LTTE full form

LTTE full form is Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and was a militant group operating in Sri Lanka with the name "Tamil Tigers". As the name suggests, this group was formed with the sole purpose of creating an independent Tamil state called “Tamil Eelam" in Sri Lanka. The rising discriminatory treatment and persecution of Tamilians on the Island led Velupilai Prabhakaran to embark on this mission of safeguarding their natives.

What is the Full Form of LTTE?

The full form of LTTE is Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a guerrilla organisation, determined to create a separate Tamil state in the eastern and northern parts of Sri Lanka. This group of militants was founded in 1976 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, and it came to be regarded as a sophisticated insurgent force.Claiming the rights of Tamilians led this group to resort to violence and bloodshed. In 1970, a series of guerilla attacks were carried out, followed by the mass killing of 13 soldiers in 1983. LTTE had an active involvement in the assassination of heads of state. They inflicted terror on the masses and government with suicide bombings. From 1985 onwards, the militant group began negotiating with the government to reach a consensus; however, clashes between both parties continued to create a nuisance on the island. Finally, in 2009, the government defeated the LTTE by declaring an all-out war against them.

Tracing the Roots of LTTE

As per historical events and some sources, the LTTE's roots can be linked to the cultural discrimination between Tamils and Sinhalese. A surge of revolts and revolutions hampered the country's peace as the government reduced the number of Tamilians recruited in government offices. Tamil riots and the "Sinhala only act" created a strong background for the formation of separatist ideologies.

With the advent of the 1970s, an insurgent group like LTTE emerged to safeguard the Tamilians; however, with passing years, mass violence agitated the government.

In 1972 Prabhakaran joined leagues with Chetti Thanabalasingam, Jafian to create TNT or Tamil New Tigers. After the killing of Thanabalasingam, Prabhakaran took the lead and began chalking out plans to attack govt officials along with the civilians.

Organisation Structure of LTTE

LTTE, the full form of which is Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, operated as a guerilla organisation by following a structural framework so that operation can be undertaken smoothly. The militant group adopted a two-tier structure that consisted of a subordinate political wing and a military wing. Prabhakaran headed the group and was responsible for overseeing the activities of subordinates. He was further assisted by B Nadesan and Chief Pottu Amman, his political advisor. 

This group used to control various subdivisions like an airborne group, an elite fighting wing, and an amphibious group. Each of the groups was administered and supervised by their respective chiefs. The group had a central governing authority headed by Veerkathy Manivannam who worked closely with the global network.

LTTE members portrayed immense dedication, resilience, discipline and a strong determination to fulfill their organisation’s objective. In fact, its members hail from diverse age groups and gender including women and children. Recruitment of women started with the signing of the IPKF or Indian Peace Keeping Force in 1987. LTTE recruits had to undergo a brief period of rigorous military training that comprised handling weapons, explosives and intelligence gathering.

Terrorist Activities Undertaken by LTTE

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam carried out operations with the assistance of around 7000 to 15000 combatants. Since its inception, suicide bombings became one of the major weapons with which they attacked people, especially in religious places. As per data gathered by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), this insurgent group created suicide belts and notably involved women in suicide bombing operations. The LTTE commanders generally tied a cyanide capsule around their necks so that once they are attacked, they could easily commit suicide.

Apart from suicide bombings, they attacked using claymore mines and bombs targetting civilians and political leaders alike. In 2008, the US accused them of active involvement in extortion and abduction. Over the years, LTTE was held responsible for mass insurgence, violent attacks and assassination, let’s list down some of their terrorist operations.

• Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE in May 1991 when he was conducting a rally in India.
• On the fateful day of May 1993, Ranasinghe Premadasa, the president of Sri Lanka, was brutally killed by the militant group.
• A suicide bombing around 1999 severely wounded the Island’s president Chandrika Kumaratunga.
• CV Goornate, an eminent Industry minister of Sri Lanka couldn’t survive a violent attack by an LTTE member in June 2000.
• In August 2005, the foreign minister, Lakshman Kadrigamar, faced a fatal end. 

Overview of Sri Lankan Government’s Victory Over LTTE

The violence, terrorist activities and assassination disrupted the peace of the nation. In the initial years, the Sri Lankan government failed to cope with the innovative approaches adopted by the LTTE, the full form of which is the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; however, with time, subsequent steps were taken to combat the militants. The hunt for LTTE commanders began after the 2002 cease-fire and took charge of the affected eastern region in 2007. 

The US played a key role in helping the Sri Lankan security officers gain adequate knowledge and training to neutralise the advances of LTTE commandos. The Container Security and Megaports programme in Colombo is a remarkable joint initiative of the US and Sri Lanka. Well, it was reported that the Sri Lankan government demolished the LTTE and came under the scanner of violating human rights. 

Gradually, the government downplayed the capabilities of LTTE and made subsequent attacks on their shortcomings thereby, posing a threat to its existence. Finally, in 2009 a final mission was undertaken to fight out the northern part of the island which resulted in the killing of leader Prabhakaran, the mastermind behind this militant group.