Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam: Origins, Objectives, Doctrine https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/sri-lanka/images/map-sri-lanka-ethnic-1974.jpg
Objectives and Doctrine Autonomy Ethnonationalist Marxist
Ethnic division Sinhala-Tamil Split Religious and ethnic tensions
Historical Underpinnings Pre-colonization Colonial period Independent Sri Lanka Pre colonization - never ruled all together Colonial - tamil minority at an advantage in colonial government Independence - sinhalese majority reclaims advantages, makes sinhalese official language, buddhism official religion, limits tamil educational opportunity, etc
LTTE as leader for Tamil independence Road to Civil War Nonviolent means Other Groups LTTE as leader for Tamil independence
State Support Support from India, Cambodia, and Thailand Rajiv Gandhi Support from India, Cambodia, and Thailand India provided strategic training Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi Cambodia provided military weapons Thailand was manpower and arms acquirement
NGO Support Not as many groups as state support Taliban Not as many groups as state support Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Philippines Taliban in Afghanistan Arms transfers and other wholesale activities
Funding Through Human Trafficking People smuggling From Sri Lanka and India to the West $18,000 to $32,000 per transaction Thailand and Canada People being smuggled on a boat
Funding Through Other Crime Large portion of finances came from other crimes such as: Piracy Drug trafficking Arms smuggling Other petty crimes
Leadership Funding Annual budget of around $200-$300 million. Velupillai Prabhakaran Annual budget of around $200-$300 million. Pathmanathan’s bank accounts Velupillai Prabhakaran Shanmugalingam Shivashankar: leader of security intelligence Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam the Aiyanna Group
Global Support Network of the LTTE Diaspora Eelam War I International support network
The Diaspora and Financing Direct contributions Syphoning from Tamil Organizations Revenue sharing with businesses 80% of funds raised Coercive practices
The Diaspora and Public Support Anton Balasingham & Sivagnam Gopalarathinam 3 pronged propaganda message Front Organizations: UTO/FACT Digital propaganda and events Legitimacy in foreign countries
Support Within Sri Lanka Consolidation of opposition groups Propaganda Schools
“Recruitment” of Women and Children Forcible kidnapping Threats to families 3,000-9,000 children Attention from international organizations Propaganda appealed to feminism Women were elevated to military role Nearly ⅓ of LTTE forces