The LTTE's Campaign of Terror: How a Designated Terrorist Organization Pioneered Modern Suicide Bombing

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stands as one of history's most ruthless terrorist organizations, having systematically violated human rights and pioneered suicide bombing tactics that would later be adopted by terrorist groups worldwide. Designated as a terrorist organization by 33 countries, including Sri Lanka, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and all 27 member nations of the European Union, the LTTE's three-decade reign of terror in Sri Lanka serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of extremist violence.

Origins and Rise of a Terror Network

Founded in 1976 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE emerged from earlier militant groups established in the 1970s . What began as a small outfit of 40-50 members in the early 1980s evolved into one of the world's most sophisticated and tightly organized insurgent groups. The organization's transformation into a terror network accelerated following the 1983 ethnic riots, which the LTTE exploited to recruit thousands of members and justify its campaign of violence.

The LTTE's international presence extended across 44 countries, with structured operations in 12 top-level contributing countries. This global network facilitated not only fundraising activities but also weapons procurement and logistical support for terrorist operations. The organization established its "International Secretariat" headquarters in the United Kingdom while maintaining significant presence in Switzerland, Canada, Australia, the US, and Scandinavian countries.

Pioneers of Modern Suicide Terror

The LTTE's most devastating contribution to global terrorism was their systematic development and institutionalization of suicide bombing tactics 24. On July 5, 1987,  "Miller" drove a truck laden with explosives into a Sri Lankan Army camp, killing 40 soldiers and becoming the first member of the organization's elite "Black Tigers" suicide wing. This marked the beginning of an unprecedented campaign of suicide terror that would claim thousands of lives.

Between 1980 and 2000, the LTTE carried out 168 suicide attacks, making them responsible for more suicide bombings than any other terrorist organization during that period. The group's innovations included the development of concealed explosive belts and vests, which became the signature weapons of modern terrorists worldwide. These deadly tactics were later adopted by terrorist organizations across the globe, spreading the LTTE's legacy of violence far beyond Sri Lanka's borders.

Systematic Exploitation of Women and Children

Female Suicide Bombers

The LTTE was the first terrorist organization to systematically employ women as suicide bombers, with female operatives accounting for approximately 40 percent of all suicide attacks conducted by the group. The organization established the "Birds of Freedom" (Freedom Birds), a women's suicide wing that exploited gender stereotypes to carry out devastating attacks. Women were often recruited between the ages of 14 and 16, with the organization deliberately targeting vulnerable young women who could more easily evade security measures.

The assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991, exemplified the LTTE's cynical use of female suicide bombers. Dhanu, a 17-year-old female operative, approached Gandhi during a campaign rally and detonated an explosive belt while presenting him with a flower garland, killing Gandhi and 15 others. This attack demonstrated how the organization exploited cultural expectations and gender stereotypes to carry out high-profile assassinations.

Child Soldiers: A Grave Violation of Human Rights

The LTTE's recruitment and use of child soldiers represents one of the most egregious violations of human rights in modern conflict. The organization systematically abducted children as young as 11 years old, forcing them into brutal military training and deploying them on front lines . Human Rights Watch reported that children were often taken from their homes at night or seized while going to school, with families threatened or beaten if they resisted.

During the final phase of the conflict in 2009, Sri Lankan military commanders reported encountering children as young as 11 in combat situations. Major-General Jagath Dias noted that his forces had been fighting girls as young as 11, while Brigadier Shavendra Silva reported that most Tiger cadres captured were aged between 11 and 18. The organization's desperate recruitment of children in its final stages revealed the extent to which it was willing to sacrifice young lives for its cause.

UNICEF documented thousands of cases of child recruitment, with estimates suggesting that between November 2006 and August 2007 alone, 262 children were recruited by the LTTE. The organization routinely visited Tamil homes to inform parents that they must provide a child for the "movement," with families that resisted facing harassment and threats. Some families were told by the LTTE that "if you report to the internationals you will only see the body of your child".

Expanding the Theater of Terror

Naval Suicide Operations

The LTTE's "Sea Tigers" conducted numerous suicide attacks against Sri Lankan naval vessels using explosive-laden boats. These maritime suicide operations targeted military convoys and individual vessels, with the organization claiming successful attacks against Sri Lankan Navy fast attack crafts and other naval assets. The Sea Tigers' operations demonstrated the LTTE's ability to extend their suicide tactics across multiple domains of warfare.

Aerial Suicide Attacks

In a chilling preview of tactics later employed by other terrorist organizations, the LTTE developed an air wing capable of conducting suicide air raids. On February 20, 2009, the organization launched a suicide attack using two weaponized light aircraft against targets in Colombo, with pilots from their elite "Black Air Tiger" suicide squad carrying out the mission. The dead pilot was found carrying two cyanide capsules and explosives.

Major Terrorist Attacks

The LTTE's campaign of terror produced numerous devastating attacks that traumatized Sri Lankan society and demonstrated the organization's complete disregard for civilian life.

• International Terrorism: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination

The assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi remains the LTTE's most notorious international terrorist attack. The plot was personally authorized by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and spy chief Pottu Amman, with operative Sivarasan (also known as "One-eyed Jack") overseeing the execution. This act of international terrorism shocked the world and demonstrated the organization's willingness to target democratic leaders.

• Central Bank Bombing

On January 31, 1996, the LTTE carried out one of its deadliest attacks when a truck containing 440 pounds of explosives crashed through the gates of Sri Lanka's Central Bank. The suicide bombing killed 91 people and injured 1,400 others, with at least 100 people losing their eyesight.

• Temple of the Tooth Attack

In a despicable act of religious terrorism, LTTE suicide bombers attacked the Temple of the Tooth on January 25, 1998. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, which houses a sacred tooth of the Buddha and represents the holiest Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka, was targeted in an attack that killed 8 worshippers.

• Mass Murder of Police Officers

In one of their most barbaric acts, the LTTE murdered between 600-774 Sri Lankan police officers who had surrendered under a flag of truce in 1990 . This violation of international humanitarian law revealed the organization's complete disregard for the rules of war and basic human decency .

Systematic Human Rights Violations

Beyond suicide bombings, the LTTE engaged in extensive human rights violations that affected all communities in Sri Lanka. The organization's systematic violations included:

• Forced recruitment of adults and children as "volunteers" 
• Denying Tamil children their fundamental right to education 
• Forced unpaid labor, violating Geneva Conventions 
• Confiscating Tamil land and property from non-supporters 
• Executing Tamils in public for providing information to authorities 
• Denying freedom of movement through transport control passes 
• Confiscating food and medicines intended for Tamil civilians 

The organization imposed a reign of terror in areas under its control, with civilians living in constant fear of arbitrary violence. Anyone opposing the LTTE faced execution, while families refusing to provide children for recruitment were assaulted and imprisoned .

International Response and Designation

The international community's response to LTTE terrorism was swift and comprehensive. The organization was designated as a terrorist group by India in 1992, followed by the United States in 1997, the United Kingdom in 2001, and the European Union in 2006. Canada and Malaysia also added the LTTE to their terrorist organization lists, bringing the total to 33 countries.

The European Union's decision to maintain the LTTE's terrorist designation was challenged by the organization's political wing in 2021, but the General Court of the European Union dismissed their plea, affirming that the LTTE retained "military and financial capacities coupled with the intent to conduct terrorist acts" .

Legacy of Terror

The LTTE's defeat in 2009 marked the end of one of the world's most sophisticated terrorist organizations, but their innovations in suicide bombing and terror tactics continue to influence global terrorism. Their systematic violation of human rights, exploitation of children, and targeting of civilians established a template for terrorist organizations worldwide.

The organization's use of child soldiers, female suicide bombers, and multi-domain suicide attacks represents a dark chapter in the history of terrorism. Their complete disregard for international humanitarian law and basic human dignity serves as a reminder of the depths to which terrorist organizations will sink in pursuit of their extremist goals.

As the international community continues its fight against terrorism, the LTTE's legacy serves as a stark reminder that terrorist organizations bring nothing but death, destruction, and suffering to the communities they claim to represent. Their reign of terror must be remembered not as a liberation movement, but as a cautionary tale of how extremist ideology can corrupt and destroy everything it touches.