of outraged Tamil youths joined Tamil militant groups to fight the Sri Lankan government, in what is considered a major catalyst to the insurgency in Sri Lanka.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Frances |date=23 July 2003 |title=Twenty years on - riots that led to war |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3090111.stm |work=BBC News}}</ref> Among the notable members to join the LTTE following the pogrom included its eastern commander [[Karuna Amman]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeyaraj |first=D.B.S. |date=9 April 2004 |title=The Eastern warlord |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/article30221966.ece |website=Frontline}}</ref> its police chief [[Balasingham Nadesan]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bulathsinghala |first=Frances |date=12 October 2003 |title=Tiger cops learn Sinhala |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2003/10/12/fea01.html |website=Sunday Observer}}</ref> and its first suicide attacker [[Captain Miller (Tamil militant)|Captain Miller]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pleven |first=Liam |date=19 July 2005 |title=Secrets of their success: Politics, not faith, fuel the suicide bombers of Sri Lanka |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wosri194349519jul19%2C0%2C331263.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050814004823/http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wosri194349519jul19%2C0%2C331263.story |archive-date=14 August 2005 |website=Newsday}}</ref>

====Indian support====
{{See also|Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War}}
In reaction to various geopolitical and economic factors, from August 1983 to May 1987, India, through its intelligence agency the [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (RAW), provided arms, training and monetary support to six Sri Lankan Tamil insurgent groups including the LTTE. During that period, 32 camps were set up in India to train these 495 LTTE insurgents,<ref name="sndayt">{{cite news|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/970119/plus4.html|title=LTTE: the Indian connection|newspaper=Sunday Times|year=1997|access-date=25 July 2011|archive-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915053716/http://sundaytimes.lk/970119/plus4.html|url-status=live}}</ref> including 90 women who were trained in 10 batches.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971212/34650923.html |title=Uppermost in our minds was to save the Gandhis' name |newspaper=Express India |year=1997 |access-date=25 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811204127/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19971212/34650923.html |archive-date=11 August 2007 }}</ref> The first batch of Tigers were trained in [[Establishment 22]] based in [[Chakrata]], Uttarakhand. The second batch, including LTTE intelligence chief [[Pottu Amman (Tamil militant)|Pottu Amman]],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/10/04/militarym.htm|title=Pottu Amman: Patient but ruthless Tiger|magazine=The Nation|year=2009|access-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530122902/http://www.nation.lk/2009/10/04/militarym.htm|archive-date=30 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> trained in [[Himachal Pradesh]]. Prabakaran visited the first and the second batch of Tamil Tigers to see them training.<ref name="Transcript- Rohan Gunaratne">{{cite web|url=http://www.llrcarchive.org/2010/10/rohan-gunaratne/|title=Transcript- Rohan Gunaratne|publisher=[[Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission]]|year=2010|access-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119072710/http://www.llrcarchive.org/2010/10/rohan-gunaratne/|archive-date=19 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Eight other batches of LTTE were trained in Tamil Nadu. [[Thenmozhi Rajaratnam]] ''alias'' Dhanu, who carried out the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and Sivarasan, the key conspirator, were among the militants trained by RAW in [[Nainital]], India.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Killing Rajiv Gandhi: Dhanu's sacrificial metamorphosis in death|year=2009|doi=10.1080/19472490903387191|volume=1|journal=South Asian History and Culture|pages=25–41|last1 = Roberts|first1 = Michael|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In April 1984, the LTTE formally joined a common militant front, the [[Eelam National Liberation Front]] (ENLF), a union between LTTE, TELO, EROS, PLOTE and EPRLF.<ref name="cs-tmg">{{Cite journal|title=Tamil Militant Groups|journal=Sri Lanka: A Country Study|year=1988|author1=Russell R. Ross|author2=Andrea Matles Savada|url=http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/72.htm|access-date=2 May 2007|archive-date=19 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919182250/http://countrystudies.us/sri-lanka/72.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Clashes with other insurgent groups====
TELO usually held the Indian view of problems and pushed for India's view during peace talks with Sri Lanka and other groups. LTTE denounced the TELO view and claimed that India was only acting on its own interest.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mehta |first=Raj K. |title=Lost Victory: The Rise & Fall of LTTE Supremo, V. Prabhakaran |date=2010 |publisher=Pentagon Security International |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788182744431 |pages=51–52 |edition=1st |language=en}}</ref> As a result, the LTTE broke from the ENLF in 1986. Soon fighting broke out between the TELO and the LTTE and clashes occurred over the next few months.<ref name=Hellmann-rajanayagam1994>{{Cite book|last=Hellmann-rajanayagam|first=D.|year=1994|title=The Tamil Tigers: Armed Struggle for Identity|publisher=Franz Steiner Verlag|page=164|isbn=978-3-515-06530-6}}</ref><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|year=1989|location=London|page=61|isbn=978-0-08-036695-1}}</ref> As a result, almost the entire TELO leadership and at least 400 TELO militants were killed by the LTTE.<ref name="cw-eb62">{{Cite book|last=O'Ballance|first=Edgar|title=The Cyanide War: Tamil Insurrection in Sri Lanka 1973–88|publisher=Brassey's|year=1989|location=London|page=62|isbn=978-0-08-036695-1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Wilson|first=A. Jeyaratnam|title=Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism: Its Origins and Development in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries|publisher=[[University of British Columbia Press]]|page=128|date=June 2000|isbn=978-0-7748-0760-9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=M. R. Narayan Swamy|title=Tigers of Lanka: from Boys to Guerrillas|publisher=South Asia Books|pages=191–198|date=August 1995|isbn=978-81-220-0386-4}}</ref> The LTTE attacked training camps of the [[EPRLF]] a few months later, forcing it to withdraw from the [[Jaffna peninsula]].<ref name="cs-tmg"/><ref name="cw-eb62"/> Notices were issued to the effect that all remaining Tamil insurgents join the LTTE in Jaffna and in [[Madras]], where the Tamil groups were headquartered. With the major groups including the TELO and EPRLF eliminated, the remaining 20 or so Tamil insurgent groups were then absorbed into the LTTE, making Jaffna an LTTE-dominated city.<ref name="cw-eb62"/>

Another practice that increased support by Tamil people was LTTE's members taking an oath of loyalty which stated LTTE's goal of establishing a state for the Sri Lankan Tamils.<ref name=Hellmann-rajanayagam1994/><ref name=Roberts2005>{{Cite journal|last=Roberts|first=M.|year=2005|title=Tamil Tiger "Martyrs": Regenerating Divine Potency?|journal=Studies in Conflict & Terrorism|volume=28|issue=6|pages=493–514|doi=10.1080/10576100590950129|s2cid=109066751}}</ref> LTTE members were prohibited from smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol in any form. LTTE members were required to avoid their family members and avoid communication with them. Initially, LTTE members were prohibited from having love affairs or sexual relationships as it could deter their prime motive, but this policy changed after Prabhakaran married Mathivathani Erambu in October 1984.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ezrow |first=Natasha M. |title=Global Politics and Violent Non-state Actors |date=2017 |publisher=SAGE PUBLICATIONS |location=University of Essex, UK |isbn=9781526421579 |pages=94 |edition=1st |language=en}}</ref>

===IPKF period===
{{Main|Indian Peace Keeping Force}}

In July 1987, faced with growing anger among its own Tamils and a flood of refugees,<ref name="cs-tmg"/> India intervened directly in the conflict for the first time by initially [[Operation Poomalai|airdropping food parcels into Jaffna]]. After negotiations, India and Sri Lanka entered into the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]]. Though the conflict was between the Tamil and Sinhalese people, India and Sri Lanka signed the peace accord instead of India influencing both parties to sign a peace accord among themselves. The peace accord assigned a certain degree of regional autonomy in the Tamil areas, with Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) controlling the regional council and called for the Tamil militant groups to surrender. India was to send a [[peacekeeping]] force, named the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF), part of the [[Indian Army]], to Sri Lanka to enforce the disarmament and to watch over the regional council.<ref>The Peace Accord and the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Hennayake S.K. Asian Survey, Vol. 29, No. 4. (April 1989), pp. 401–15.</ref><ref name=Stokke2000a>{{Cite journal|last=Stokke|first=K.|author2=Ryntveit, A.K.|year=2000|title=The Struggle for Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka|journal=Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy|volume=31|issue=2|pages=285–304|doi=10.1111/0017-4815.00129|bibcode=2000GroCh..31..285S }}</ref>

====War against IPKF====
Although the Tamil militant organizations did not have a role in the Indo-Lanka agreement,<ref name=Hellmann-rajanayagam1994/> most groups, including EPRLF, TELO, EROS, and PLOTE, accepted it.<ref name="cw-eb91-94">{{Cite book|last=O'Ballance|first=Edgar|title=The Cyanide War: Tamil Insurrection in Sri Lanka 1973–88|publisher=Brassey's|year=1989|location=London|pages=91–4|isbn=978-0-08-036695-1}}</ref><ref name="terror1">{{cite book|title=Contending with Terrorism: Roots, Strategies, and Responses|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zTWnisKC1SUC|publisher=[[MIT Press]]|last1=Brown|first1=Michael E.|last2=Coté, Jr.|first2=Owen R.|last3=Lynn-Jones|first3=Sean M.|year=2010|location=New York|page=214|isbn=978-0-262-51464-4}}</ref> LTTE rejected the accord because they opposed EPRLF's [[Annamalai Varadaraja Perumal|Varadaraja Perumal]] as the chief ministerial candidate for the merged [[North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|North Eastern Province]].<ref name=Stokke2000a/> The LTTE named three alternate candidates for the position, which India rejected.<ref name="cw-eb91-94"/> The LTTE subsequently refused to hand over their weapons to the IPKF.<ref name=Hellmann-rajanayagam1994/> The LTTE's political leader for Jaffna peninsula [[Thileepan]] died during a hunger strike directed at the Indian government after it had failed to meet his demands; and on 5 October 12 LTTE cadres detained by the Sri Lankan Navy [[1987 Suicide of Tamil Tigers|committed suicide]] when the Sri Lankan Army attempted to take them to Colombo for interrogation after the IPKF refused to intervene and secure their release under the accord. Major General [[Harkirat Singh (general)|Harkirat Singh]] [[Jyotindra Nath Dixit|J.N.Dixit]] and [[Depinder Singh]] were against handing over the LTTE cadres to the Sri Lankan Army but due to orders from New Delhi they agreed. The LTTE walked out of the accord after the mass suicide. [[Harkirat Singh (general)|Harkirat Singh]] blamed the diplomats and the Army headquarters for the turn of events leading to the conflict.<ref name="Singh 2002 p.">{{cite book | last=Singh | first=D. | title=The IPKF in Sri Lanka | publisher=Trishul Publications | year=2002 | isbn=978-81-85384-05-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5mRuAAAAMAAJ | access-date=17 Apr 2023 | page=83 | archive-date=28 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528024753/https://books.google.com/books?id=5mRuAAAAMAAJ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Tamil Nation & Beyond - தமிழ் தேசியம் 1987">{{cite web | title=Thileepan's Fast to Death - Jaffna - September 1987 | website=Tamil Nation & Beyond - தமிழ் தேசியம் | date=14 Nov 1987 | url=https://tamilnation.org/indictment/indict046.htm#a7 | access-date=17 Apr 2023}}</ref><ref name="Sangarasivam 2022 p. 195">{{cite book | last=Sangarasivam | first=Y. | title=Nationalism, Terrorism, Patriotism: A Speculative Ethnography of War | publisher=Springer International Publishing | year=2022 | isbn=978-3-030-82665-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UWZXEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA195 | access-date=17 Apr 2023 | page=195 | archive-date=28 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528024754/https://books.google.com/books?id=UWZXEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA195 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Singh 2007 p.">{{cite book | last=Singh | first=Harkirat | title=Intervention in Sri Lanka: The I.P.K.F. Experience Retold | publisher=Manohar Publishers & Distributors | year=2007 | isbn=978-81-7304-705-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7afAAAAMAAJ | access-date=16 Apr 2023 | page= | archive-date=28 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528024754/https://books.google.com/books?id=_7afAAAAMAAJ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Heynes 2016 p. 121">{{cite book | last=Heynes | first=S. | title=The Bleeding Island: Scars and Wounds | publisher=Partridge Publishing India | year=2016 | isbn=978-1-4828-7478-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OVEDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT121 | access-date=16 Apr 2023 | page=121 | archive-date=28 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528024753/https://books.google.com/books?id=_OVEDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT121 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Krishna 1999 p. 2-PA182">{{cite book | last=Krishna | first=S. | title=Postcolonial Insecurities: India, Sri Lanka, and the Question of Nationhood | publisher=University of Minnesota Press | series=Borderlines (Minneapolis, Minn.) | year=1999 | isbn=978-1-4529-0387-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Xq4GnaraYUC&pg=RA2-PA182 | access-date=16 Apr 2023 | page=2-PA182 | archive-date=28 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528024754/https://books.google.com/books?id=_Xq4GnaraYUC&pg=RA2-PA182 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NDTV.com 2019">{{cite web | title=LTTE Leaders Swallowed Cyanide Pills - And Everything Changed For India | website=NDTV.com | date=22 Feb 2019 | url=https://www.ndtv.com/book-excerpts/ltte-leaders-swallowed-cyanide-pills-and-everything-changed-for-india-1661795 | access-date=17 Apr 2023 | archive-date=17 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417052024/https://www.ndtv.com/book-excerpts/ltte-leaders-swallowed-cyanide-pills-and-everything-changed-for-india-1661795 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rediff.com 1987">{{cite web | title=Rediff On The NeT: J N Dixit reveals the genesis of LTTE chief Prabhakaran's antagonism for India | website=Rediff.com | date=6 Oct 1987 | url=https://www.rediff.com/news/nov/04dixi10.htm | access-date=17 Apr 2023 | archive-date=22 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422011502/https://www.rediff.com/news/nov/04dixi10.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

Thus LTTE engaged in military conflict with the Indian Army, and launched its first attack on an Indian army rations truck on 8 October, killing five Indian para-commandos who were on board by strapping [[Necklacing|burning tire]]s around their necks. The government of India stated that the IPKF should disarm the LTTE by force.<ref name="cw-eb100">{{Cite book |last=O'Ballance |first=Edgar |title=The Cyanide War: Tamil Insurrection in Sri Lanka 1973–88 |publisher=Brassey's |year=1989 |isbn=978-0-08-036695-1 |location=London |page=100}}</ref> The Indian Army launched assaults on the LTTE, including a month-long campaign, ''[[Operation Pawan]]'' to win control of the Jaffna Peninsula. The ruthlessness of this campaign, and the Indian army's subsequent anti-LTTE operations, which included [[Jaffna hospital massacre|civilian massacres]] and [[Sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka#IPKF period|rapes]] made it extremely unpopular among many Tamils in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chattopadhyaya |first=Haraprasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MRU6QKPBTFQC&pg=PA112 |title=Ethnic Unrest in Modern Sri Lanka: An Account of Tamil-Sinhalese Race Relations |date=1994 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=978-81-85880-52-5 |pages=112–113 |language=en}}</ref>

====Premadasa government support====
The Indian intervention was also unpopular among the Sinhalese majority. Prime Minister [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] pledged to withdraw IPKF as soon as he was elected president during his presidential election campaign in 1988. After being elected, in April 1989, he started negotiations with LTTE. President Premadasa ordered the [[Sri Lanka Army]] to clandestinely hand over arms consignments to the LTTE to fight the IPKF and its proxy, the Tamil National Army (TNA). These consignments included RPGs, mortars, self-loading rifles, [[Type 81 assault rifle]], [[Type 56 assault rifle|T56 automatic rifles]], [[pistol]]s, [[hand grenades]], ammunition, and communications sets.<ref name="atimesd">{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DH31Df01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020917085415/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DH31Df01.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=17 September 2002|work=Asia Times|title=Chapter 55: Assassination of Athulathmudali|access-date=28 July 2011}}</ref> Moreover, millions of dollars were also passed on to the LTTE.<ref name="lankal">{{cite web|url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=690|publisher=Lanka Library|title=Arming the enemy – Handing over arms to the LTTE|access-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402142915/http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=690|archive-date=2 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===After IPKF===
The last members of the IPKF, which was estimated to have had a strength of well over 100,000 at its peak, left the country in March 1990 upon the request of President Premadasa. Unstable 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. A ceasefire held between LTTE and the government from June 1989 to June 1990, but broke down as LTTE [[1990 massacre of Sri Lankan Police officers|massacred 600 police officers]] in the [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|Eastern Province]].<ref name="at">{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DF15Df01.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020917071933/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DF15Df01.html|url-status=dead |archive-date=17 September 2002|title=Sri Lanka: The Untold Story, Chapter 44: Eelam war – again|access-date=28 July 2011|year=2002|author=K. T. Rajasingham|work=Asia Times}}</ref>

Fighting continued throughout the 1990s, and was marked by two key assassinations carried out by the LTTE: those of former Indian Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]] in 1991, and Sri Lankan President [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] in 1993, using suicide bombers on both occasions. The fighting briefly halted in 1994 following the election of [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]] as President of Sri Lanka and the onset of peace talks, but fighting resumed after LTTE [[Bombing of SLNS Sooraya and SLNS Ranasuru|sacked two SLN gunboats]] on 19 April 1995.<ref name="ips-peace">{{cite web|title=A Look at the Peace Negotiations |publisher=Inter Press Service |year=2003 |url=http://ipsnews.net/srilanka/timeline.shtml |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203234416/http://ipsnews.net/srilanka/timeline.shtml |archive-date=3 February 2009 }}</ref> In a series of military operations that followed, the [[Sri Lanka Armed Forces]] recaptured the Jaffna Peninsula.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/5/newsid_4618000/4618661.stm|title=Jaffna falls to Sri Lankan army|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|date=5 December 1995|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=26 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126171717/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/5/newsid_4618000/4618661.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Further offensives followed over the next three years, and the military captured large areas in the north of the country from the LTTE, including areas in the [[Vanni region]], the town of [[Kilinochchi]], and many smaller towns. From 1998 onward, the LTTE regained control of these areas, which culminated in the capture in April 2000 of the strategically important [[Elephant Pass]] base complex, located at the entrance of the Jaffna Peninsula, 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|access-date=9 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071017211759/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1709/17091240.htm|archive-date=17 October 2007}}</ref>

[[Mahattaya]], a one-time deputy leader of LTTE, was accused of treason by the LTTE and killed in 1994.<ref>[http://www.infolanka.com/org/srilanka/issues/AI(96).html AI 1996 Annual Report – Sri Lanka entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231012111/http://infolanka.com/org/srilanka/issues/AI(96).html |date=31 December 2009 }}.</ref> He is said to have collaborated with the Indian [[Research and Analysis Wing]] to remove Prabhakaran from the LTTE leadership.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sangam.org/PIRABAKARAN/Part22.htm |title=The Pirabhakaran Phenomenon Part 22 |publisher=Sangam.org |access-date=31 January 2013 |archive-date=23 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523101317/http://www.sangam.org/PIRABAKARAN/Part22.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2002 ceasefire===
[[File:LTTE bike platoon north of Killinochini may 2004.jpg|thumb|left|An LTTE [[bicycle infantry]] [[platoon]] north of [[Kilinochchi]] in 2004]]

In 2002, the LTTE dropped its demand for a separate state,<ref name="dawn1">{{cite news|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2002/09/19/int1.htm|title=LTTE drops demand for separate state|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]]|date=19 September 2002|access-date=5 May 2012|last=Bulathsinghala|first=Frances|location=Thailand}}</ref> instead demanding a form of regional autonomy.<ref>{{Cite book|title=At Any Cost: National Liberation Terrorism|author=Samuel M. Katz|year=2004|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|isbn=978-0-8225-0949-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TEY_drrYRWsC&q=%22ltte%22%22regional+autonomy%22&pg=PT52}}</ref> Following the landslide election defeat of Kumaratunga and [[Ranil Wickramasinghe]] coming to power in December 2001, the LTTE declared a unilateral ceasefire.<ref name=unilateral>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/25/stories/2004122504691200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227095400/http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/25/stories/2004122504691200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 December 2004|title=LTTE for talks|access-date=20 April 2008|last=V.S.|first=Sambandan|date=25 December 2004|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The Sri Lankan Government agreed to the ceasefire, and in March 2002 the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) was signed. As part of the agreement, Norway and other [[Nordic countries]] agreed to jointly monitor the ceasefire through the [[Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission]].<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/27/slanka9153.htm Sri Lanka: New Killings Threaten Ceasefire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918133854/http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/27/slanka9153.htm |date=18 September 2008 }}, ''Human Rights Watch'', 28 July 2004.</ref>

Six rounds of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE were held, but they were temporarily suspended after the LTTE pulled out of the talks in 2003 claiming "certain critical issues relating to the ongoing peace process".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2216.cms |title=Lankan PM calls LTTE to end talk deadlock |newspaper=The Times of India |date=2 June 2003 |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113165032/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2216.cms |archive-date=13 January 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2003/04/27/bus01.html|title=Business community urges LTTE to get back to negotiating table|date=27 April 2003|publisher=The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon|work=Sunday Observer|access-date=9 February 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211060420/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2003/04/27/bus01.html|archive-date=11 February 2009}}</ref> In 2003 the LTTE proposed an [[Interim Self Governing Authority|Interim Self-Governing Authority]] (ISGA). This move was approved of by the international community but rejected by the Sri Lankan President.<ref name= "McConnell2008">{{Cite journal|last=McConnell|first=D.|year=2008|title=The Tamil people's right to self-determination|journal=Cambridge Review of International Affairs|volume=21|issue=1|pages=59–76|url=http://www.informaworld.com/index/790622093.pdf|access-date=25 March 2008|doi=10.1080/09557570701828592|s2cid=154770852}}</ref> The LTTE boycotted the presidential election in December 2005. While LTTE claimed that the people under its control were free to vote, it is alleged that they used threats to prevent the population from voting. The United States condemned this.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/highlights/story/2005/11/051122_ltte_boycott.shtml|title=LTTE supported Rajapakse presidency?|last=Pathirana|first=Saroj|date=23 November 2005|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=27 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427173003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/highlights/story/2005/11/051122_ltte_boycott.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Amma-4--maveerarnaal-2002.jpg|thumb|A mother of a dead LTTE cadre raises the [[Flag of Tamil Eelam|Tamil Eelam flag]] on [[Maaveerar Naal]] 2002 in Germany]]
The new government of Sri Lanka came into power in 2006 and demanded to abrogate the ceasefire agreement, stating that the ethnic conflict could only have a military solution, and that the only way to achieve this was by eliminating the LTTE.<ref>[[R. Cheran]] (April 2009) ''[https://archive.today/20120715115421/http://therealnews.com/id/3549/April 9, 2009/UN+calls+for+ceasefire+fire+in+Sri+Lanka UN calls for ceasefire fire in Sri Lanka]'' at ''[[The Real News]]''</ref> Further peace talks were scheduled in [[Oslo]], Norway, on 8 and 9 June 2006, but cancelled when the LTTE refused to meet directly with the government delegation, stating its fighters were not being 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|last=Pathirana|first=Saroj|work=BBC News|agency=BBC News|date=9 June 2006|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=15 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115000005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/06/060609_saroj-oslo.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Rifts grew between the government and LTTE, and resulted in a number of ceasefire agreement violations by both sides during 2006. Suicide attacks,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm+condemns+suicide+bomb+attack+sri+lanka|title=PM condemns suicide bomb attack in Sri Lanka|date=17 October 2006|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114035727/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm+condemns+suicide+bomb+attack+sri+lanka|archive-date=14 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> military skirmishes, and air raids took place during the latter part of 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail5671.htm|title=Military Launches Airstrike Against LTTE After Suicide Bombing in Sri Lanka|publisher=Global Insight|year=2007|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=1 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601184134/http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail5671.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4941744.stm|title=Bomb targets Sri Lanka army chief|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|date=25 April 2006|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=30 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930114505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4941744.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Between February 2002 to May 2007, the [[Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission]] documented 3,830 ceasefire violations by the LTTE, with respect to 351 by the security forces.<ref name="rep">{{cite web|title=Humanitarian Operation – Factual Analysis, July 2006 – May 2009 |url=http://www.defence.lk/news/20110801_Conf.pdf |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)]] |date=1 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055103/https://www.defence.lk/news/20110801_Conf.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> Military confrontation continued into 2007 and 2008. In January 2008 the government officially pulled out of the Cease Fire Agreement.<ref name="afp">{{Cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/archives/news/world/20080102-sri-lanka-tamil-tiger-cease-fire-end.php |title=Government ends ceasefire with Tamil Tigers |publisher=France 24 |work=France 24 International News |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=2 January 2008 |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207001924/http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/archives/news/world/20080102-sri-lanka-tamil-tiger-cease-fire-end.php |archive-date=7 February 2009 }}</ref>

===Dissension===
{{See also|Colonel Karuna}}
In the most significant show of dissent from within the organisation, a senior LTTE commander named [[Colonel Karuna]] (''[[nom de guerre]]'' of Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan) broke away from the LTTE in March 2004 and formed the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (later [[Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal]]), amid allegations that the northern commanders were overlooking the needs of the eastern Tamils. The LTTE leadership accused him of mishandling funds and questioned him about his recent personal behaviour. He tried to take control of the eastern province from the LTTE, which caused clashes between the LTTE and TMVP. The LTTE suggested that TMVP was backed by the government,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=11391|title=Karuna removed from the LTTE|date=6 March 2004|publisher=TamilNet report|access-date=7 October 2008|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701071431/https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=11391|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Nordic SLMM monitors 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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928114856/http://www.slmm.lk/intros/FINAL%20GENEVA%20REPORT%20AFTER%20CORRECTIONS%20ON%201st%20of%20JUNE.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2006 }}</ref> It was later revealed that UNP Member of Parliament [[Seyed Ali Zahir Moulana]] had played an important role in the defection of Colonel Karuna from the LTTE to the Government.<ref>{{cite web|title = Online edition of Sunday Observer – Business|url = https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/06/27/fea09.html|website = www.sundayobserver.lk|access-date = 9 November 2015|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924120715/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/06/27/fea09.html|archive-date = 24 September 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

===Military defeat===
{{Main|Eelam War IV}}

[[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] was [[2005 Sri Lankan presidential election|elected as the president of Sri Lanka]] in 2005. After a brief period of negotiations, LTTE pulled out of peace talks indefinitely.<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|publisher=BBCNews|date=23 April 2006|access-date=28 July 2011|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114105913/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2006/04/printable/060423_eu_ban.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Sporadic violence had continued and on 25 April 2006, LTTE tried to assassinate Sri Lankan Army Commander [[Lieutenant General]] [[Sarath Fonseka]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4941744.stm|title=Bomb targets Sri Lanka army chief|work=BBC News|date=25 April 2006|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-date=30 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930114505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4941744.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the attack, the [[European Union]] proscribed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.<ref name="hindu1">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/31/stories/2006053117200100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060601100958/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/31/stories/2006053117200100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2006|title=European Union bans LTTE|date=31 May 2006|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> A new crisis leading to the first large-scale fighting since signing of the ceasefire occurred when the LTTE closed the [[sluice gate]]s of the Mavil Oya ([[Mavil Aru]]) reservoir on 21 July 2006, and cut the [[water supply]] to 15,000 villages in government controlled areas.<ref name="bbc12">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5249884.stm|title=Sri Lanka forces attack reservoir|work=BBC News|date=6 August 2006|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416231229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5249884.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This dispute developed into a full-scale war by August 2006.

After the breakdown of the peace process in 2006, the Sri Lankan military launched a major offensive against the Tigers, defeating the LTTE militarily and bringing the entire country under its control. Human rights groups criticised the nature of the victory which included the internment of Tamil civilians in [[Internment|concentration]] camps with little or no access to outside agencies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/13/tamils-camps-sri-lanka|title=Harassed Tamils languish in prison-like camps in Sri Lanka|last=Ramesh|first=Randeep|date=13 September 2009|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 July 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701103442/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/13/tamils-camps-sri-lanka|url-status=live}}</ref> Victory over the Tigers was declared by Sri Lankan President [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] on 16 May 2009,<ref name="st-end">{{Cite news|title=President to announce end of war|date=17 May 2009|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090517/News/sundaytimesnews_01.html|work=Times Online|access-date=16 May 2009|archive-date=20 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520145117/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090517/News/sundaytimesnews_01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the LTTE admitted defeat on 17 May 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25496902-401,00.html |title=''Tamil Tigers'' admit defeat in civil war after 37-year battle |publisher=News.com.au |date=17 May 2009 |access-date=17 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519011848/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C27574%2C25496902-401%2C00.html |archive-date=19 May 2009 }}</ref> Prabhakaran was killed by government forces on 19 May 2009. [[Selvarasa Pathmanathan]] succeeded Prabhakaran as leader of the LTTE, but he was later arrested in Malaysia and handed over to the Sri Lankan government in August 2009.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/09/stories/2009080952680900.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811045105/http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/09/stories/2009080952680900.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2009|title='Operation KP': the dramatic capture and after|first=D.B.S.|last=Jeyaraj|location=Chennai, India|date=9 August 2009}}</ref>

====Defeat in the East====
{{main|Eastern Theatre of Eelam War IV}}
[[Eelam War IV]] had commenced in the East. Mavil Aru came under the control of the Sri Lanka Army by 15 August 2006. Systematically, [[Sampoor]], [[Vakarai (Sri Lanka)|Vakarai]], Kanjikudichchi Aru and [[Batticaloa]] also came under military control. The military then captured Thoppigala, the Tiger stronghold in [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|Eastern Province]] on 11 July 2007. [[IPKF]] had failed to capture it from LTTE during its offensive in 1988.<ref name="Baron's cap battle-2007-07-11">{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka declares fall of rebel east, Tigers defiant|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSCOL15933520070711|access-date=11 July 2007|date=11 July 2007|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213849/https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSCOL15933520070711|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Defeat in the North====
{{main|2008–2009 SLA Northern offensive|Northern Theatre of Eelam War IV}}
Sporadic fighting had been happening in the North for months, but the intensity of the clashes increased after September 2007. Gradually, the defence lines of the LTTE began to fall. The advancing military confined the LTTE into rapidly diminishing areas in the North. Earlier, on 2 November 2007, [[S. P. Thamilselvan]], who was the head of the rebels' political wing, was killed during another government air raid.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7074450.stm|title=Senior Tamil Tiger leader killed|work=BBC News|date=2 November 2007|access-date=31 December 2007|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7074450.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 January 2008, the Sri Lankan government officially abandoned the ceasefire agreement. By 2 August 2008, LTTE lost the [[Mannar District]] following the fall of Vellankulam town. Troops captured [[Pooneryn]] and [[Maankulam (Sri Lanka)|Mankulam]] during the final months of 2008.

On 2 January 2009, the President of Sri Lanka, [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]], announced that the Sri Lankan troops had captured [[Kilinochchi]], the city which the LTTE had used for over a decade as its de facto administrative capital.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010357740100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124013634/http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010357740100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2009|title=Kilinochchi captured in devastating blow to LTTE|last=Reddy|first=B. Muralidhar|date=3 January 2009|access-date=9 February 2009|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref name=xinhuanet-10596928>{{Cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/03/content_10596928.htm|title=The fall of rebel headquarters: what does it hold for Sri Lanka?|date=3 January 2009|author=Mahendra|publisher=Xinhuanet|agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|access-date=9 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604103501/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/03/content_10596928.htm|archive-date=4 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/02/world/AP-AS-Sri-Lanka-Civil-War.html?_r=1 |title=Sri Lanka Says Troops Have Rebel Capital |date=2 January 2009 |newspaper=New York Times |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=9 February 2009 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> On the same day, President Rajapaksa called upon LTTE to surrender.<ref name="rep"/> It was stated that the loss of Kilinochchi had caused substantial damage to the LTTE's public image,<ref name=xinhuanet-10596928/> and that the LTTE was likely to collapse under military pressure on multiple fronts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.island.lk/2009/01/03/editorial.html|title=Editorial: A blow to global terror|publisher=Upali Newspapers|work=The Island Online|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=24 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624062509/http://www.island.lk/2009/01/03/editorial.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 8 January 2009, the LTTE abandoned its positions on the Jaffna peninsula to make a last stand in the jungles of [[Mullaitivu]], their last main base.<ref name="mod-bbc-01/08/09">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7817110.stm|title=Army 'takes more Tiger territory'|date=8 January 2009|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|access-date=8 January 2009|archive-date=8 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108095006/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7817110.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The Jaffna Peninsula was captured by the Sri Lankan Army by 14 January.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aehebYR1I8gI&refer=india|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721035858/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aehebYR1I8gI&refer=india|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 July 2012|title=Sri Lankan Military Seizes Last Rebel Base on Jaffna Peninsula|last=Johnson|first=Ed|date=14 January 2009|publisher=Bloomberg|agency=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|access-date=9 February 2009}}</ref> On 25 January 2009, SLA troops "completely captured" Mullaitivu town, the last major LTTE stronghold.<ref name="mod-bbc-01/25/09">{{cite news|title=Last Tamil Tiger bastion 'taken'|date=25 January 2009|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7849684.stm|access-date=25 January 2009|archive-date=25 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125205609/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7849684.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

President [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] declared military victory over the Tamil Tigers on 16 May 2009, after 26 years of conflict.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8053542.stm Sri Lanka army 'defeats rebels'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523142300/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8053542.stm |date=23 May 2009 }}, [[BBC]], 16 May 2009</ref> The rebels offered to lay down their weapons in return for a guarantee of safety.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6301821.ece Fears of mass suicide as Tamil Tigers face final defeat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519195308/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6301821.ece |date=19 May 2009 }}, [[The Times]], 17 May 2009</ref> On 17 May 2009, LTTE's head of the Department of International Relations, [[Selvarasa Pathmanathan]] conceded defeat, saying in an email statement, "this battle has reached its bitter end".

====Aftermath====
With the end of the hostilities, 11,664 LTTE members, including 595 [[Child soldiers in Sri Lanka|child soldiers]] surrendered to the Sri Lankan military.<ref name="obsys">{{cite web|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2011/06/05/sec03.asp|title=Sri Lankan experience proves nothing is impossible|publisher=The Sunday Observer|date=5 June 2011|access-date=5 June 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608160932/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2011/06/05/sec03.asp|archive-date=8 June 2011}}</ref> Approximately 150 hardcore LTTE cadres and 1,000 mid-level cadres escaped to India.<ref name="meht">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/364741/Colombo-recalls-splendid-victory.html|title=Colombo recalls splendid victory|publisher=The Pioneer|date=31 August 2011|access-date=31 August 2011|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701111857/https://www.dailypioneer.com/364741/Colombo-recalls-splendid-victory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The government detained surrendered cadres for "rehabilitation" under a National Action Plan for the Re-integration of Ex-combatants while allegations of torture, rape and murder of detainees were reported by international human rights bodies.<ref name="hrw1">{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2010/02/02/legal-limbo-0|title=The Uncertain Fate of Detained LTTE Suspects in Sri Lanka|publisher=Human rights Watch|date=3 February 2010|access-date=3 February 2010|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626100141/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2010/02/02/legal-limbo-0|url-status=dead}}</ref> They were divided into three categories; hardcore, non-combatants, and those who were forcibly recruited (including child soldiers). Twenty-four rehabilitation centres were set up in Jaffna, Batticaloa, and Vavuniya. Among the apprehended cadres, there had been about 700 hardcore members. Some of these cadres were integrated into the [[State Intelligence Service (Sri Lanka)|State Intelligence Service]] to tackle the internal and external networks of LTTE.<ref name="obshgd">{{cite web|url=http://www.sangam.org/2011/03/Surrendered_Cadres.php?uid=4299&print=true|title=Sri Lanka "Taming The Tigers"|publisher=Sangam.org|date=March 2011|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629134523/https://www.sangam.org/2011/03/Surrendered_Cadres.php?uid=4299&print=true|url-status=live}}</ref> By August 2011, the government had released more than 8,000 cadres, and 2,879 remained.<ref name="dm1">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/12840-rehabilitation-in-final-stages.html|title=Rehabilitation in final stages|newspaper=Daily Mirror|date=8 August 2011|access-date=9 August 2011|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629084218/https://www.dailymirror.lk/news/12840-rehabilitation-in-final-stages.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Continued operations===
After the death of LTTE leader Prabhakaran and the most powerful members of the organisation, Selvarasa Pathmanathan (alias ''KP'') was its sole first generation leader left alive. He assumed duty as the new leader of LTTE on 21 July 2009. A statement was issued, allegedly from the executive committee of the LTTE, stating that Pathmanathan had been appointed leader of the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web|title=New political formation of LTTE claimed|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29822|publisher=[[TamilNet]]|date=21 July 2009|access-date=26 July 2009|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701030605/https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29822|url-status=live}}</ref> 15 days after the announcement, on 5 August 2009, a Sri Lankan military intelligence unit, with the collaboration of local authorities, captured Pathmanathan in the [[Tune Hotels#Malaysia|Tune Hotel]], in downtown [[Kuala Lumpur]], Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web|title=LTTE New Leader Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) arrested in Malaysia and transported to Sri Lanka|url=http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/2352/37/|publisher=Tamil Sydney|date=6 August 2009|access-date=28 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929151057/http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/2352/37/|archive-date=29 September 2011}}</ref> [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence]] alleges that [[Perinpanayagam Sivaparan]] ''alias'' Nediyavan of the Tamil Eelam People's Alliance (TEPA) in [[Norway]], Suren Surendiran of [[British Tamils Forum]] (BTF), Father [[S. J. Emmanuel]] of [[Global Tamil Forum]] (GTF), [[Visvanathan Rudrakumaran]] of [[Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam]] (TGTE) and Sekarapillai Vinayagamoorthy ''alias'' Kathirgamathamby Arivazhagan ''alias'' Vinayagam, a former senior intelligence leader are trying to revive the organisation among the [[Tamil diaspora]].<ref name="lakabim">{{cite web|url=http://www.lakbimanews.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2028%3Altte-international-presents-an-enduring-threat&Itemid=56|title=LTTE international presents an enduring threat|date=July 2011|publisher=Lakbima News|access-date=29 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919120831/http://www.lakbimanews.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2028%3Altte-international-presents-an-enduring-threat&Itemid=56|archive-date=19 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="satpo">{{cite web|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/terroristoutfits/Ltte.htm|title=Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)|date=May 2002|publisher=satp.org|access-date=28 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807013015/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/terroristoutfits/Ltte.htm|archive-date=7 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="LA">{{cite news|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110801_LAUvdo |title=Lies Agreed Upon |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence]] |date=1 August 2011 |access-date=28 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124032704/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110801_LAUvdo |archive-date=24 November 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyawan|url=http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2009/08/14/nediyawan-rumoured-to-be-the-next-ltte-leader-is-questioned-by-norwegian-police-says-tamil-website-in-london/|date=14 August 2009|access-date=28 July 2011|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416234733/http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2009/08/14/nediyawan-rumoured-to-be-the-next-ltte-leader-is-questioned-by-norwegian-police-says-tamil-website-in-london/|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, in May 2011, Nediyavan, who advocates an armed struggle against the Sri Lankan state, was arrested and released on bail in Norway, pending further investigation.<ref name="lankap">{{cite web|url=http://www.lankapuvath.lk/index.php/latest-news/general1/15468-lttes-nediyavan-released-on-bail-in-norway |title=LTTE's Nediyavan released on bail in Norway |date=May 2011 |publisher=Lanka Puvath |access-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005020332/http://www.lankapuvath.lk/index.php/latest-news/general1/15468-lttes-nediyavan-released-on-bail-in-norway |archive-date=5 October 2011 }}</ref>

==Divisions==
{{Main|Divisions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}
[[File:Tamil Tiger women at war.jpg|thumb|left|LTTE women's wing marching in a parade.]]

The LTTE was viewed as a disciplined and militarised group with a leader of a significant military and organisational skills.<ref name=wilson/> Three major divisions of the LTTE were the military, intelligence, and political wings.

The military wing consisted of at least 11 separate divisions including the conventional fighting forces, [[Charles Anthony Brigade|Charles Anthony Regiment]] and [[Jeyanthan Brigade|Jeyanthan Regiment]]; the [[suicide attack|suicide wing]] called the [[Black Tigers]]; naval wing [[Sea Tigers]], air-wing [[Air Tigers]], LTTE leader Prabhakaran's personal security divisions, Imran Pandian regiment and Ratha regiment;<ref name="lankawatch">{{cite news|title=For This All that Blood was Shed|url=http://srilankawatch.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=1|work=Sri Lanka Watch|date=13 April 2009|access-date=31 July 2011|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416222231/http://srilankawatch.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=1|url-status=live}}</ref> auxiliary military units such as Kittu artillery brigade, Kutti Sri mortar brigade, Ponnamman mining unit and hit-and-run squads like Pistol gang. Charles Anthony brigade was the first conventional fighting formation created by LTTE. The Sea Tiger division was founded in 1984, under the leadership of [[Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan]] ''alias'' Soosai. LTTE acquired its first [[light aircraft]] in the late 1990s. [[Vaithilingam Sornalingam]] ''alias'' Shankar was instrumental in creating the Air Tigers.<ref name="Tamil 2391">[http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=2391 Tiger Air Wing participates in celebrations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429105859/https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=2391 |date=29 April 2021 }}. [[TamilNet]], 28 November 1998.</ref><ref name="Tamil 2388">[http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=2388 Tigers confirm Air wing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523161540/http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=2388 |date=23 May 2011 }}. [[TamilNet]], 27 November 1998.</ref> It carried out nine air attacks since 2007, including a [[2009 suicide air raid on Colombo|suicide air raid]] targeting [[Sri Lanka Air Force]] [[SLAF Colombo|headquarters, Colombo]] in February 2009. LTTE was the only rebel organisation to have an air force.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Tamil Tigers may be second richest rebel group worldwide|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/OQWWOS6DFlqcBV8Ov4gM5H/Tamil-Tigers-may-be-second-richest-rebel-group-worldwide.html|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=25 July 2007|website=Livemint|language=en|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701103442/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/OQWWOS6DFlqcBV8Ov4gM5H/Tamil-Tigers-may-be-second-richest-rebel-group-worldwide.html|url-status=live}}</ref> LTTE intelligence wing consisted of Tiger Organisation Security Intelligence Service ''aka'' TOSIS, run by Pottu Amman, and a separate military intelligence division. The LTTE cadres were required to follow a strict code of conduct which included prohibition on smoking and consumption of alcohol, with sexual relationships also being regulated. Each member carried a cyanide capsule to commit suicide in case of capture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Malešević |first=Siniša |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E0t6EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA92 |title=Why Humans Fight |date=2022-10-06 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-009-16279-1 |pages=92–93 |language=en |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701202112/https://books.google.com/books?id=E0t6EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA92 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{|  style="text-align:center; float:right; font-size:85%; margin-left:2em; margin:auto;"  class="wikitable"
|+ Aircraft that had been in LTTE possession<ref name="rep"/> by 2006
!Type of Aircraft !! Quantity
|-
![[Ultralight aviation#Types|Microlight aircraft]]
|2
|-
![[Zlín Z 43|Zlín Z 143]]
|5
|-
![[Helicopter]]s
|2
|-
![[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s
|2
|}

The LTTE operated a systematic and powerful political wing, which functioned like a separate state in the LTTE controlled area. In 1989, it established a political party named [[People's Front of Liberation Tigers]], under [[Gopalaswamy Mahendraraja]] ''alias'' Mahattaya. It was abandoned soon after. Later, [[S. P. Thamilselvan]] was appointed the head of the political wing. He was also a member of the LTTE delegation for Norwegian brokered peace talks. After the death of Thamilselvan in November 2007, [[Balasingham Nadesan]] was appointed as its leader.<ref name="chen">{{cite news|title=Nadesan to head LTTE political wing |url=http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=8b48a16c-65fa-4aae-8105-92ecc39aafa7&CATEGORYNAME=NATL |work=Chennai Online |date=November 2007 |access-date=31 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005155608/http://news.chennaionline.com/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=8b48a16c-65fa-4aae-8105-92ecc39aafa7&CATEGORYNAME=NATL |archive-date= 5 October 2011 }}</ref> Major sections within the political wing include International peace secretariat, led by Pulidevan, LTTE Police, LTTE court, [[Bank of Tamil Eelam]], Sports division and the "Voice of Tigers" [[radio broadcasting]] station of LTTE.

LTTE used female cadres for military engagements. Its women's wing consisted of Malathi and Sothiya Brigades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/18053|title=How the LTTE was destroyed and power grab for the international network {{!}} Asian Tribune|website=asiantribune.com|language=en|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629030601/http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/18053|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{See also|Interim Self-Governing Authority}}
[[File:Kilinochchi court of de-facto State Tamil Eelam.jpg|left|thumb|[[Kilinochchi District]] court in LTTE-administered [[Tamil Eelam]]]]

During its active years, the LTTE had established and administered a de facto state under its control, named [[Tamil Eelam]] with [[Kilinochchi]] as its administrative capital, and had managed a government in its territory, providing [[state function]]s such as courts, a police force, a human rights organisation, and a humanitarian assistance board,<ref name=Stokke2006>{{cite journal|last = Stokke|first = K.|year = 2006|title = Building the Tamil Eelam State: emerging state institutions and forms of governance in LTTE-controlled areas in Sri Lanka|journal = Third World Quarterly|volume = 27|issue = 6|pages = 1021–1040|doi = 10.1080/01436590600850434|url = http://padippakam.com/document/ltte/General/v100636.pdf|citeseerx = 10.1.1.466.5940|s2cid = 45544298|access-date = 25 October 2017|archive-date = 22 September 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170922005956/http://padippakam.com/document/ltte/General/v100636.pdf|url-status = live}}</ref> a health board, and an education board.<ref name="McConnell2008"/> However, the court system, composed of young judges with little or no legal training had operated without codified or defined legal authority, and essentially operated as agents of the LTTE rather than as an independent judiciary.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=1996 Human Rights Report: Sri Lanka |url=https://1997-2001.state.gov/global/human_rights/1996_hrp_report/srilanka.html |website=1997-2001.state.gov |access-date=19 December 2021 |archive-date=19 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219200055/https://1997-2001.state.gov/global/human_rights/1996_hrp_report/srilanka.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It ran a bank ([[Bank of Tamil Eelam]]), a radio station (Voice of Tigers) and a television station (National Television of Tamil Eelam).<ref name=Ranganathan2002>{{cite journal|last = Ranganathan | first = M.|year = 2002|title = Nurturing a Nation on the Net: The Case of Tamil Eelam|journal = Nationalism and Ethnic Politics|volume = 8|issue = 2|pages = 51–66|doi=10.1080/13537110208428661 |s2cid = 144811729}}</ref> In the LTTE-controlled areas, women reported lower levels of domestic violence because "the Tigers had a de facto justice system to deal with domestic violence."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/rahila-gupta/sri-lanka-women-in-conflict|title=Sri Lanka: women in conflict|website=[[openDemocracy]]|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=12 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412083447/https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/rahila-gupta/sri-lanka-women-in-conflict|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[United States Department of State]] described LTTE's governance as an "authoritarian military rule" that violated civil liberties and discriminated against minorities.<ref name="auto"/>

In 2003, the LTTE issued a proposal to establish an [[Interim Self Governing Authority|Interim Self-Governing Authority]] in the eight districts of the North and East which it controlled. The ISGA was to be entrusted with powers such as the right to impose law, collect taxes and oversee the rehabilitation process until a favourable solution was reached after which elections would be held. The ISGA would consist of members representing the LTTE, GoSL and the [[Sri Lankan Moors|Muslim]] community. According to the proposal, this LTTE administration intended to be a [[secularism|secular]] one with principal emphasis on prohibition of discrimination and protection of all communities.<ref name=":6" />

===Local perception and support===
Due to its military victories, policies, call for national [[self-determination]] and constructive [[Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism|Tamil nationalist]] platform, the LTTE was supported by major sections of the Tamil community.<ref name=wilson>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=A. J.|year=2000|title=Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism: Its Origins and Development in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries|publisher=C. Hurst & Co. Publishers|pages = 24,131–132| location=Sydney|isbn=978-1-85065-338-7|oclc=237448732}}</ref> Based on the survey of the Jaffna population by the BBC and Reuters journalists, a U.S. diplomatic cable from 1994 stated that support for the LTTE was fairly strong among the Jaffna population who admired the discipline of the LTTE's administrative service, and that majority of Jaffna residents would choose the LTTE over the Sri Lankan Army given the choice.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-12-27 |title=WikiLeaks: US On LTTE's Invocation Of The 'Eritrea' Mantra |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/wikileaks-us-on-lttes-invocation-of-the-eritrea-mantra/ |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US |archive-date=25 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625175730/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/wikileaks-us-on-lttes-invocation-of-the-eritrea-mantra/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the assessments by independent observers, the LTTE administration of justice gained "significant social acceptance", and its courts were broadly seen as "more efficient, less expensive, and less vulnerable to corruption than their Sri Lankan counterparts."<ref>{{Citation |last=Provost |first=René |title=Rebel Jurisdiction, Due Process, and Tamil Tiger Justice |date=2021-06-25 |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/39885/chapter/340095729 |work=Rebel Courts |pages=245, 247 |access-date=2023-06-25 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi= |isbn=978-0-19-091222-2}}</ref> The LTTE police force also had "a high degree of legitimacy" among Tamil civilians who viewed it as "an uncorrupt and important stabilizing factor in the region."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mampilly |first=Zachariah Cherian |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt7zfvj |title=Rebel Rulers: Insurgent Governance and Civilian Life during War |date=2011 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0-8014-4913-0 |edition=1 |pages=116 |jstor=10.7591/j.ctt7zfvj |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=25 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625221941/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt7zfvj |url-status=live }}</ref> A survey carried out by the Centre for Policy Alternatives in 2002 from a sample of 89 Sri Lankan Tamils found that 89% regarded the LTTE as their sole representatives.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://noolaham.net/project/28/2770/2770.pdf |title=Peace Confidence Index (PCI), Top-Line Results |date=November 2002 |publisher=Social Indicator |page=29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519132646/https://noolaham.net/project/28/2770/2770.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2021}}</ref> 

However, [[University Teachers for Human Rights|University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna)]], a local human rights NGO that has been [[University Teachers for Human Rights#Reception|accused of anti-LTTE bias]] by some critics, claimed that "by combination of internal terror and narrow nationalist ideology the LTTE succeeded in atomising the community. It took away not only the right to oppose but even the right to evaluate, as a community, the course they were taking. This gives a semblance of illusion that the whole society is behind the LTTE."<ref name="uthrj">{{cite web|url=http://www.uthr.org/history.htm|title=History of the Organisation|date=January 2000|publisher=The University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna)|access-date=30 June 2015|archive-date=13 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713034813/http://www.uthr.org/history.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> After meeting with the Tamil civil society in Jaffna in 2001, Jehan Perera, the executive director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, observed that fear was not the only factor that impelled civic groups in Jaffna to speak in favour of the LTTE but that the Jaffna people had recognized the LTTE's military strength and pragmatically accepted it as the main player in achieving a negotiated settlement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perera |first=Jehan |date=15 April 2001 |title=The Pragmatic Message from Jaffna |pages=19–20 |work=Tamil Times |url=https://noolaham.net/project/36/3600/3600.pdf#page=19 |access-date=17 April 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207112656/https://noolaham.net/project/36/3600/3600.pdf#page=19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Ideology==
The LTTE was a self-styled national liberation organisation with the primary goal of establishing an independent Tamil state. Tamil nationalism was the primary basis of its ideology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/250407-5.html |title=The American government's assessment of Prabhakaran |website=LankaWeb |access-date=11 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024141206/http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/ |archive-date=24 October 2007 }}</ref> LTTE claimed to strive for a [[Democracy|democratic]], [[secular]] state that is based on [[socialism]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Niels Terpstra & Georg Frerks |date=2017 |title=Rebel Governance and Legitimacy: Understanding the Impact of Rebel Legitimation on Civilian Compliance with the LTTE Rule |journal=Civil Wars |volume=19 |page=297 |doi=10.1080/13698249.2017.1393265 |doi-access=free |number=3}}</ref> Its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was influenced by Indian freedom fighters such as [[Subhas Chandra Bose]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/interview/in_199404/|title=Tamil National Leader Hon. V. Pirapaharan's Interview 'How I Became a Freedom Fighter' April 1994|website=eelamweb.com|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803235329/http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/interview/in_199404/|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The organisation denied being a separatist movement and saw itself as fighting for self-determination and restoration of sovereignty in what it recognised as [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamil]] homeland.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9AKqCT5DeZcC&pg=PA85|title=When Counterinsurgency Wins: Sri Lanka's Defeat of the Tamil Tigers|last=Hashim|first=Ahmed S.|date=28 May 2013|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn=978-0812206487|page=85|language=en}}</ref> Although most Tigers were Hindus, the LTTE was an avowedly secular organisation; religion did not play any significant part in its ideology.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/07/17/suicide-bombs-potent-tools-of-terrorists/e11ed483-9936-45c0-b6c6-2653d4519ff5/|title=Suicide Bombs Potent Tools of Terrorists|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=11 June 2016|date=17 July 2005|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114222436/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/07/17/suicide-bombs-potent-tools-of-terrorists/e11ed483-9936-45c0-b6c6-2653d4519ff5/|url-status=live}}</ref> Prabhakaran criticised what he saw as the oppressive features of traditional Hindu Tamil society, such as the [[caste system]] and [[gender inequality]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Velupillai Pirabaharan - Womens International Day 1992 |url=https://tamilnation.org/ltte/vp/messages_speeches/vp9203.htm |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=tamilnation.org}}</ref> The LTTE presented itself as a revolutionary movement seeking widespread change within Tamil society, not just independence from the Sri Lankan state. Therefore, its ideology called for the removal of caste discrimination and support for women's liberation.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rD2KEOqVV5MC&pg=PA126|title=Women and Political Violence: Female Combatants in Ethno-National Conflict|last=Alison|first=Miranda|date=21 January 2009|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134228942|page=126|language=en}}</ref> Prabhakaran described his political philosophy as "[[revolutionary socialism]]", with the goal of creating an "[[egalitarian society]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/interview/in_1986/|title=Tamil National Leader Hon. V. Pirapaharan's Interview|website=eelamweb.com|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803164100/http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/interview/in_1986/|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, by 2002 with the shift in geopolitical climate, Prabhakaran endorsed "open market economy", but he pointed out that the question about the proper economic system can be considered only after the ethnic problem had been solved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eelamview.com/2011/11/17/hon-v-prabhakaran-press-conference-at-killinochi-2002/|title=Hon. V. Pirabaharan: Press conference at Killinochi 2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406214016/http://www.eelamview.com/2011/11/17/hon-v-prabhakaran-press-conference-at-killinochi-2002/|archive-date=6 April 2016}}</ref>

==Global network==
{{see also|Affiliates to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}
LTTE had developed a large international network since the days of N. S. Krishnan, who served as its first international representative. In the late 1970s, TULF parliamentarian and opposition leader [[A. Amirthalingam]] provided letters of reference for fundraising, and [[V. N. Navaratnam]], who was an executive committee member of the [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]] (IPU), introduced many influential and wealthy Tamils living overseas to Tamil insurgent leaders.<ref name="rohang"/> Navaratnam also introduced LTTE members to the members of [[Polisario Front]], a national [[liberation movement]] in Morocco, at a meeting held in [[Oslo]], Norway.<ref name="rohang"/> In 1978, during the world tour of Amirthalingam (with London-based Eelam activist S. K. Vaikundavasan), he formed the World Tamil Coordinating Committee (WTCC), which was later found to be an LTTE front organisation.<ref name="tamilnation">{{cite web|url=http://tamilnation.co/terrorism/us/ltte/070425arrest.htm|title=World Tamil Coordinating Committee representative arrested in New York says U.S. Justice Department|date=December 2007|publisher=Tamil Nation|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306052359/http://tamilnation.co/terrorism/us/ltte/070425arrest.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The global contacts of LTTE grew steadily since then. At the height of its power, LTTE had 42 offices worldwide. The international network of LTTE engages in propaganda, fundraising, arms procurement, and shipping.<ref name="Transcript- Rohan Gunaratne"/>

There were three types of organisations that engage in propaganda and fund raising—Front, Cover, and Sympathetic. Prior to the ethnic riots of 1983, attempts to raise funds for a sustaining military campaign were not realised. It was the mass exodus of Tamil civilians to India and western countries following the [[Black July]] ethnic riots, which made this possible. As the armed conflict evolved and voluntary donations lessened, LTTE used force and threats to collect money.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sangam.org/NEWSEXTRA/ExtortionClaims.htm|title=Tamil Canadians Dismiss Extortion Claims|publisher=sangam.org|date=27 August 1999|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701072212/https://www.sangam.org/NEWSEXTRA/ExtortionClaims.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11A/May24_1306259966CH.php|title=Dutch authorities seek permission to question KP and other former LTTE leaders in Sri Lanka|publisher=Colombo Page|date=24 May 2011|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-date=18 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818213028/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11A/May24_1306259966CH.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> LTTE was worth US$200–300 million at its peak.<ref name="lakabim"/><ref name="icg1">{{cite web|url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/186%20The%20Sri%20Lankan%20Tamil%20Diaspora%20after%20the%20LTTE.pdf|title=The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora After the LTTE|date=February 2010|publisher=[[International Crisis Group]]|access-date=24 August 2011|archive-date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520100753/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/186%20The%20Sri%20Lankan%20Tamil%20Diaspora%20after%20the%20LTTE.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The group's global network owned numerous business ventures in various countries. These include investment in real estate, shipping, grocery stores, gold and jewellery stores, gas stations, restaurants, production of films, mass media organisations (TV, radio, print), and industries. It was also in control of numerous charitable organisations, which included, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the [[Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation]].<ref name="ombw">{{cite web|url=http://www.ombwatch.org/node/3540 |title=Tamil Rehabilitation Organization and its U.S. Branch Shut Down |date=4 December 2007 |publisher=ombwatch.org |access-date=29 July 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706154345/http://www.ombwatch.org/node/3540 |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}</ref>

Arms Procurement and shipping activities of LTTE were largely clandestine. Prior to 1983, it procured weapons mainly from [[Afghanistan]] via the [[Indo-Pakistani border]]. Explosives were purchased from commercial markets in India. From 1983 to 1987, LTTE acquired a substantial amount of weapons from [[Research and Analysis Wing|RAW]] and from Lebanon, Cyprus, Singapore, and Malaysia-based arms dealers. LTTE received its first consignment of arms from Singapore in 1984 on board the MV ''Cholan'', the first ship owned by the organisation. Funds were received and cargo cleared at [[Chennai Port]] with the assistance of [[M. G. Ramachandran]], the [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="pirapa">{{cite web|url=http://www.sangam.org/articles/view2/?uid=658|title=Foundation for Tamil Eelam|author=T. Sabaratnam|publisher=ombwatch.org|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701162439/https://www.sangam.org/articles/view2/?uid=658|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 1994, the LTTE was able to purchase 60 tonnes of explosives (50 tonnes of [[TNT]] and 10 tonnes of [[RDX]]) from Rubezone Chemical plant in [[Ukraine]], providing a forged [[Ministry of Defence (Bangladesh)|Bangladeshi Ministry of Defence]] [[end-user certificate]].<ref name="nytr">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/07/world/tamil-guerrillas-in-sri-lanka-deadly-and-armed-to-the-teeth.html?pagewanted=5|title=Tamil Guerrillas in Sri Lanka: Deadly and Armed to the Teeth|author=T. Sabaratnam|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=29 July 2011|date=7 March 1998|archive-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216174848/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/07/world/tamil-guerrillas-in-sri-lanka-deadly-and-armed-to-the-teeth.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Payments for the explosives were made from a [[Citibank Singapore|Citibank account in Singapore]] held by Selvarasa Pathmanathan. Consignment was transported on board MV Sewne. The same explosives were used for the [[Central Bank bombing]] in 1996. Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia remained the most trusted outposts of LTTE, after India alienated it following the [[assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]].

[[File:LTTE Sea Tigers attack vessel by sunken SL freighter.JPG|thumb|A LTTE Sea Tiger fast attack fibreglass boat passing a Sri Lankan freighter sunk by the Sea Tigers just north of the village of [[Mullaitivu]], North-eastern Sri Lanka]]
According to [[Rohan Gunaratna]], since late 1997, [[North Korea]] became the principal country to provide arms, ammunition, and explosives to the LTTE. The deal with North Korean government was carried out by Ponniah Anandaraja ''alias'' Aiyannah, a member of World Tamil Coordinating Committee of the United States and later, the accountant of LTTE.<ref name="Transcript- Rohan Gunaratne"/> According to the Sri Lankan government, he worked at the North Korean embassy in [[Bangkok]] since late 1997. LTTE had nearly 20-second-hand ships, which were purchased in Japan, and registered in [[Panama]] and other Latin American countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201101/20110107ltte_runs_illegal_operations_overseas.htm|title=LTTE runs illegal operations overseas – Minister Gunawardena|publisher=priu.gov.lk|year=2011|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111131341/http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201101/20110107ltte_runs_illegal_operations_overseas.htm|archive-date=11 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> These ships mostly transported general cargo, including paddy, sugar, timber, glass, and fertilizer. But when an arms deal was finalized, they travelled to North Korea, loaded the cargo and brought it to the equator, where the ships were based. Then on board [[Merchant ship#Tanker|merchant tankers]], weapons were transferred to the sea of [[Alampil]], just outside the territorial waters in Sri Lanka's [[exclusive economic zone]]. After that, small teams of [[Sea Tigers]] brought the cargo ashore. The [[Sri Lanka Navy]], during 2005–08 destroyed at least 11 of these cargo ships belonged to LTTE in the [[international waters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lankapuvath.lk/index.php/latest-news/security/11261-ltte-ships-still-being-used-for-illegal-activities- |title=LTTE ships still being used for illegal activities |publisher=Lanka Puvath |year=2011 |access-date=29 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005020406/http://www.lankapuvath.lk/index.php/latest-news/security/11261-ltte-ships-still-being-used-for-illegal-activities- |archive-date=5 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=410|title=Sri Lanka Navy destroy three LTTE ships and demolish their arms shipment capabilities|publisher=[[Sri Lanka Navy]]|year=2007|access-date=29 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026220806/http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=410|archive-date=26 October 2007}}</ref>

LTTE's last shipment of weapons was in March 2009, towards the end of the war. The merchant vessel ''Princess Iswari'' went from [[Indonesia]] to [[North Korea]] under captain Kamalraj Kandasamy ''alias'' Vinod, loaded the weapons and came back to international waters beyond Sri Lanka. But due to the heavy naval blockades set up by the Sri Lankan Navy, it could not deliver the arms consignment. Thus it dumped the weapons in the sea. The same ship, after changing its name to MV ''Ocean Lady'', arrived in [[Vancouver]] with 76 migrants, in October 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/08/04/tamil-migrant-ship-mv-sun-sea-will-arrive-canada-aug-14th|title=Tamil Migrant Ship M/V Sun Sea will arrive Canada by Aug 14th|newspaper=[[Asian Tribune]]|year=2010|access-date=29 July 2011|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101062012/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/08/04/tamil-migrant-ship-mv-sun-sea-will-arrive-canada-aug-14th|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2009, The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended a merchant vessel belonging to LTTE, ''Princess Chrisanta'' in Indonesia and brought it back to Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=2076 |title=The acquired LTTE ship, "PRINCESS CHRISANTA" brought in to Colombo Harbour by Sri Lanka Navy |publisher=[[Sri Lanka Navy]] |year=2009 |access-date=30 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102235419/http://www.navy.lk/index.php?id=2076 |archive-date=2 November 2011 }}</ref>

The [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]] (USSFRC) and Ethiopian based [[Jimma Times]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jimmatimes.com/article/Latest_News/Latest_News/Sri_Lanka_finds_LTTE_fighter_planes_in_Eritrea_Report/32664 |title=Sri Lanka finds LTTE fighter planes in Eritrea – Report |work=[[Jimma Times]] |year=2009 |access-date=30 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003123953/http://www.jimmatimes.com/article/Latest_News/Latest_News/Sri_Lanka_finds_LTTE_fighter_planes_in_Eritrea_Report/32664 |archive-date=3 October 2011 }}</ref> claimed that the [[Eritrean government]] had provided direct military assistance, including light aircraft to LTTE, during the 2002–03 period when the LTTE was negotiating with the Sri Lankan government via the Norwegian mediators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070901_01|title=Eritrea providing direct military assistance to LTTE – USSFRC|publisher=Ministry of Defense|year=2007|access-date=30 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923173238/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070901_01|archive-date=23 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/7243|title=Axis of Evil: Norway-LTTE-Eritrea, and call to 'expose double standard of the West'|newspaper=Asian Tribune|year=2007|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-date=23 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523214320/http://www.asiantribune.com/node/7243|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was also alleged that [[Erik Solheim]], the chief Norwegian facilitator, helped LTTE to establish this relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2009/09/28/norway-solheim-helped-establish-ltte-eritrea-links-for-arms-deals/|title=Norway, Solheim helped establish LTTE-Eritrea links for arms deals|publisher=Lanka Web|year=2009|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213859/http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2009/09/28/norway-solheim-helped-establish-ltte-eritrea-links-for-arms-deals/|url-status=live}}</ref> These allegations and a suspicion from within the Sri Lankan armed forces, that LTTE had considerable connections and assets in Eritrea and that its leader Prabhakaran might try to flee to Eritrea in the final stages of war, prompted the Sri Lankan government to establish diplomatic relations with Eritrea in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/10/20603.html|title=Prabhakaran's latest fireworks aimed at hitting headlines|publisher=Lanka Newspapers|year=2009|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-date=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406171703/http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2007/10/20603.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2013, Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam and Sahilal Sabaratnam were sentenced to 25 years in prison in [[Brooklyn]] in connection of attempting to purchase high-powered weaponry for the LTTE. They were caught in a FBI undercover sting operation while attempting to purchase surface-to-air missiles, missile launchers, and assault rifles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Two Defendants Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to the LTTE, a Foreign Terrorist Organization |url=https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/newyork/press-releases/2010/nyfo012510.htm |website=fbi.gov |publisher=FBI, U.S. Department of Justice |access-date=27 May 2023 |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527133128/https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/newyork/press-releases/2010/nyfo012510.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Proscription as a terrorist group==
{{Further|Criminal charges levelled against the LTTE}}

Thirty-three countries currently [[List of designated terrorist organizations|list]] the LTTE as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242 |title=Council on Foreign Relations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526145855/http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242/ |archive-date=26 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3623 |title=MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102855/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3623 |archive-date=19 August 2014 }}</ref> As of October 2019, these include:

* {{Flag|India}} (since 1992)<ref>{{cite news|title=Indian Court upholds LTTE ban|date=11 November 2008|work=BBC News|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2008/11/081111_india_ltte.shtml|access-date=11 February 2009|archive-date=24 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524001205/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2008/11/081111_india_ltte.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{Flag|United States}} (designated as [[Foreign Terrorist Organizations]] by the [[United States Department of State|Department of State]] since 8 October 1997. Named as a [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]] (SDGT) since 2 November 2001)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm |title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations |publisher=U.S. Government, Office of Counterterrorism |date=11 October 2005 |access-date=9 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117015042/https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm |archive-date=17 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Treasury Targets U.S. Front for Sri Lankan Terrorist Organization |date=11 February 2009 |publisher=US Department of the Treasury |url=http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/tg22.htm |access-date=11 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217023833/http://ustreas.gov/press/releases/tg22.htm |archive-date=17 February 2009 }}</ref>
* {{Flag|United Kingdom}} (designated a Proscribed Terrorist Group under the [[Terrorism Act 2000]] since 29 March 2001)<ref>{{cite act |title=Terrorism Act 2000 |title-link=Terrorism Act 2000 |date=2000-07-20 |reporter=UK Public General Acts |volume=2000 c. 11 |chapter=Schedule 2: Proscribed Organisations |chapter-url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/schedule/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121085241/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/schedule/2 |archive-date=2013-01-21 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{Flag|European Union}} (since 2006; 27 countries)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:023:0037:01:EN:HTML|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120527000307/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:023:0037:01:EN:HTML|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 May 2012|title=Council Common Position 2009/67/CFSP|publisher=Council of the European Union|date=26 January 2009|access-date=9 February 2009}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Canada}} (since 2006)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#ltte |title=Currently listed entities: LTTE |date=28 November 2008 |publisher=Canadian Government |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119150657/http://www.psepc.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp |archive-date=19 November 2006 }}</ref> 
* {{Flag|Sri Lanka}} (from January 1998 to 4 September 2002,<ref>{{cite news|title=Peace talks team for Thailand finalised: Government lifts LTTE proscription |date=5 September 2002 |newspaper=Daily News |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2002/09/05/new001.html |access-date=11 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118172722/https://www.dailynews.lk/2002/09/05/new001.html |archive-date=18 January 2012 }}</ref> and again from 7 January 2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090107_15 |title=LTTE is banned by the SL Govt: with immediate effect |date=7 January 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211081343/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090107_15 |archive-date=11 February 2009 }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Malaysia}} (since 2014)<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-sri-lanka-idUSKBN1WP1P9|title=Malaysia arrests two politicians suspected of links to Sri Lanka rebel group|date=10 October 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=11 October 2019|language=en|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213858/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-sri-lanka-idUSKBN1WP1P9|url-status=live}}</ref>

The framing of ''terrorism'', despite having no universally accepted definition, carries a connotation of moral illegitimacy and, as proscription, is used by states to criminalize their opponents and justify "extreme" measures against them.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ingram |first1=Alan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTKkRbOlvEMC&pg=PA111 |title=Spaces of Security and Insecurity: Geographies of the War on Terror |last2=Dodds |first2=Klaus |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7546-7349-1 |page=111}}</ref> In the Sri Lankan context, proscription is also used to delegitimize the LTTE's political objective of establishing an independent state. There is resistance in the international community to the alteration of state boundaries by force and no state recognized Tamil claim of self-determination. The proscriptions by Western states reflected their opposition to LTTE's political objective than concern about its threat to their own national security.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nadarajah |first1=Suthaharan |last2=Sriskandarajah |first2=Dhananjayan |date=2005 |title=Liberation struggle or terrorism? The politics of naming the LTTE |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0143659042000322928 |journal=Third World Quarterly |volume=26 |issue=1 |page=96 |doi=10.1080/0143659042000322928 |issn=0143-6597|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Moreover, despite its human rights abuses, Western states regarded Sri Lanka as a democratic ally in their promotion of a [[Liberal international order|global liberal order]] and were committed to upholding its sovereignty. Hence, proscription was also used by these states to shape the conduct of the LTTE and Tamil diaspora to align with their foreign policy aims.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Nadarajah |first=Suthaharan |date=2018-03-04 |title=The Tamil Proscriptions: Identities, Legitimacies, and Situated Practices |journal=Terrorism and Political Violence |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=278–297 |doi=10.1080/09546553.2018.1432214 |issn=0954-6553|doi-access=free }}</ref> 

The first country to ban the LTTE was its brief ally, India, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.<ref name=":5" /> The Indian change of policy came gradually, starting with the IPKF-LTTE conflict and culminating with the assassination. India opposes the proposed [[Tamil Eelam]] that LTTE wanted to establish, fearing that it would lead to [[Tamil Nadu]]'s separation from India despite its integration into the national mainstream.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chellaney |first=Brahma |date=9 October 2009 |title=Behind The Sri Lankan Bloodbath |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/10/08/tamil-tigers-rajiv-gandhi-opinions-contributors-sri-lanka.html |website=Forbes}}</ref> In 2012 after the LTTE's defeat, the Indian Government extended the ban on the LTTE on the grounds of its alleged "strong anti-India posture and threat to the security of Indian nationals".<ref name=":5">{{cite news |date=14 July 2012 |title=India extends ban on LTTE |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/india-extends-ban-on-ltte_787439.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701152620/https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/india-extends-ban-on-ltte_787439.html |archive-date=1 July 2021 |access-date=14 July 2012}}</ref> 

Sri Lanka first banned the LTTE in 1998, lifted the ban before signing the ceasefire agreement in 2002 and reintroduced the ban in 2009.<ref name="ltteban">{{cite news |last=Kasturisinghe |first=Channa |date=11 January 2009 |title=LTTE ban: Step towards law and order in regained areas |url=http://www.nation.lk/2009/01/11/newsfe5.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512223657/http://www.nation.lk/2009/01/11/newsfe5.htm |archive-date=12 May 2013 |access-date=23 May 2012 |work=[[The Nation (Sri Lanka)|The Nation]]}}</ref>

The United States proscribed the LTTE as a foreign terrorist organization in October 1997. A U.S. ambassador later explained that the main rationale behind the ban was to prevent LTTE's fundraising and for it to negotiate with the Sri Lankan government. [[The Pentagon]] had launched a military programme in March 1996 to train the Sri Lankan military after a series of LTTE attacks which affected U.S. commercial interests on the island but it failed to weaken the LTTE due to its procurement of conventional weapons with funds raised overseas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajah |first=A. R. Sriskanda |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781351968003 |title=Government and Politics in Sri Lanka: Biopolitics and Security |date=2017-04-21 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-315-26571-1 |edition=1 |pages=105 |language=en |doi=10.4324/9781315265711}}</ref> In 2003, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, [[Richard Armitage (government official)|Richard Armitage]], urged the LTTE to renounce its armed struggle for separate state and to accept the Sri Lankan government's sovereignty in order for the proscription to be lifted.<ref name=":4" />

The European Union (EU) banned LTTE as a terrorist organization on 17 May 2006. In a statement, the [[European Parliament]] said that the LTTE did not represent all 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" /> Pressure from the United States, which assisted Sri Lanka's war efforts, played a critical role in getting Canada and the EU to ban the LTTE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington's criminal role in the Sri Lankan state's anti-Tamil war |url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/01/pers-j12.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=World Socialist Web Site |date=12 January 2009 |language=en |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414071824/https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/01/pers-j12.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The then Sri Lankan Foreign Minister [[Mangala Samaraweera]] later recounted that there was a difficulty in adopting the ban as a unanimous decision due to the opposition from seven countries in the 25-member EU and that consensus was finally achieved only after he had met with the US Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] several times.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-04-04 |title=Rajapaksa: Then And Now |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/rajapaksa-then-and-now/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414071827/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/rajapaksa-then-and-now/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Swedish Major General [[Ulf Henricsson]], the head of the [[Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission]] (SLMM) whom the EU had consulted before the ban, opposed the ban, warning it gave the Sri Lankan government "carte blanche" to seek a military solution. He warned the EU in a memo that a ban would lead to an increase in attacks and violence. He later described the ban as a decision made in the "coffee shops in [[Brussels]]" where EU members had failed to read the memo carefully.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-08-25 |title=Swedish general slams EU for terror listing Tamil Tigers |url=https://euobserver.com/news/22264 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=EUobserver |language=en |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414071826/https://euobserver.com/news/22264 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 24, 2006 |title=EU ban gave Sri Lanka Carte Blanche - SLMM Head |url=https://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=19362 |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=TamilNet |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414071826/https://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=19362 |url-status=live }}</ref> He further stated that as part of the global [[war on terror]] the EU listened to only the Sri Lankan government's version of events and that the government should have also been listed as it "used the same methods".<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2014 |title=EU made big mistake in banning LTTE: Henricsson, former head of SLMM |url=https://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=37067 |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=TamilNet |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414071826/https://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=37067 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

In October 2014, the [[European Court of Justice]] (ECJ) annulled the anti-terrorism sanctions and several other restrictions placed on the LTTE in 2006. The court noted that the basis of proscribing the LTTE had been based on "imputations derived from the press and the Internet" rather than on direct investigation of the group's actions, as required by law.<ref name="ovtrn">{{cite news |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/sri-lanka-ltte-eu-idINL6N0SB3PZ20141016 |title=EU court overturns Tamil Tiger sanctions but maintains asset freeze |publisher=Reuters.in |access-date=20 October 2014 |newspaper=Reuters |date=16 October 2014 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101062013/http://in.reuters.com/article/sri-lanka-ltte-eu-idINL6N0SB3PZ20141016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ovtrn2">{{cite news |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141017/nation-current-affairs/article/european-court-annuls-sanctions-ltte |title=European court annuls sanctions on LTTE |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=20 October 2014 |date=17 October 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019195923/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/141017/nation-current-affairs/article/european-court-annuls-sanctions-ltte |url-status=live}}</ref> Later, in March 2015, the EU reimposed the sanctions and restrictions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/67563/eu-reimpose-ban-on-ltte-dy-minister |title=EU reimposes ban on LTTE: SL |newspaper=The Daily Mirror |access-date=3 May 2015 |archive-date=1 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701010701/https://www.dailymirror.lk/67563/eu-reimpose-ban-on-ltte-dy-minister |url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2017, the LTTE was removed from the terrorism blacklist of the EU's top court, stating that there was no evidence to show of LTTE carrying out attacks after its military defeat in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-palestinians-hamas/top-eu-court-keeps-hamas-on-eu-terror-list-refers-case-back-idUSKBN1AB0VE |title=EU court keeps Hamas on terrorism list, removes Tamil Tigers |date=26 July 2017 |work=Reuters |access-date=18 September 2017 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213851/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-palestinians-hamas/top-eu-court-keeps-hamas-on-eu-terror-list-refers-case-back-idUSKBN1AB0VE |url-status=live}}</ref> However, despite the ECJ ruling, the EU stated the LTTE remains listed as a terrorist organization by the EU.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://dailynews.lk/2017/07/27/local/123360/ltte-remain-eu%E2%80%99s-terrorism-list-despite-ecj%E2%80%99s-ruling|title=LTTE to remain on EU's terrorism list despite ECJ's ruling|date=27 July 2017|work=[[Daily News (Sri Lanka)]]|access-date=19 September 2017|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629130112/http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/07/27/local/123360/ltte-remain-eu%E2%80%99s-terrorism-list-despite-ecj%E2%80%99s-ruling|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 12 November 2014, the Malaysian government listed the by-then defunct LTTE as a terrorist group amid allegations of its revival attempts in the country.<ref name=":0" /> Referring to a letter he purportedly wrote on 12 February 2020 as the Prime Minister to the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Malaysia)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] requesting the LTTE's removal from its list of terrorist groups, former Malaysian premier [[Mahathir Mohamad]] later explained that the LTTE had not harmed Malaysia and that a group should not be labelled as terrorists simply because other countries do so, since he had met with the leader of the [[Hamas]] despite the U.S. having banned it as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Razak |first=Radzi |date=2020-09-03 |title=Dr Mahathir: LTTE like Hamas, accused of being terrorists by others |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/03/dr-mahathir-ltte-like-hamas-accused-of-being-terrorists-by-others/1899778 |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Malay Mail |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610212226/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/03/dr-mahathir-ltte-like-hamas-accused-of-being-terrorists-by-others/1899778 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, responding to the suggestion of the Attorney General (AG) to review the list of gazetted terrorist organizations after the AG dropped charges against 12 alleged LTTE sympathizers, then Minister of Home Affairs [[Muhyiddin Yassin]] stated on 22 February 2020 that the LTTE would remain listed as a terrorist organization, claiming its "ideology" posed threat to Malaysia's public order and security.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-02-22 |title=Malaysia's Home Minister says LTTE remains a terror group, snubs comments by A-G Thomas |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-home-minister-says-ltte-remains-a-terror-group-snubs-comments-by-a-g-thomas |access-date=2023-06-10 |issn= |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610212225/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-home-minister-says-ltte-remains-a-terror-group-snubs-comments-by-a-g-thomas |url-status=live }}</ref> Yassin, a [[Ketuanan Melayu|Malay nationalist]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2020-03-04 |title=Here's Why Malaysia's New Leader Could Inflame Racial Politics |url=https://time.com/5794223/malaysia-prime-minister-muhyiddin-yassin-mahathir-mohamad/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |magazine=Time |language=en |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610212225/https://time.com/5794223/malaysia-prime-minister-muhyiddin-yassin-mahathir-mohamad/ |url-status=live }}</ref> has been accused of using the ban to mastermind the "politically motivated" arrests of [[Malaysian Indians|Indian Tamil]] members of the [[Democratic Action Party]] over alleged LTTE links.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Palanisamy |first=Ramasamy |date=2022-11-15 |title="Muhyiddin, don't forget how you were the LTTE arrests mastermind" |url=https://focusmalaysia.my/muhyiddin-dont-forget-how-you-were-the-ltte-arrests-mastermind/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |newspaper=Focus Malaysia - Business & Beyond |language=en-US |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610212226/https://focusmalaysia.my/muhyiddin-dont-forget-how-you-were-the-ltte-arrests-mastermind/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The LTTE leader Prabhakaran contested the terrorist designation of his organization, asserting that the international community had been influenced by the "false propaganda" of the Sri Lankan state and said that there was no coherent definition of the concept of terrorism. He also maintained that the LTTE was a national liberation organization fighting against "[[state terrorism]]" and "racist oppression".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=%252013&artid=16429|title=LTTE to intensify struggle for self-determination if reasonable political solution is not offered soon|website=[[TamilNet]]|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701054119/https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=%252013&artid=16429|url-status=live}}</ref> He urged Western powers engaged in the war on terror to provide "a clear and comprehensive definition of the concept of terrorism that would distinguish between freedom struggles based on the right to self-determination and blind terrorist acts based on fanaticism." He also complained that human rights violators such as Sri Lanka joining the alliance in the war on terror posed threat to "the legitimate political struggles of the oppressed humanity".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prabhakaran asks West to redefine terrorism |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/11/28/stories/03280003.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011217193221/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/11/28/stories/03280003.htm |archive-date=December 17, 2001 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Maha Veerar Naal Address, 2001 |url=https://tamilnation.org/ltte/vp/mahaveerar/vp01.htm |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=tamilnation.org}}</ref>

==Suicide attacks==
{{Main| Black Tigers}}
[[File:Flags Kopai Heroes Graveyard Jaffna 2004.jpg|thumb|[[Kopay]] memorial for fallen Tamil combatants]]
One of the main divisions of LTTE included the [[Black Tigers]], an elite fighting wing of the movement, whose mission included carrying out [[suicide attack]]s against enemy targets.<ref name="Stanford" /> The LTTE conducted its first suicide attack on 5 July 1987 when [[Captain Miller (Tamil militant)|Captain Miller]] rammed a truck filled with explosives into a Sri Lankan Army base in Jaffna killing scores of soldiers. Black Tigers as a division would be established years later. Its two strategic purposes were to compensate for the LTTE's lack of heavy weaponry and to serve as a [[commando]] unit to access difficult targets. Its members were carefully selected and underwent intense training.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Hopgood |first=Stephen |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=211orfsU0UYC&pg=PA43 |title=Making Sense of Suicide Missions |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-19-929797-9 |pages=43–76 |chapter=Tamil Tigers, 1987–2002}}</ref>

According to the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]], LTTE was the first insurgent organization to use concealed [[explosive belt]]s and vests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acd.iiss.org/armedconflict/Mainpages/dsp_ConflictBackground.asp?ConflictID=174 |title=Sri Lanka (LTTE) Historical Background |publisher=[[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] |work=IISS Armed Conflict Database |year=2003 |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112100340/http://acd.iiss.org/armedconflict/Mainpages/dsp_ConflictBackground.asp?ConflictID=174 |archive-date=12 January 2009 }}</ref> According to the [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence]], the LTTE stated that out of the deceased Black Tigers, 274 were male and 104 were female.<ref name="rep" /> Experts estimated that the Black Tigers had carried out most of the suicide attacks recorded around the world by the time the Sri Lankan civil war ended in 2009. The LTTE is credited with popularizing the tactic globally.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Birthplace of Suicide Bombing: Sri Lanka's Grim History |url=https://time.com/5575956/sri-lanka-history-suicide-bombings-birthplace-invented/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811134811/https://time.com/5575956/sri-lanka-history-suicide-bombings-birthplace-invented/ |archive-date=11 August 2021 |access-date=11 August 2021 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref> However, most of the LTTE suicide attacks were carried out against military targets in the north and east of the country;<ref name=":3" /> a quarter had been political assassinations and unlike other groups the LTTE primarily used such attacks as part of its insurgency strategy rather than to terrorize civilians.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moghadam |first=Assaf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RMeqBfA9-RUC&pg=PA22 |title=The Globalization of Martyrdom: Al Qaeda, Salafi Jihad, and the Diffusion of Suicide Attacks |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4214-0144-7 |page=22}}</ref> Sometimes civilians were also killed such as in the 1998 attack on [[Temple of the Tooth|Dalada Maligawa]] killing eight civilians.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 January 1998 |title=11 Killed in Truck Bombing At Sri Lanka Buddhist Site |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/26/world/11-killed-in-truck-bombing-at-sri-lanka-buddhist-site.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

The Black Tiger wing also carried out attacks on several high-profile political figures.<ref name=Gambetta2005>{{Cite book|last=Gambetta|first=D.|date=26 May 2005|title=Making sense of suicide missions|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=New York|isbn=978-0-19-927699-8|pages=60–70}}</ref> Three notable attacks includes the [[assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]], the former Prime Minister of India, on 21 May 1991,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Tamil Tiger 'regret' over Gandhi|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5122032.stm?ls|work=[[BBC]]|date=27 June 2006|access-date=10 May 2007|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701054115/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5122032.stm?ls|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=We killed Rajiv, confesses LTTE|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1686574.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=28 June 2006|access-date=10 May 2007|archive-date=7 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507031135/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1686574.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> the assassination of [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]], the [[President of Sri Lanka]], on 1 May 1993,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Mark|last=Baker|title=Hopes high for end to Sri Lanka war|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/15/1032054710030.html|work=[[The Age]]|date=16 September 2002|access-date=10 May 2007|location=Melbourne|archive-date=10 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110232214/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/15/1032054710030.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the failed assassination attempt of [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]], the Sri Lankan President, on 18 December 1999, which resulted in the loss of her right eye.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sri Lanka: In the name of clemency |url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1701/17010320.htm |work=Front Line |date=21 January 2000 |access-date=18 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521213649/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1701/17010320.htm |archive-date=21 May 2006 }}</ref>

Black Tiger cadres killed in action were highly glorified and their families were given the "Maaveerar family" status, just like normal LTTE cadres. Also, these families were honoured with the "''Thamizheezha Maravar pathakkam''" (Warrior medal of Tamil Eelam), one of the higher honours of Tamil Eelam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27035|title=TamilNet|access-date=30 July 2021|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730213040/https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27035|url-status=live}}</ref> Black Tiger members were given a chance to have his/her last supper with the LTTE leader Prabhakaran, which was a rare honour, motivating LTTE cadres to join the Black Tiger wing.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Unmasking of Prabhakaran|url=http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/idr/vol_17%282%29/sp_sinha.htm|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429163243/https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/idr/vol_17(2)/sp_sinha.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Assassinations==
{{Main|List of assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War|Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi}}
{|  style="text-align:center; float:right; font-size:85%; margin-left:2em; margin:auto;"  class="wikitable"
|+ Political figures who were considered as assassinated by LTTE (Source: Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence)<ref name="rep"/>
!Position/Status !! Number
|-
![[President of Sri Lanka]]
|1
|-
!Ex-[[Prime Minister of India]]
|1
|-
!Presidential candidate
|1
|-
!Leaders of [[List of political parties in Sri Lanka|political parties]]
|10
|-
![[Cabinet of Sri Lanka|Cabinet ministers]]
|7
|-
!Members of Parliament
|37
|-
!Members of [[Local government in Sri Lanka|provincial councils]]
|6
|-
!Members of Pradeshiya Sabha
|22
|-
!Political party organisers
|17
|-
!Mayors
|4
|}

The LTTE has been condemned by various groups for assassinating political and military opponents. The LTTE assassinated several leading Tamil politicians such as [[A. Amirthalingam|Appapillai Amirthalingam]], the former Leader of the Opposition;<ref>{{cite news |last1=D.B.S. Jeyaraj |title=How LTTE murdered senior Tamil leader Amirthalingam 30 years ago… |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/How-LTTE-murdered-senior-Tamil-leader-Amirthalingam-30-years-ago/172-171054 |access-date=27 May 2025 |publisher=Daily Mirror}}</ref> and the Sri Lankan government has accused the LTTE of assassinating [[Lakshman Kadirgamar]], the former Foreign Minister whom the LTTE considered a "traitor".<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 August 2005 |title=Tigers deny killing minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/news/story/2005/08/050813_kadir_ltte |website=BBC Sinhala}}</ref> The assassination of the Sri Lankan president [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] is attributed to LTTE. The seventh Prime Minister of the Republic of [[India]], [[Rajiv Gandhi]], was [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|assassinated]] by an LTTE suicide bomber Thenmozhi Rajaratnam on 21 May 1991.<ref name=JIGR/> On 24 October 1994, LTTE detonated a bomb during a political rally in Thotalanga-Grandpass, which killed most of the prominent politicians of the [[United National Party]], including presidential candidate [[Gamini Dissanayake]] [[Member of parliament|MP]], Cabinet ministers [[Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi]] and [[G. M. Premachandra]], [[Ossie Abeygunasekara]] [[Member of parliament|MP]] and Gamini Wijesekara [[Member of parliament|MP]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Q&A: Sri Lanka, killing of Former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar was killed by LTTE in 2005. elections|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4441820.stm|work=[[BBC]]|date=February 2009|access-date=10 May 2007|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808200707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4441820.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Sri Lanka: Searching for a solution|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/412014.stm|work=[[BBC]]|date=11 August 1999|access-date=10 May 2007|archive-date=30 June 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030630052420/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/412014.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Specifically in relation to the [[TELO]], the LTTE has said that it had to perform preemptive [[self-defence]] because the TELO was in effect functioning as a proxy for India.<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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709205128/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1617/16171020.htm |archive-date=9 July 2010 }}</ref>

==Human rights violations==
Numerous countries and international organizations have accused the LTTE of attacking civilians and recruiting children.<ref name=JIGR>{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/usscole/jir001020_1_n.shtml |title=Suicide terrorism: a global threat |publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]] |date=20 October 2000 |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204184847/http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/usscole/jir001020_1_n.shtml |archive-date=4 February 2009 }}</ref>

===Attacks on civilians===
{{Main|List of attacks attributed to the LTTE}}

The LTTE carried out several attacks on civilian targets. The first notable attack to take place outside of its claimed territory was the [[Anuradhapura massacre]] in 1985 which the LTTE stated was in retaliation to the [[1985 Valvettiturai massacre|Valvettiturai massacre]] of Tamil civilians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tempest |first=Rone |date=21 June 1985 |title=Massacre That 'Woke Everybody Up' Helped Bring Truce in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-06-21-mn-11531-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Other notable attacks include the [[Aranthalawa massacre]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/24/news26.asp |title=Aranthalawa massacre, one of the darkest chapters in Lankan history |access-date=4 January 2009 |first=Nadira |last=Gunatilleke |newspaper=Daily News |date=24 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207024052/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/24/news26.asp |archive-date= 7 February 2009 }}</ref> [[Kattankudy mosque massacre]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=5E7F89A231872062802569A600601598|title=Human rights violations in a context of armed conflict|access-date=4 January 2009|publisher=Amnesty International USA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214094900/http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=5E7F89A231872062802569A600601598|archive-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> the [[Kebithigollewa massacre]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2006/June/20060615115032ndyblehs0.351742.html |title=United States Condemns Terrorist Attack on Sri Lankan Bus |access-date=4 January 2009 |first=David |last=Shelby |publisher=US Department of State |date=15 June 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202201603/http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2006/June/20060615115032ndyblehs0.351742.html |archive-date=2 February 2009 }}</ref> and the [[Dehiwala train bombing]].<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/51435.stm|title=Timeline of the Tamil conflict|access-date=4 January 2009|work=BBC News|date=4 September 2000|archive-date=15 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115184711/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/51435.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Civilians have also been killed in attacks on economic targets, such as the [[Central Bank bombing]].<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/31/newsid_4083000/4083095.stm|title=1996: Fifty dead in Sri Lanka suicide bombing|access-date=4 January 2009|work=BBC News|date=31 January 1996|archive-date=3 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203171501/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/31/newsid_4083000/4083095.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Udalagama and de Silva, between 3,700 and 4,100 civilians were killed in "terrorist acts" attributed to the LTTE, a "somewhat modest" proportion of the overall civilian [[Casualties of the Sri Lankan Civil War|death toll]] during the war.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hawdon |first1=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jLdKBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA98 |title=The Causes and Consequences of Group Violence: From Bullies to Terrorists |last2=Ryan |first2=John |last3=Lucht |first3=Marc |date=2014-08-06 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-0-7391-8897-2 |pages=98 |language=en}}</ref> 

The LTTE leader Prabhakaran denied allegations of killing innocent Sinhalese civilians, claiming to condemn such acts of violence. In the case of Sinhalese in colonized areas, he claimed that LTTE had instead attacked armed [[Sri Lankan Home Guard|Home Guard]]s who were "death-squads let loose on Tamil civilians" and Sinhalese settlers who were "brought to the Tamil areas to forcibly occupy the land."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/interview/in_eye_1986/|title=Tamil National Leader Hon. V. Pirapaharan's Interview "The Eye of the Tiger"|website=eelamweb.com|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192631/http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/interview/in_eye_1986/|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/messages/military/1986/|title=Tamil National Leader Hon. V. Pirapaharan's Military Campaign messages|website=eelamweb.com|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701163345/http://www.eelamweb.com/leader/messages/military/1986/|archive-date=1 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The continuous inflow of Sinhalese settlers into Tamil areas since the 1950s, encouraged by the government to undermine claims of a Tamil homeland, had become a source of inter-ethnic violence and had been one of the major grievances expressed by the LTTE.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KKZcgOJPjVkC&pg=PA21|title=Contested Lands|last=Bose|first=Sumantra|date=30 June 2009|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674028562|page=21|language=en}}</ref> The LTTE also denied massacring Muslims, stating that they were allies against the Sinhalese state.<ref name="nyt eravur">{{cite news |date=13 August 1990 |title=Rebels Reported to Kill 119 in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/13/world/rebels-reported-to-kill-119-in-sri-lanka.html |access-date=9 February 2021 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416233244/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/13/world/rebels-reported-to-kill-119-in-sri-lanka.html |url-status=live }}</ref> LTTE sympathizers often claim that Karuna, while he was a commander, was solely responsible for many attacks, especially in the Eastern Province.<ref name="amarasingam">{{cite book|author=Amarnath Amarasingam|title= Pain, Pride, and Politics: Social Movement Activism and the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora in Canada|date= 15 September 2015|page=57|publisher= University of Georgia Press|isbn= 9780820348148}}</ref>

===Child soldiers===
{{See also|Militant use of children in Sri Lanka}}
The LTTE has been accused of recruiting and using child soldiers to fight against Sri Lankan government forces.<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=18 January 2006|publisher=[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]]|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=26 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526083950/http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rsd/rsddocview.html?tbl=RSDCOI&id=43cfaea725&count=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/childsoldiers0104/16.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516141422/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/childsoldiers0104/16.htm|archive-date=16 May 2007|title=Child Soldier Use 2003: A Briefing for the 4th UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict: Sri Lanka|date=January 2003|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=13 February 2009}}</ref> The LTTE was accused of having up to 5,794 child soldiers in its ranks since 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1129/p07s02-wosc.html|title=Outrage over child soldiers in Sri Lanka|last=Raman|first=Nachammai|date=29 November 2006|newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=13 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113151616/http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1129/p07s02-wosc.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name =unplea>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4712318.stm|title=UN plea to Tigers on child troops|date=14 February 2006|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=12 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112105654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4712318.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Amid international pressure, the LTTE announced in July 2003 that it would stop conscripting child soldiers, but [[UNICEF]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/28/asia/AS-GEN-Sri-Lanka-Child-Soldiers.php |title=UN says Sri Lankan group continues to recruit child soldiers |date=27 April 2007 |newspaper=International Herald Tribune |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=10 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028173552/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/28/asia/AS-GEN-Sri-Lanka-Child-Soldiers.php |archive-date=28 October 2007 }}</ref> and [[Human Rights Watch]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/14/slanka10016.htm|title=Sri Lanka: Child Tsunami Victims Recruited by Tamil Tigers|date=13 January 2005|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=10 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110040941/http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/14/slanka10016.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> have accused it of reneging on its promises, and of conscripting Tamil children orphaned by [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|the tsunami]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4171251.stm|title=Tamil Tigers 'drafting children'|date=13 January 2005|work=BBC News|agency=[[BBC News]]|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=15 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115143602/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4171251.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> N. Malathy, the former secretary of [[North East Secretariat on Human Rights|NESOHR]], accused the UNICEF of sensationalizing this issue to fundraise and falsely listing disabled and orphaned children in the LTTE orphanages as child soldiers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=N. |first=Malathy |url=https://archive.org/details/a-fleeting-moment-in-my-country/page/94/mode/1up |title=A Fleeting Moment In My Country: The Last Years of the LTTE De-facto State |publisher=Clarity Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-9845255-5-3 |pages=94–95}}</ref> On 18 June 2007, the LTTE released 135 children under 18 years of age. UNICEF, along with the United States, stated that there had been a significant drop in LTTE recruitment of children, but claimed in 2007 that 506 child recruits remain under the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engASA370172007?open&of=eng-LKA |title=Sri Lanka: Amnesty International urges LTTE to live up to its pledge to end child recruitment |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=9 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022100510/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370172007?open&of=ENG-LKA |archive-date=22 October 2007 }}</ref> A report released by the LTTE's Child Protection Authority (CPA) in 2008 stated that less than 40 soldiers under age 18 remained in its forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ltteps.org/?view=2095&folder=17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716163102/http://www.ltteps.org/?view=2095&folder=17|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2011|title=Status of UNICEF database on underage LTTE members|date=23 January 2009|publisher=Peace Secretariat of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|access-date=9 February 2009}}</ref> In 2009 a [[Special Representative of the Secretary-General]] of the United Nations said the Tamil Tigers "continue to recruit children to fight on the frontlines", and "use force to keep many civilians, including children, in harm's way".<ref name="srsc-comment">{{Cite news|title=Security Council open debate on children and armed conflict: Statement by SRSG Radhika Coomaraswamy|date=29 April 2009|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SNAA-7RL3KL?OpenDocument|work=Relief Web|access-date=15 May 2009|archive-date=3 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603022415/http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SNAA-7RL3KL?OpenDocument|url-status=live}}</ref> During the violent parts of the war, though some children were forcefully recruited, many voluntarily joined the LTTE after witnessing or experiencing abuses by Sri Lankan security forces, seeking to "protect their families or to avenge real or perceived abuses."<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2004/11/10/living-fear/child-soldiers-and-tamil-tigers-sri-lanka|title=Living in Fear|date=11 November 2004|website=Human Rights Watch|access-date=11 June 2016|archive-date=13 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613080703/https://www.hrw.org/report/2004/11/10/living-fear/child-soldiers-and-tamil-tigers-sri-lanka|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the Sri Lankan government's National Child Protection Authority alleged that since the ceasefire children were more likely to be forcibly recruited.<ref>{{cite web |title=IV. LTTE Recruitment of Children During the Cease-Fire |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/srilanka1104/5.htm#_Toc86826243 |website=hrw.org |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924031703/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/srilanka1104/5.htm#_Toc86826243 |url-status=live }}</ref> The LTTE argued that instances of child recruitment occurred mostly in the eastern province, under the purview of former LTTE regional commander [[Colonel Karuna]]. After leaving the LTTE and forming the [[TMVP]], it is alleged that Karuna continued to forcibly kidnap and induct child soldiers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/holnus/001200801311401.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 March 2009 |location=Chennai, India |title=Karuna faction recruiting child soldiers in Lanka: UN |date=31 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107152624/http://www.hindu.com/holnus/001200801311401.htm |archive-date=7 November 2012 }}</ref> Soon after Karuna's defection, the LTTE began an intensive campaign to re-recruit Karuna's former cadres, including child soldiers. Many of the former child soldiers were re-recruited by the LTTE, often by force.<ref>{{cite web |title=Living in Fear: Child Soldiers and the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka |url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2004/11/10/living-fear/child-soldiers-and-tamil-tigers-sri-lanka |publisher=Human Rights Watch |language=en |date=10 November 2004 |access-date=11 June 2016 |archive-date=13 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613080703/https://www.hrw.org/report/2004/11/10/living-fear/child-soldiers-and-tamil-tigers-sri-lanka |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Forced displacement===

{{Main|1987 Eastern Province massacres|Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern province by LTTE}}

Following the [[1985 Trincomalee massacres|anti-Tamil violence in Trincomalee District in 1985]], where security forces and Sinhalese mobs massacred about 200 Tamils and displaced their entire population from the [[Trincomalee|town]],<ref name="Gassbeek">{{cite thesis |type=PhD |last=Gassbeek |first=Timmo |date=2010 |title=Bridging troubled waters? Everyday inter-ethnic interaction in a context of violent conflict in Kottiyar Pattu, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka |publisher=Wageningen University |url=https://edepot.wur.nl/138278 |page=144-157 |access-date=23 May 2023 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520203800/https://edepot.wur.nl/138278 |url-status=live }}</ref> the LTTE carried out a series of attacks on Sinhalese in the area forcing thousands to flee in 1986.<ref>{{cite report|author=<!-- not stated -->|title=SRI LANKA'S EASTERN PROVINCE: LAND, DEVELOPMENT, CONFLICT|url=https://www.justice.gov/file/278266/dl?inline=|date=15 October 2008|publisher=International Crisis Group|page=13|access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref> In October 1987, the LTTE took advantage of communal violence in the [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|Eastern Province]], particularly in the [[Trincomalee District]]. LTTE gunmen led Tamil rioters and ordered Sinhalese to leave, threatening their lives. By 4 October, 5,000 Sinhalese were made homeless. Following the [[1987 Suicide of Tamil Tigers|suicide of 12 LTTE detainees]] under the Sri Lankan Army custody, LTTE massacred Sinhalese civilians throughout the Eastern Province. By the end of the week, about 200 Sinhalese were dead and 20,000 had fled the Eastern Province.<ref name="rubin">{{cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Barnett |title=Cycles of Violence: Human Rights in Sri Lanka Since the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement |publisher=Human Rights Watch |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=b7F-dUh5_j8C&pg=PA511111 |access-date=8 December 2018|isbn=9780938579434 |year=1987 }}</ref>

Further evictions of Muslim residents happened in the north in 1990, and the east in 1992. Yogi, the LTTE's political spokesman, stated that this expulsion was carried out in retaliation for the [[Veeramunai massacres|atrocities committed against Tamils in the Eastern Province]] by Muslims, who were seen by the LTTE as collaborators with the Sri Lankan Army.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 1991 |title=CHAPTER 6: The Social Fabric and Communal Relations: 6.1.2 Yogis' speech |url=https://uthr.org/Reports/Report7/chapter6.htm#_Toc516626374 |website=UTHR(J)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-01|title=Northern Muslim Expulsion & Tamil Leadership|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/northern-muslim-expulsion-tamil-leadership/|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Colombo Telegraph|language=en-US|archive-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818065108/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/northern-muslim-expulsion-tamil-leadership/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sri Lankan Defence Ministry, Human Rights Watch, among others, have described the forcible removal of Sinhalese and Muslim inhabitants from areas under its control as "ethnic cleansing".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/13/stories/2007041304441600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501115556/http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/13/stories/2007041304441600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 May 2007|title=Ethnic cleansing: Colombo|last=Reddy|first=B. Muralidhar|date=13 April 2007|access-date=9 February 2009|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Recurring Nightmare |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2008/srilanka0308/2.htm |website=www.hrw.org |access-date=28 May 2023 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528024533/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2008/srilanka0308/2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> 

During the peace talks in 2002, the LTTE formally apologised to the Muslims for the expulsion and invited them back, stating that the [[North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|north-east]] also belonged to them.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 April 2002 |title=Tamil Tigers apologise to Sri Lanka's Muslims |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/tamil-tigers-apologise-to-sri-lanka-s-muslims-1.419018 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> In 2003, the LTTE formally recognised the rights of the Muslim and Sinhalese communities to be present in the north-east in their [[Interim Self Governing Authority|ISGA]] proposals.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=1 November 2003 |title=Full text: Tamil Tiger proposals |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3232913.stm |work=BBC News}}</ref>

===Mistreatment of prisoners===
==== Executions====
{{See also|1990 massacre of Sri Lankan Police officers}}
The LTTE executed prisoners of war on a number of occasions despite its declaration in 1988 that it would abide by the [[Geneva Conventions]]. One such incident was the mass murder of 600 unarmed Sri Lankan Police officers in 1990, in Eastern Province, after they surrendered to the LTTE on the request of President Ranasinghe Premadasa.<ref name="lank1">{{cite web|url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2011/6/67843.html|title=Recalling the saddest day in Lankan Police history|access-date=12 June 2011|year=2011|work=Lanka Newspapers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615103423/http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2011/6/67843.html|archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> In 1993, LTTE killed 200 Sri Lanka Army soldiers, captured in the naval base at Pooneryn, during the [[Battle of Pooneryn]].<ref name="armyt">{{cite web|url=http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=18242|title=Strategic Pooneryn's fall a humiliating blow to Tiger Supremo; Battle of Pooneryn efficiently accomplished|access-date=12 June 2011|work=[[Sri Lanka Army]]}}{{Dead link|date=June 2015}}</ref> Few months earlier they had executed an officer and several soldiers captured during the [[Battle of Janakapura]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SPECIAL REPORT 5 FROM MANAL AARU TO WELI OYA AND THE SPIRIT OF JULY 1983 |url=https://uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport5.htm#_Toc512569427 |website=uthr.org |publisher=[[University Teachers for Human Rights]] |access-date=22 September 2021 |archive-date=17 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917155609/https://uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport5.htm#_Toc512569427 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1996, LTTE executed 207 military officers and soldiers who had surrendered to the LTTE during [[Battle of Mullaitivu (1996)]].<ref name="SR">{{cite web|url=http://sundaytimes.lk/961013/sitrep.html|title=The Sunday Times Situation Report|website=sundaytimes.lk|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-date=31 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131202209/http://sundaytimes.lk/961013/sitrep.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crimesofwar.org/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231051315/http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/quarter-giving-no.html|url-status=dead|title=Account Suspended|archive-date=31 December 2008|website=crimesofwar.org}}</ref> The LTTE has also been accused of executing civilian Tamils accused of dissent. [[Rajan Hoole]] of [[University Teachers for Human Rights|UTHR(J)]] claims that various dissident sources allege that the number of Tamil dissenters and prisoners from rival armed groups clandestinely killed by the LTTE in detention or otherwise ranges from 8,000 - 20,000,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hoole |first1=Rajan |title=Sri Lanka: The arrogance of power : myths, decadence & murder |date=2001 |isbn=978-9559447047 |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/a-monstrosity/ |access-date=3 February 2021 |chapter=Tamils & The Political Culture Of Auto-Genocide –XII: A Monstrosity |publisher=University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203042511/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/a-monstrosity/ |url-status=live }}</ref> although he later stated that western agencies dismissed his figures as exaggeration.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hoole |first=R. |date=2009-03-01 |title=Sri Lanka: Ethnic Strife, Fratricide, and the Peace vs. Human Rights Dilemma |url=https://academic.oup.com/jhrp/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/jhuman/hun003 |journal=Journal of Human Rights Practice |language=en |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=120–139 |doi=10.1093/jhuman/hun003 |issn=1757-9619|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==== Torture====
The LTTE tortured suspects based on the victim's refusal to co-operate and for giving information to the Sri Lankan army or IPKF.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Block |first1=Wendell |last2=Lee |first2=Jessica Lee |last3=Vijayasingham |first3=Kera |title=Mercy for money: Torture's link to profit in Sri Lanka, a retrospective review |journal=Torture |date=10 October 2017 |volume=27 |issue=1 |page=37 |doi=10.7146/torture.v27i1.26532 |pmid=28607228 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Torture was also practised on child soldiers who attempted to flee military service such as by being left out in the sun.<ref name="unhrc">{{cite report|url=https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/OISL/Abduction.doc|date=September 2015|title=Report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka, September 2015|publisher=OHCHR|page=1|access-date=15 March 2021|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416225217/https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/OISL/Abduction.doc|url-status=live}}</ref> Sri Lankan soldiers and police officers taken as prisoners were also tortured by the LTTE during interrogations. LTTE prison conditions were often poor and many prisoners died due to infections from their wounds.<ref name="jayatunge">{{cite news |last1=Jayatunge |first1=Ruwan |date=22 June 2014 |title=The POWs Of The Eelam War |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-pows-of-the-eelam-war/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701113439/https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-pows-of-the-eelam-war/ |archive-date=1 July 2021 |access-date=15 March 2021 |publisher=Colombo Telegraph}}</ref> Among the methods of torture included burning with heated metal, hanging the victim upside down and beating them, slashing with razors and electroshocking.<ref name="amnesty torture">{{cite report |url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/132000/act400132000en.pdf#page=18 |title=Take a Step to Stamp Out Torture |date=2000 |publisher=Amnesty International |page=18 |access-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627213850/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/132000/act400132000en.pdf#page=18 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="jayatunge" />

===War crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war===
{{main|Alleged war crimes during the Sri Lankan Civil War}}There are [[Alleged war crimes during the Sri Lankan Civil War|allegations that war crimes]] were committed by the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE during the last stages of the Sri Lankan civil war. The alleged war crimes include attacks on civilians and civilian buildings by both sides, executions of combatants and prisoners by both sides, keeping civilians as hostages by the LTTE, and recruitment of child soldiers by both the LTTE, and the TMVP, a Sri Lankan Army paramilitary group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/10/22/sri-lanka-us-war-crimes-report-details-extensive-abuses|title=Sri Lanka: US War Crimes Report Details Extensive Abuses|date=22 October 2009|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=17 January 2010|archive-date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116224244/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/10/22/sri-lanka-us-war-crimes-report-details-extensive-abuses|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/12/08/govt-ltte-executed-soldiers/|title=Govt.: LTTE Executed Soldiers|date=8 December 2010|publisher=[[The Sunday Leader]]|access-date=17 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212104240/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/12/08/govt-ltte-executed-soldiers/|archive-date=12 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Darusman|first1=Marzuki|url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/POC%20Rep%20on%20Account%20in%20Sri%20Lanka.pdf|title=Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka|last2=Sooka|first2=Yasmin|last3=Ratner|first3=Steven R.|date=31 March 2011|publisher=[[United Nations]]|page=ii-iii|author-link1=Marzuki Darusman|access-date=23 February 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313081933/https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/POC%20Rep%20on%20Account%20in%20Sri%20Lanka.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Senanayake |first=Shimali |date=24 January 2007 |title=Sri Lankan Army involved in child conscription, report says - Asia - Pacific - International Herald Tribune |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/world/asia/24iht-lanka.4323345.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=23 February 2024 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223163349/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/24/world/asia/24iht-lanka.4323345.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka|panel of experts]] appointed by [[UN Secretary-General]] (UNSG) [[Ban Ki-moon]] to advise him on the issue of accountability with regard to any alleged violations of [[international human rights]] and [[humanitarian law]] during the final stages of the civil war found "credible allegations" which, if proven, indicated that [[war crime]]s and [[crimes against humanity]] were committed by the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE.<ref name=Island160411>{{cite news|title=Report of the UNSG's panel of experts on accountability in SL|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=23146|newspaper=The Island, Sri Lanka|date=16 April 2011|access-date=22 April 2011|archive-date=23 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423032125/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=23146|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=TN160411>{{cite news|title=UN panel admits international failure in Vanni war, calls for investigations|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=33808|newspaper=[[TamilNet]]|date=16 April 2011|access-date=22 April 2011|archive-date=18 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418010427/http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=33808|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=DM160411>{{cite news|title=Summary of UN Panel report|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/10913-summary-of-un-panel-report.html|newspaper=[[Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)]]|date=16 April 2011|access-date=22 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419065233/http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/10913-summary-of-un-panel-report.html|archive-date=19 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The panel has called on the UNSG to conduct an independent international inquiry into the alleged violations of [[international law]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lankan military committed war crimes: U.N. panel|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1701700.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=16 April 2011|location=Chennai, India|access-date=22 April 2011|archive-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108084149/http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1701700.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=france24>{{cite news|title=Leaked UN report urges Sri Lanka war crimes probe |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20110416-leaked-un-report-urges-sri-lanka-war-crimes-probe |newspaper=[[France24]] |date=16 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503173006/http://www.france24.com/en/20110416-leaked-un-report-urges-sri-lanka-war-crimes-probe |archive-date=3 May 2011 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sri Lanka|Tamils}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[2009 Tamil diaspora protests]]
* [[Black July]]
* [[Eelam War (disambiguation)|Eelam War]]
* [[List of assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
* [[List of attacks attributed to the LTTE]]
* [[List of attacks on civilians attributed to Sri Lankan government forces]]
* [[Militant use of children in Sri Lanka]]
* [[Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups]]
* [[Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism]]
* [[Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam]]
{{Div col end}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Balasingham|first=Adele|author-link=Adele Ann Wilby|title=The Will to Freedom – An Inside View of Tamil Resistance|publisher=Fairmax Publishing Ltd|edition=2nd|year=2003|isbn=978-1-903679-03-6}}
* {{Cite book|last=Balasingham|first=Anton|author-link=Anton Balasingham|title=War and Peace – Armed Struggle and Peace Efforts of Liberation Tigers|publisher=Fairmax Publishing Ltd|edition=|year=2004|isbn=978-1-903679-05-0}}
* {{Cite book|last=De Votta|first=Neil|title=Blowback: Linguistic Nationalism, Institutional Decay, and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka|publisher=[[Stanford University Press]]|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8047-4924-4}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Gamage|first1=Siri|last2=Watson|first2=I. B.|title=Conflict and Community in Contemporary Sri Lanka – 'Pearl of the East' or 'Island of Tears'?|publisher=[[Sage Publications]]|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7619-9393-3}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gates |first1=Scott |last2=Roy |first2=Kaushik |author1-link=Scott Gates (academic) |title=Unconventional Warfare in South Asia, 1947 to the Present |year=2011 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=Farnham, England |isbn=978-0754629771 |language=en}}
* {{Cite book|last=Gunaratna|first=Rohan|author-link=Rohan Gunaratna|title=Sri Lanka's Ethnic Crisis and National Security|publisher=South Asian Network on Conflict Research|edition=|year=1998|isbn=978-955-8093-00-9}}
* {{Cite book|last=Gunaratna|first=Rohan|author-link=Rohan Gunaratna|title=War and Peace in Sri Lanka: With a Post-Accord Report from Jaffna|publisher=Institute of Fundamental Studies|edition=|year=1987|isbn=978-955-26-0001-2}}
* {{Cite book|last=Hellmann-Rajanayagam|first=Dagmar|title=The Tamil Tigers: Armed Struggle for Identity |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1994|isbn=978-3-515-06530-6}}
* {{Cite book|last=La|first=J|title=Forced remittances in Canada's Tamil enclaves|publisher=Peace review 16:3|date= 2004|pages=379–385|isbn=978-3-515-06530-6}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mehta|first=Raj|title=Lost Victory: The Rise & Fall of LTTE Supremo, V. Prabhakaran|publisher=Pentagon Press|edition=|year=2010|isbn=978-81-8274-443-1}}
* {{Cite book|last=Pratap|first=Anita|title=Island of Blood: Frontline Reports From Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Other South Asian Flashpoints|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|year=2001|isbn=978-0-14-302906-9}}
* {{Cite book|last=Swamy|first=M.R. Narayan|title=Inside an Elusive Mind Prabhakaran: The First Profile of the Worlds Most Ruthless Guerrilla Leader|publisher=Literate World, Inc.|edition=|year=2003|isbn=978-81-220-0657-5}}
* {{Cite book|last=Swamy|first=M. R. Narayan|title=The Tiger Vanquished: LTTE's Story|publisher=Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd|edition=|year=2010|isbn=978-81-321-0459-9}}
* {{Cite book|last=Swamy|first=M. R. Narayan|title=Tigers of Lanka: From Boys to Guerrillas|publisher=Konark Publishers|edition=2nd|year=2002|isbn=978-81-220-0631-5}}
* {{cite book|author=Chellamuthu Kuppusamy |url=https://www.nhm.in/shop/978-81-8493-168-6.html |title=Prabhakaran: The Story of His Struggle for Eelam |publisher=New Horizon Media Pvt Ltd |year=2009 |isbn=978-81-8493-168-6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117103238/http://nhm.in/shop/978-81-8493-168-6.html |archive-date=17 November 2012 }}
* {{cite book|author=Chellamuthu Kuppusamy |url=https://www.nhm.in/shop/978-81-8493-039-9.html |title=பிரபாகரன்: ஒரு வாழ்க்கை |publisher=New Horizon Media Pvt Ltd |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-8493-039-9 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226135408/https://www.nhm.in/shop/978-81-8493-039-9.html |archive-date=26 December 2012 }}
{{Refend}}

===Reviews===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web|url=http://hrw.org/reports/2004/childsoldiers0104/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516141422/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/childsoldiers0104/16.htm|archive-date=16 May 2007|title=Child Soldier Use 2003: A Briefing for the 4th UN Security Council Open Debate|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|date=January 2003|access-date=13 February 2009}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/january/tamil_tigers011008|title=Taming the Tamil Tigers, from Here in the U.S.|publisher=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]|date=January 2008|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413104631/https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/january/tamil_tigers011008|url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

===LTTE web sites===
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050412081730/http://www.eelam.com/  |title=Official website |date=dmy}}
* [http://www.tamilnet.com/ Tamilnet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820091139/http://www.tamilnet.com/ |date=20 August 2009 }} Pro Rebel Website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190417120957/http://tamileelamnews.com/ Tamil Eelam News] Tamil Eelam news site

===Sri Lanka Government===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055103/https://www.defence.lk/news/20110801_Conf.pdf Humanitarian Operation – Factual Analysis, July 2006 – May 2009] A report on strength and impact of LTTE from [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110827212530/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Humanitarian Humanitarian Operation timeline, 1981–2009] The history of Sri Lankan armed forces operations and area controlled by LTTE
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012005118/http://www.defence.lk/pps/LTTEinbrief.pdf Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence LTTE in Brief] An overview of LTTE by [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence]]

===International organisations===
* [https://fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/com77e.htm An analysis of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization and operations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503040217/https://fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/com77e.htm |date=3 May 2021 }} by [[Federation of American Scientists]]
* [http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/186%20The%20Sri%20Lankan%20Tamil%20Diaspora%20after%20the%20LTTE.pdf Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora After LTTE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520100753/http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/186%20The%20Sri%20Lankan%20Tamil%20Diaspora%20after%20the%20LTTE.pdf |date=20 May 2016 }} Relationship between LTTE and the Tamil diaspora, and consequences of LTTE defeat, by [[International Crisis Group]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100526145855/http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242/ Background information on the Tamil Tigers] by [[Council on Foreign Relations]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130123121540/http://adl.org/terrorism/symbols/liberation_tigers_te2.asp Overview of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] by [[Anti-Defamation League]]
* [https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/ltte0306webwcover.pdf Funding the "Final War"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007031417/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/ltte0306webwcover.pdf |date=7 October 2012 }} A [[Human Rights Watch]] report on LTTE's fund raising strategies
* [https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/ltte1208webwcover_1.pdf Trapped and Mistreated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309165607/http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/ltte1208webwcover_1.pdf |date=9 March 2021 }} Human rights violations of LTTE, a [[Human Rights Watch]] report

===International press===
* [https://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0503/p06s04-wosc.html "Sri Lankan Civilians Trapped by Tamil Tigers 'Last Stand{{'"}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506034536/http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0503/p06s04-wosc.html |date=6 May 2009 }}—Article in ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', 3 May 2009
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6315015.ece "Guerrilla Tactics – How the Tamil Tigers Were Beaten in an 'Unwinnable' War"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521132003/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6315015.ece |date=21 May 2009 }}—Article in ''[[The Times]]'', 19 May 2009
* [http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/02/rise-and-fall-of-ltte-overview.html "Rise and Fall of the LTTE – An Overview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701152633/http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/02/rise-and-fall-of-ltte-overview.html |date=1 July 2021 }}—A [[Sri Lanka Guardian]] article on characteristics of LTTE

{{Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|state=expanded}}
{{Sri Lankan Civil War}}
{{Sri Lankan Tamil people}}
{{Terror outfits}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}
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