Black Tigers

The Black Tigers (Tamil: கரும்புலிகள்) are a wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) composed of specially selected and trained LTTE Cardes whose missions give them little chance of survival. The Black Tigers may commit suicide if needed in order to complete their mission. They are considered to be one of the most lethal and effective suicide groups in the world. More than 330 Black Tigers have died in various actions on land and sea, almost all in Sri Lanka.^[1] The Black Tigers have been attributed with the assassination of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa.

History

The first Black Tiger was Vallipuram Vasanthan, who drove a small truck laden with explosives into a Sri Lanka Army camp in Nelliady, Jaffna peninsula, on 5 July 1987, killing himself and between 39–100 Sri Lankan soldiers. Immediately after the attack, regular LTTE cadres followed up, overwhelming the stunned SLA soldiers. This single attack was hugely effective, and proved vital in the dismantling the Sri Lankan Army’s operation – dubbed Operation Liberation.^[2]

During the earlier phase of the Tamil Tigers’ military session it did not possess heavy conventional weapons that were required to attack large camps. To mount such an attack, costly weaponries such as artillery pieces, missiles, and fighter-bombers would have been needed – weapons that were not affordable by the LTTE. As a result, they decided to create a special wing, of Asymmetric warfare, in order to compensate for the lack of conventional weapons.^[2]^[3] Consequently, it is not the act itself—killing by suicide—that is the Black Tigers' original or even main aim, but the military impact of the act and its strategic consequences.^[2]

Notable Attacks

In May 1991, a woman tiger who was allegedly raped by IPKF soldiers^{[citation needed]} blew herself up killing former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi along with 16 other bystanders.

On May 1 1993, another Black Tiger assassinated Sri Lankan president Ranasinghe Premadasa and 23 bystanders during a May Day parade.

In July 2001, 14 Blacks tigers attacked the Bandaranaike International Airport resulting an estimated of $350 million USD worth of damage mainly to military and civilian aircraft.

Recruitment

Black Tigers are drawn from the regular ranks of the LTTE and they write request letters to Prabakaran requesting to be selected. According to the LTTE, Prabakaran then goes through the applications, looking at the applicant's particular skills, the kinds of missions he or she has been involved in, their motivations and their family situation.

For Example:

Are they an only son or daughter?
Whom do they rely on?
Family background?

All these things are considered, after which the applicant is told whether he or she can become a Black Tiger.^[4]

Black Tigers today

The Black Tigers are believed to be the most effective unit of its kind in the world. Additionally, it is also secular, as is the rest of the LTTE. To date, the Black Tigers have carried out 100–200 missions. The Black Tigers operate in three distinct ways: conventional combat (land and sea), guerrilla attacks, and assassinations or bombings. The majority of these attacks have involved military objectives in the north and east of the country. Relatively speaking, there have been fewer operations in the south where most of the Sinhalese live, especially in the capital Colombo, although such attacks have often engaged high-profile targets and attracted much international publicity as a result. Black tigers today are not as active as they were. The last such attack was on government politicians during a Muslim festival.^[2] After 18 May LTTE Black Tigers have ceased to exist with other parts of the LTTE fighting formations this is due to the death of LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

References

^ A total of 322 Black Tigers have been killed in action from Captain Miller's death in 1987 until 30th June 2007, according to the Tamileelam Heroes Secretariat in Vanni.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gambetta, D. (2005). Making sense of suicide missions. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 50. ISBN 9780199276998.
^ Schalk, P. (1997). "Resistance and Martyrdom in the Process of State Formation of Tamililam". Martyrdom and Political Resistance: 61–83.
^ De Figueiredo Jr, R.J.P. (2001). "Vicious Cycles: Endogenous Political Extremism and Political Violence. Institute of Governmental Studies Working Paper, 2001-9". University of California, Berkeley. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

[1] A total of 322 Black Tigers have been killed in action from Captain Miller's death in 1987 until 30th June 2007, according to the Tamileelam Heroes Secretariat in Vanni.

[Gambetta2005-2] Gambetta, D. (2005). Making sense of suicide missions. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 50. ISBN 9780199276998.

[Schalk1997-3] Schalk, P. (1997). "Resistance and Martyrdom in the Process of State Formation of Tamililam". Martyrdom and Political Resistance: 61–83.

[De2001-4] De Figueiredo Jr, R.J.P. (2001). "Vicious Cycles: Endogenous Political Extremism and Political Violence. Institute of Governmental Studies Working Paper, 2001-9". University of California, Berkeley. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

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