ISAS Briefs

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is, no doubt, one of the world’s most powerful terrorist organisations. However, the myth of its military invincibility has been built and nurtured for a long time by a variety of vested interests, ranging from Tamil chauvinists all over the world; to even Sri Lankan politicians who saw their political fortunes in the perpetuation of the ethnic conflict. This myth was broken on at least four occasions: (i) in 1987, when the then-Sri Lankan President, J. R. Jayawardane, drove the Tamil militants, including the LTTE, to the verge in his so-called “fight to the finish”; (ii) in 1987-89, when the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) bottled up the LTTE in Vanni jungles and successfully carried out elections in the northeastern province; (iii) in 1995-96, when the then-Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, again cleared them from Jaffna and the eastern province, pushing them into the jungles; and (iv) now, when the Sri Lankan security forces have trapped them in their last two districts of Killinochi and Mallaithivu.