Other People's Wars - Caledonia Wake Up Call

Other Peoples’ Wars -- Chapter TwoTherefore, their global network is designed to funnel resources back to their cadres on theisland, but also to support the “alternate authority” the group needs to generate.At the top of the LTTE structure is Prabhakaran, who heads both the political and militarywings of the Tigers, although the military wing is dominant over the political. Falling under themilitary wing are the regional commands which control the activities of the LTTE’s 5,000ground troops; the Sea Tigers, a “brown water” navy capable of launching massive amphibiousassaults and devastating suicide operations; police (in LTTE controlled areas); and the infamousBlack Tigers, an elite suicide force. Under the LTTE political wing are the Tamil EelamEconomic Development Organization (TEEDOR) and its “justice” apparatus.In Sri Lanka, the LTTE usually operates in the northern regions of the island as a sophisticatedand ruthless guerilla insurgency, capable of mounting devastating attacks against governmentmilitary bases. In the southern areas of the island, the LTTE usually employed a massive andsustained terrorist campaign with suicide bombings that targeted the island’s civilian population,as well as its political and cultural institutions.Since its foundation, the LTTE also engaged in a systematic assassination campaign directedagainst any Tamil group or prominent individual who did not acknowledge the Tigers’ leadingplace in Tamil affairs, or the supremacy of Prabhakaran himself. The LTTE had turned theirattention towards the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), a political party which representedTamil interests. Fearing their legitimacy, Prabhakaran turned on them and ordered theassassination of its leader in July of 1989. Up until that point, the TULF had more or less beenspared the brutal murders that befell countless hundreds of Tamils who occupied positions in theisland’s government, including regional administrators and judges. Of particular concern to theLTTE were democratic organizations that were willing to accept some form of Tamil autonomywithin a federal state, as opposed to domination by the LTTE. 40 With the current peace talks, itseems that this is the very arrangement that the Tigers are willing to accept anyway.The LTTE’s international apparatus has three primary functions: Politicalrepresentation/propaganda; fund raising; and weapons procurement 41 . The entire Tigerinternational network of front groups, “human rights organizations,” “development agencies,”and a criminal network is controlled by the intelligence branch headquartered in Tiger-occupiedNorthern Sri Lanka. The intimate link between the combat elements of the LTTE and itsinternational political arm is further reinforced by its leadership. The International Secretariat,Lawrence Thaligar (until 1996) was revealed to have been a militarily trained cadre. Hisreplacement was another militarily trained LTTE member, Sivagnanam Gopalarathinam, alias“Karikalan”. 42To carry out these tasks, the Tigers maintain offices throughout the world. Presently, they staffoffices in approximately 40 countries. In most western countries, the LTTE must operatebehind a front group, such as the World Tamil Movement, Tamil Coordinating Committee,40 BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 31, 1995.41 Anthony Davis, Tamil Tiger International, Jane’s Intelligence Review, October 1, 1996.42 Gunaratna, 1998, pp. 144-145 and 223.44