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Asia · 1951–1990

VP
Primary revolution

Velupillai Prabhakaran

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Leader of the LTTE from its founding until he was killed in May 2009.

Life
1954–2009
Place
Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka
Years
1976–2009
Map
9.3803, 80.377
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Biography

The source file describes the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, founded in 1976 and led by Velupillai Prabhakaran until his death in May 2009. The group fought the Sri Lankan civil war in pursuit of a separate Tamil state in the north and east of the island, and for a time ran a parallel administration from Kilinochchi. Sri Lankan forces defeated it in May 2009. Many countries proscribed the organization. The pin is Kilinochchi. This entry records that history. It does not describe weapons or tactics.

Revolution

Theme. Tamil nationalism · Separate state

Key figures. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Outcome. The LTTE was militarily defeated in May 2009. Prabhakaran was killed in the final phase of the war.

Casualties. The civil war killed many tens of thousands of civilians and combatants over more than two decades.

Influence. The central armed organization of the Tamil separatist war in Sri Lanka.