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{{short description|Elite division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam militant group}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Black Tigers
| native_name = {{lang|ta|கரும்புலிகள்}}
| image =
| caption =
| dates = 5 July 1987 – 18 May 2009
| country = {{Flagicon image|Tamil Eelam Flag.svg}} [[Tamil Eelam]]
| branch =[[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
| type = [[Commandos]]
|command_structure=[[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
|role= [[Suicide Bombing]] [[Raid (military)|Raiding]] [[Reconnaissance]] [[Special operations]] [[Urban warfare]]
|size= 300–400
|colonel_of_the_regiment= [[Pottu Amman (Tamil militant)]]
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors= Black and Grey
| battles = [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]
|notable_commanders= [[Pottu Amman (Tamil militant)]] [[List of commanders of the LTTE|Kapil Amman]] [[List of commanders of the LTTE|Ratnam Master]]{{KIA}} [[Colonel Charles]] [[Assassination|†]]
|anniversaries= 5 July (Regimental day)
|identification_symbol=
[[File:Badge of Black Tigers.jpg|200px]]
}}

The '''Black Tigers''' ({{Lang-ta|கரும்புலிகள்}}) was an elite suicide commando unit of the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] (LTTE), a militant [[Tamil nationalism|Tamil separatist]] organization.

They were specially selected and trained LTTE cadres whose missions included mounting [[suicide attack]]s primarily against military targets. Economic and political targets were also targeted at times, among them [[President of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan President]] [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] and former [[Prime Minister of India|Indian Prime Minister]] [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. Civilians were also killed during certain attacks such as the bombing of the [[Colombo Central Bank bombing|central bank]] and [[1998 Temple of the Tooth attack|temple of the tooth]].

Since their formation in 1987 until the defeat of the Tamil Tigers in 2009, more than 330 Black Tigers made suicide attacks on air, land and sea, mostly in Sri Lanka.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070708/Columns/sitreport.html A total of 322 Black Tigers have been killed in action from Captain Miller's death in 1987 until 30 June 2007, according to the Tamil Eelam Heroes Secretariat in Vanni.]</ref> Experts estimated that the Black Tigers had carried out the most of suicide attacks reported around the world by the time the Sri Lankan civil war ended in 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Birthplace of Suicide Bombing: Sri Lanka's Grim History |url=https://time.com/5575956/sri-lanka-history-suicide-bombings-birthplace-invented/ |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:LTTE Black Tiger Picture Gallery 2004.jpg|thumb|300px|Photo gallery of Black Tigers killed.]]
The first Black Tiger was [[Vallipuram Vasanthan]], who drove a small [[truck]] laden with explosives into a [[Sri Lanka Army]] (SLA) camp in [[Nelliady]], [[Jaffna]] peninsula, on 5 July 1987 during the [[Battle of Nelliady]], killing himself and between 39 and 100 Sri Lankan soldiers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Matusitz |first=Jonathan Andre |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/symbolism-in-terrorism-motivation-communication-and-behavior/oclc/900725941 |title=Symbolism in terrorism: motivation, communication, and behavior |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4422-3577-9 |location=Lanham |pages=152 |language=English |oclc=900725941}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lahiri |first=Simanti |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/suicide-protest-in-south-asia-consumed-by-commitment/oclc/876346345 |title=Suicide protest in South Asia: consumed by commitment |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-415-82099-8 |location=London |pages=113 |language=English |oclc=876346345}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hawdon |first1=James |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/causes-and-consequences-of-group-violence-from-bullies-to-terrorists/oclc/1200098709 |title=The causes and consequences of group violence from bullies to terrorists |last2=Ryan |first2=John |last3=Lucht |first3=Marc |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-7391-8897-2 |location=Maryland |pages=98, 99 |language=English |oclc=1200098709}}</ref> Immediately afterwards, regular LTTE cadres followed up, overwhelming the stunned SLA soldiers. This was a hugely effective retaliatory attack using explosives from the Indian [[Research and Analysis Wing]] after the Sri Lankan Army's [[Vadamarachchi Operation|Operation Liberation]] had been halted under pressure from the Government of India and the subsequent signing of the [[Indo-Sri Lanka Accord]]<ref name=Gambetta2005>{{cite book | author = Gambetta, D. | year = 2005
| title = Making sense of suicide missions | url = https://archive.org/details/makingsensesuici00gamb | url-access = limited | publisher = Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press | isbn = 978-0-19-927699-8 | page = [https://archive.org/details/makingsensesuici00gamb/page/n64 50]
}}</ref><ref name="Groundviews1">{{cite web |title=Operation Liberation: 25 years on |url=https://groundviews.org/2012/05/28/operation-liberation-25-years-on/#_ftn61 |website=groundviews.org |date=28 May 2012 |publisher=Groundviews |access-date=29 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="Wickremesekera">{{cite book |last1=Wickremesekera |first1=Channa |title=The Tamil Separatist War in Sri Lanka |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317293859 }}</ref>

During the earlier phase of the Tamil Tigers' military campaign, it did not possess the heavy conventional weapons required to attack large camps. To mount such an attack, costly weapons such as artillery pieces, missiles, and fighter-bombers would have been needed – weapons that the LTTE could not afford to purchase. As a result, they decided to resort to [[asymmetric warfare]], creating a special wing to make up for their inadequate weaponry.<ref name=Gambetta2005/><ref name=Schalk1997>{{cite journal
| author = Schalk, P.
| year = 1997
| title = Resistance and Martyrdom in the Process of State Formation of Tamililam
| journal = Martyrdom and Political Resistance
| pages = 61–83
}}</ref> Consequently, it is not the act itself{{snd}}killing by suicide{{snd}}that was the Black Tigers' original or even main aim, but rather the military impact and its strategic consequences.<ref name=Gambetta2005/>

After 18 May 2009, following the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Black Tigers ceased to exist, along with other LTTE fighting formations.

== Recruitment and Training ==

Black Tigers were drawn from the ranks of the LTTE's elite fighting formations. Those who wanted to join wrote letters to [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]], the founder and leader of the LTTE. According to the LTTE, Prabhakaran evaluated the applications, examining the applicant's particular combat skills, field experience, fitness level, their motivations and their family situations. All these factors were considered in deciding whether he or she could become a Black Tiger. Those who were the only living child in their family were automatically disqualified from joining.<ref name=De2001>{{cite journal
| author = De Figueiredo Jr, R.J.P. |author2=Weingast, B.R. | year = 2001
| title = Vicious Cycles: Endogenous Political Extremism and Political Violence. Institute of Governmental Studies Working Paper, 2001-9
| journal = University of California, Berkeley
}}</ref>

Once a soldier was selected for the elite unit, their identity was highly secured and their family members were never informed of their status. When it was time for training, the selected cadres were taken to secret Black Tiger bases where they underwent intense training in jungle warfare and espionage. They then conducted their regular duties until they were required to launch an attack.
Before the attack, Black Tigers were allowed to visit their home one last time. After spending few days with their family and close friends they returned back to their base. The night before leaving for their mission, Black Tigers had the privilege of having dinner with the LTTE leader, [[Velupillai Prabhakaran|Prabhakaran]]. After, they were allowed to take individual and group photos with the LTTE leader. Unlike the Sri Lankan special forces, LTTE special forces were martyred after their assault, and public funeral procedures would take place the day after and their picture would be place all over the de-facto state of [[Tamil Eelam]].

== Notable attacks ==

The first Black Tiger attack was carried out on 5 July 1987 by [[Captain Miller]] against a Sri Lankan Army military base in Jaffna.<ref name="ND180705a">{{cite news|last1=Pleven|first1=Liam|title=Secrets of their success (part 1)|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wosri194349519jul19,0,331263.story|work=[[Newsday]]|date=19 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050814004823/http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wosri194349519jul19%2C0%2C331263.story|archive-date=14 August 2005|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Lewis">{{cite book|last1=Lewis|first1=Jeffrey William|title=The Business of Martyrdom: A History of Suicide Bombing|date=2012|publisher=[[Naval Institute Press]]|isbn=978-1-61251-097-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E24eVvgg6yUC}}</ref><ref name="ST110799">{{cite news|last1=Athas|first1=Iqbal|authorlink1=Iqbal Athas|title=Lots of promises, but precious little|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/990711/sitrep.html|work=[[The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)]]|date=11 July 1999}}</ref> Miller drove a bomb filled vehicle into the heart of the base.<ref name="Lewis"/><ref name="FL050200">{{cite journal|last1=Gunaratna|first1=Rohan|authorlink1=Rohan Gunaratna|title=The LTTE and suicide terrorism|journal=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|date=5 February 2000|volume=17|issue=3|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1703/17031060.htm}}</ref> Scores of soldiers were killed and wounded.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Perera|first1=Amantha|title=Black Tigers bare their fangs|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HG12Df01.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720100457/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HG12Df01.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=20 July 2012|work=Asia Times|date=12 July 2006}}</ref>

In May 1991, a female Black Tiger blew herself up, [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|killing former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi]], along with 16 civilians.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pavlovic |first=Zoran |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/terrorism-and-security/oclc/981615952 |title=Terrorism and Security |publisher=[[Chelsea House Publishers]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60413-282-3 |location=New York |pages=47 |language=English |oclc=981615952}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Morgenstern |first1=Henry |url=http://www.123library.org/book_details/?id=22044 |title=Suicide terror: understanding and confronting the threat |last2=Falk |first2=Ophir |publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-470-44777-2 |location=Hoboken, N.J. |pages=237 |language=English |oclc=1005952043}}</ref>

On 16 November 1992, a Black Tiger assassinated Admiral [[Clancy Fernando]] by driving an explosives laden motorbike into his staff car while he was on his way to naval headquarters at Flagstaff Street in the Galle Buck from his official residence "Navy House" at Longden Place, [[Colombo]] after he returned from India after discussing Indo-Sri Lankan naval cooperation. He is the highest ranking officer in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to be killed by the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/neighbours/story/19921215-ltte-assassinates-vice-admiral-clancy-fernando-weakens-army-offensive-767290-2012-12-21 | title=LTTE assassinates vice-admiral Clancy Fernando, weakens Sri Lankan army offensive }}</ref>

On 1 May 1993, a male Black Tiger assassinated Sri Lankan President [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] and 23 others during a [[May Day]] parade.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Newton |first=Michael |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/964583676 |title=Famous assassinations in world history : an encyclopedia |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-61069-286-1 |location=Santa Barbara, California |pages=435 |oclc=964583676}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chalk |first=Peter |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/encyclopedia-of-terrorism/oclc/1089490925 |title=Encyclopedia of terrorism |publisher=Santa Barbara |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-313-30895-6 |volume=1 |location=California |pages=594 |language=English |oclc=1089490925}}</ref>

On 24 October 1994, the then leader of opposition and [[Member of Parliament (Sri Lanka)|Member of Parliament]] [[Gamini Dissanayake]] and five Ministers, several politicians, military and other security personnel were assassinated in a suicide attack carried by a female Black Tiger.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fair |first=C. Christine |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/urban-battle-fields-of-south-asia-lessons-learned-from-sri-lanka-india-and-pakistan/oclc/1030361116 |title=Urban battle fields of South Asia lessons learned from Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan |publisher=Rand |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-8330-3682-7 |location=Santa Monica, CA |pages=38 |language=English |oclc=1030361116}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Keerawella |first1=Gamini |last2=Samarajiva |first2=Rohan |date=1995-02-01 |title=Sri Lanka in 1994: A Mandate for Peace |url=https://online.ucpress.edu/as/article/35/2/153/23218/Sri-Lanka-in-1994-A-Mandate-for-Peace |journal=Asian Survey |language=en |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=153–159 |doi=10.2307/2645024 |jstor=2645024 |issn=0004-4687 |via=JSTOR}}</ref>

On 31 January 1996, Black Tigers carried out the [[Colombo Central Bank bombing]] that killed 100 civilians and injured 1400 others.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Tamil Tigers {{!}} Definition, History, Location, Goals, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tamil-Tigers |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 25 January 1998, Black Tigers carried out the [[1998 Temple of the Tooth attack]] that killed 17 civilians and injured 25 others.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eleven die in Sri Lankan temple suicide bomb |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/50366.stm |access-date=27 April 2022 |work=BBC |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=25 January 1998}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nubin |first=Walter |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/sri-lanka-current-issues-and-historical-background/oclc/1127759013 |title=Sri Lanka : Current Issues and Historical Background |publisher=Nova Science Publishers |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-59033-573-4 |location=New York |pages=11 |language=English |oclc=1127759013}}</ref>

On 14 May 1998, a Black Tiger assassinated Major General [[Larry Wijeratne]] on the last day of his duty assignment in [[Valvettithurai]], Jaffna. Wijeratne was attending a Jaffna traders' felicitation lunch just before leaving on transfer as deputy commandant of the Kotelawela Defence Academy before he was killed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=1490 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

On 29 May 1999, a Black Tiger wearing a suicide vest assassinated the leader of the military wing of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front(Varathar Group), P.Ganeshmoorthy, alias "Razeek", by riding a bicycle and crashing into his garage while Razeek was selling a motorcycle to an undercover Tiger intelligence operative<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=3356 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

On 18 December 1999, a Black Tiger wearing a suicide vest assassinated retired Major General [[Lakshman Algama]] at a UNP election rally at [[Ja-Ela]], Colombo. In 1994, he was appointed [[Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Chief of Staff]] of Army and served till his resignation on 2 June 1995<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=4390 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

In April 2000, the Black Tigers stormed into the Iyakkachchi military base in the early hours of the morning in a multi-pronged assault and overran the well-fortified camp after several hours of intense fighting. The commandos penetrated the central base, destroying several artillery pieces, tanks, armored vehicles and ammunition dumps. The capture of Iyakachchi proved to be a major tactical move, since located at Iyakachchi were the only freshwater wells that supplied Elephant Pass and Paranthan<ref>https://frontline.thehindu.com/</ref>

On 24 July 2001, an elite unit of 14 Black Tigers [[Bandaranaike Airport attack|attacked Bandaranaike International Airport]], causing an estimated of US$350 million worth of damage to military and civilian aircraft. Tourism in Sri Lanka sharply dropped after the incident.<ref name="britannica"/>

On 26 June 2006, a Black Tiger assassinated Lieutenant General [[Parami Kulatunga]] by driving an explosives-laden motorbike into his Peugeot 406 staff car at Panipitiya as he was on his way to army headquarters from his official quarters at the Panagoda Cantonment. He is the highest ranking army officer to be assassinated by the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18629 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

On 22 October 2007, an elite unit of 21 Black Tigers [[Raid on Anuradhapura Air Force Base|raided the country's second largest airbase]] in the heart of the Sinhala cultural capital, [[Anuradhapura]]. The government suffered an estimate of $40 million USD worth of damages to military aircraft.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=23611 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

On 6 April 2008, Minister [[Jeyaraj Fernandopulle]] was assassinated by a Black Tiger who exploded himself at the start of a marathon race which was part of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration in Weliveriya town. Fernandopulle had been infamous for his ardent nationalistic stance favouring the Sinhala Buddhist majority and had strongly justified the forced eviction of Tamils from Colombo lodges in June 2007. Addressing the media the minister said there was no need for the Prime Minister to express regret over the move and insisted that all 300 Tamils were sent to Vavuniya after getting their 'verbal consent' in Colombo and subsequently written consent in Vavuniya.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25214 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

On 9 September 2008, an elite unit of 10 Black Tigers raided the joint headquarters of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces in Vanni, situated in Vavuniyaa town. According to the casualty figures released by the Sri Lankan military sources, 9 Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers, 2 Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) personnel and 1 policemen were killed and 26 wounded. The Black Tigers also destroyed the communication facility with its tower, engineering facility, and the anti-aircraft weapon and ammunition stores.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=26876 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

On 6 October 2008, retired Major General [[Janaka Perera]] was killed by a Black Tiger who exploded his suicide-vest after embracing the minister during a political rally in Anuradhapura. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and is considered one of the most distinguished generals in Sri Lankan history.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27115 | title=TamilNet }}</ref>

== Modus operandi ==
[[File:LTTE Black Tiger Commemoration Nelliady 2004.jpg|thumb|300px|LTTE "Black Tigers Day" commemoration, 5 July 2004, at Nelliady, Jaffna, Sri Lanka]]
{{One source |section| date = April 2022}}
Up to the defeat of the LTTE, the Black Tigers carried out 100 to 200 missions.

The Black Tigers operated in three distinct ways: conventional combat on land and at sea, guerrilla attacks, and assassinations or bombings.

The majority of these attacks involved military objectives in the north and east of the country.

Relatively, there were fewer operations in the south, where most of the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] live, especially in the capital city, [[Colombo]], although such attacks often engaged high-profile targets and attracted much international publicity as a result. The last such attack was on government politicians during a Muslim festival.<ref name="Gambetta2005" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Balasingham, Anton. (2004) ''War and Peace – Armed Struggle and Peace Efforts of Liberation Tigers'', Fairmax Publishing Ltd, {{ISBN|1-903679-05-2}}
* Narayan Swamy, M. R. (2002) ''Tigers of Lanka: from Boys to Guerrillas'', Konark Publishers; 3rd ed. {{ISBN|81-220-0631-0}}
* [[Anita Pratap|Pratap, Anita]]. (2001) ''Island of Blood: Frontline Reports From Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Other South Asian Flashpoints''. Penguin Books, {{ISBN|0-14-200366-2}}
* de Votta, Neil. (2004) ''Blowback: Linguistic Nationalism, Institutional Decay, and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka.'' Stanford University Press, {{ISBN|0-8047-4924-8}}
* Pape, Robert A. (2005) ''Dying to Win : The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism''. Random House. {{ISBN|1-4000-6317-5}}
* Sri Kantha, Sachi (2005) ''Pirabhakaran Phenomenon'', Lively COMET Imprint, {{ISBN|1-57087-671-1}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1193862,00.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623010322/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1193862,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2006 |title=How Sri Lanka's Rebels Build a Suicide Bomber |author=Alex Perry |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] magazine |date=12 May 2006}}
* {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2516263.stm |title='Black Tigers' appear in public |author=Frances Harrison |work=[[BBC News]] |date=26 November 2002}}
* {{cite news |title=Tigers send a deadly message |author=Sudha Ramachandran |newspaper=[[Asia Times]] Online |date=10 July 2004 |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FG10Df03.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040712041427/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FG10Df03.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=12 July 2004}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044841/http://www.aruchuna.net/details.php?image_id=2780 www.aruchuna.net/details.php?image_id=2780 Photograph of "Captain Miller", the first LTTE suicide bomber]

{{Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam}}

[[Category:Military of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1987]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]
[[Category:Research and Analysis Wing]]

Black Tigers - Revision history

Bot at 10:10, 8 December 2022