Tamil Tigers news stories on Newser

UN on Sri Lanka: Government Committed War Crimes

Rob Quinn — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:25:00 CDT

Civilians were slaughtered by Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil Tigers alike in the bloody final phase of the island nation's civil war, according to a hard-hitting report from a United Nations panel. The report accuses the Sri Lankan military of urging civilians in the separatist north to gather in...

Spain Busts Gang Linked to Forged Terrorist Passports

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:32:00 CST

Police arrested seven people in Spain and three in Thailand in an international sting on a group suspected of forging passports for an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, the Spanish Interior Ministry said today. The detainees formed part of a group based in Thailand and linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based Islamic group...

Feds: NY Hedge Fund Boss Funded Terror

Nick McMaster — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:20:30 CDT

A hedge-fund manager busted for insider trading has been contributing money to a Sri Lankan terrorist group, according to FBI agents. Raj Rajaratnam came under scrutiny in a federal probe into the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, a charity which was charged with funneling money to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,...

After 26-Year War, Sri Lanka Struggles with Peace

Jason Farago — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:28:15 CDT

The Sri Lankan government finally prevailed in its 26-year civil war with Tamil rebels with a brutal campaign, leaving thousands dead and 300,000 displaced. Now, reports the Wall Street Journal , the country must try living in peace after years of assassinations and abductions from both sides. Tamils "should be...

EU Sold Millions in Weapons to Sri Lankan Army

Jason Farago — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:53:00 CDT

European Union nations sold millions of dollars worth of arms and military equipment to the Sri Lankan army in the final stages of its 26-year civil war, in which the army has been accused of atrocities. The UK sold the country $22.3 million in armored vehicles and weapons, though...

Sri Lankan Shelling Killed 20,000 Civilians

Jason Farago — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:41:00 CDT

The final battles of the 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka killed more than 20,000 Tamil civilians, most from government shelling, an investigation by the Times of London concludes. The number of casualties is three times higher than the government admitted. Aerial photographs, eyewitness testimony, and confidential UN documents...

Tamil Tigers Confirm Death of Leader

Drew Nelles — Sun, 24 May 2009 15:19:21 CDT

The defeated Tamil Tigers have admitted that leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead, the BBC reports. The rebels declared a week of mourning after their “incomparable leader” was killed while "fighting the military oppression of the Sri Lankan government," a statement said. The Tigers have also renounced violence, said a spokesman,...

Sri Lanka Prez: We're 'Liberated'

Matt Cantor — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:10:23 CDT

Sri Lanka’s leader celebrated the country’s “liberation” from the Tamil Tigers after 26 years of war in a speech to parliament today, the BBC reports. “Today we have been able to liberate the entire country from the clutches of terrorism," said Mahinda Rajapaska. "We have been able to defeat one...

Tamil Boss Shot Dead Trying to Flee

Jason Farago — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:51:01 CDT

The leader of the Tamil Tigers was shot dead before dawn this morning as the Sri Lankan army moved into the rebel group's final stronghold, the Guardian reports. Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed while trying to flee the war zone in an ambulance. Four other senior Tigers, including his son, were...