Collaborative news reports on the LTTE Roles: (B) Broadcaster (PPL) Public (TT) Tamil tigers (G) Government

(India and Sri Lankan) (P) Police Part 1 Rise of the tigers, year 1976 (B) One of the political parties, The Federal Party, asked that the Tamil areas to be recognized as a federation for nearly 20 years. Today in 1976, they reformed a new party called the Tamil United Liberation Front. It was requested that the Sri Lankan government could separate the north and east of SL to a state called Tamil Eelam. This request was not fufiled. [Footage of they reformed a new party Tamil Eelam. This request was not fufiled. ] (B) Later on, the tamil youths formed a militant group, known as the LLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in short, Tamil Tigers. They will resort to violence when angered. [Footage of TT training and attacks] (TT) We will fight for a Tamil independent state. (B) Currently, the Tamil Tigers are recognized as a terrorist organization by 30 countries including India, the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union. [Raising signboards of No TT etc.] Part 2 the beginning of the Sri Lankan Civil war, year 1983 (B) This could be written in history as the Sri Lanakn Civil War in 1983. (B) Originally the island of Ceylon or modern day Sri Lanka, situated below the tip of India, housed 2 important ethnic races, which were the Tamils and the Sinhala. According to the Tamils, the Sinhalese resorted to torture, persecution and all kinds of harassment. Thus that prompted the Tamil Tigers to attack the Sinhalese. This armed conflict has led to a war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government.

[Footage of attacks e.g. explosives fights between TT and P.] [Footage of injured and dead] (Tamil mother) Children see the Tigers as Saviours. The only way to get out of the house, to escape was to join the Tigers. (TT Leader) We are not terrorists. We are fighting and sacrificing our lives in exchange for freedom. (B) The death toll estimation of the war had exceeded more than 60,000 victims. The rules of the government strictly imposed the use of media to provide coverage of the Sri Lanka Civil War. Part 3 Intervention of India, year 1987 (B) On 3 June 1987, The Indian government sent 20 Indian ships to Jaffna to provide food and petroleum products to the Sri Lankan Tamils. When the ships were turned back by the Sri Lankan navy, the Indian Air Force dropped food and medical supplies the next day. This violated the Sri Lankan airspace. [Footage of help from India] (B) Later in June 1987, under pressure from India, Sri Lanka agreed to help sign a peace accord with India. Amongst the terms, the Tamil Tigers were to surrender their weapons. When they didnt, India resorted to violence in an effort to help peace-keeping. They withdrew in March 1990. [Footage of signing, and fights] (TT) We will not agree to the peace accord and will never surrender. (Sri Lankan G) We have already taken a step back. Its time for them [TT] to do the same. (Indian G) We just want to maintain peace and harmony within the country. (B) The Tamil Tigers were undaunted by foreign intervention and India was unable to stop this bloodshed.

Part 4 Assassination of a world leader, year 1991

(B) The Tamil Tigers have launched a successful attack on two world leaders namely, the prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. [Show Pictures] (B) Rajiv Gandhi, Prime minister of India, was campaigning in Tamil Nadu for upcoming parliamentary elections when he and 16 others were killed by a bomb concealed in a basket of flowers carried by a woman associated with the Tamil Tigers. In 1998 an Indian court convicted 26 people in the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi. He died on May 21, 1991 and was assassinated by LTTE suicide bomber Thenmozhi Rajaratnam. [People crying?? Act of the process of assassination] (B) They have also assassinated Sri Lankan president Premadasa in 1993 Part 5 Suicide bomb blast, year 2004 (B) Tamil Tigers terrorize Sri Lankas capital, Colombo by launching their first suicide attack this noon today right in the heart of the capital city of Colombo, since the ceasefire agreement signed two years ago with Tamil Tigers. At least five policemen were killed and 11 wounded when a suspected female LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up inside a police station in the Sri Lankan capital on Wednesday. [Footage of bombing] (P) We can't say for sure it's the work of the LTTE but they are the only ones who used to carry out such bombings. (B) Thiyagaraja Jeyarani was reportedly on a mission to assassinate Cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda, a vocal critic of the LTTE. Part 6 the conflict still continues (B) The Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka are undoubtedly one of the most organized, effective and brutal terrorist groups in the world. They invented the suicide vest and, according to the FBI, is the only terrorist group to have assassinated two world leaders. The Tamil Tigers are best known for their suicide bombings, which are carried out by elite squads called Black Tigers. They have committed about 200 attacks so far. The rebels, based in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, have been waging a violent offensive against the central government on and off for more

than 20 years. The Tigers which include 5,000 to 10,000 guerillas are fighting to secede from the island country of Sri Lanka. Through their history, the Tigers have financed their operations with bank robberies and drug smuggling, among other illegal acts. They are also believed to get much of their support from ethnic Tamils living in Western Europe and Canada. Some estimates say the LTTE raises more than $200 million a year. [Footage] [Interview with a Tamil tiger representative through the phone] (B) And you spoke to him from this surrounded area, and he is ready to surrender? (TT) Not surrender. We are ready to lay down the arms not surrender. (B) Why not surrender? (TT)Actually its mainly a thing...about security...we take arms for freedom struggle - why surrender to them? We ready to work with them not surrender.