Renowned defence magazine, the Jane's Defence Intelligence Review reveals that the LTTE funds its bloody terrorist war against SL with a sophisticated fundraising mechanism that earns "some USD 200 to 300 million a year".
In a press release on Thursday (July 19) the magazine says that the terror outfit has become "one of the most sophisticated insurgencies in the world" mainly because of its "complex global network of financial resources and weapons", that are being used to strengthen its campaign against Sri Lanka.
The LTTE has been fighting for a mono-ethnic separate state for the Tamils living in SL since 1983. The war has so far killed over 65,000 people. The magazine points out that the profit earned by a terror outfit as such "would be the envy of any multinational corporation".
Further, the magazine states it is with this money, that the LTTE has become the only known terror organization to have a "rudimentary air force" and also has been able to introduce "bold new frontiers" to terrorist warfare.
The LTTE is the first terror organization to introduce suicide bombers equipped with suicide belts and waist jackets, and suicide attacks using explosive laden vehicles including trucks and boats. The LTTE has been making a vast contribution to the development of terrorist warfare across the world with its endless innovations in terror training tactics, arms smuggling, bomb making, and etc. The magazine implies that the LTTE has been able to accomplish all of the above, because of its "financial and procurement structures" which are "well organized and strategically positioned around the globe".
Jane's magazine also makes an interesting revelation on the LTTE making money through many charitable organizations, which have been created and staffed by the outfit itself. Behind the charitable facade of these organizations, the LTTE is "projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and ultimately, convert the gains into arms" the magazine says. The mechanism efficiently works to move its funds to snatch procurement opportunities and investment options as they arise "utilizing a charitable facade's tax-free status and legitimacy" Jane's adds.
The report identifies two sections of the LTTE that are operating internationally for fund raising and arms dealing activities ; the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases alias KP department.
"The Aiyanna Group functions as the group's intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organization's financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the LTTE's procurement arm", Jane's report says.
According the local defence intelligence sources KP stands for Kumaran Padmanadan, name of a terror suspect wanted by the International Police (Interpol). Aiyanna is also an LTTE cadre who had been appointed to lead the LTTE's international operations as the network expanded beyond the capacity of KPs' department. Intelligence sources also said these departments are operating in a mutually supportive manner with other terror organizations such as Al Queda, to achieve their objectives. The heads of these departments are operating under the direct guidance of the LTTE chief, V. Prabhakaran and its intelligence head Pottu Amman, both on the wanted list of Interpol, the sources added.
Jane's elaborates that the LTTE is adapting geographically myriad of methods to carry out its cross-border terrorist activities. "The southern province of Tamil Nadu in India plays a pivotal role in LTTE procurement and has become an essential transit point in the LTTE arms, narcotics, contraband and possibly human smuggling", the magazine says.
Local defence analysts also support the view saying that due to the large number of Indian fishing vessels present in the narrow sea area between India and Sri Lanka, it has been practically difficult for the Navies of both countries to make a complete stop to the terror movements. However, the SL navy having extended its capability have been able to deny the terrorists' use of the Eastern coast of the island almost completely.
Recently, Maldivian defence forces sunk an Indian trawler which had been transporting weapons to the LTTE. It was later revealed that the LTTE terrorists had hijacked the vessel killing the Indian crew except one, and made use of the vessel for arms smuggling. There were many other incidents where the LTTE terrorists have killed and abducted Tamil Nadu fishermen during the recent past. The LTTE's control over the Island's North-Western coastal line from Mannar to Elephant Pass is the main supporting factor for the LTTE to carry out terrorist activities between India and Sri Lanka.
Finally, the Jane's report highlights that the main motivation for the LTTE in its fundraising campaign is to procure an anti- aircraft arsenal. During the 90s the LTTE shot down at least five transport aircraft, including the one carrying civilians, using missile technology.
Defence analysts argue that the leeway given to the LTTE by certain countries during the past had created a monstrous organization that is playing the role of the "Research and Development" department of global terrorism. It has been able to carry out remorseless ethnic ceasing campaigns against Sinhalese and Muslims; maintain a shameful "Baby Brigade" with over six thousand children, and use brain washed Tamil women as suicide bombers, for over two decades.
Ironically, despite its record of atrocities the LTTE has even acquired some legitimacy in certain parts of the world. According to the analysts this is mainly due to its effective propaganda mechanism that has been hoodwinking the world for years. Perhaps, as some defence analysts opine, the LTTE's propaganda mechanism may be the most sophisticated and complex one that any terror organization would dream of having for its own.
In a press release on Thursday (July 19) the magazine says that the terror outfit has become "one of the most sophisticated insurgencies in the world" mainly because of its "complex global network of financial resources and weapons", that are being used to strengthen its campaign against Sri Lanka.
Further, the magazine states it is with this money, that the LTTE has become the only known terror organization to have a "rudimentary air force" and also has been able to introduce "bold new frontiers" to terrorist warfare.
The LTTE is the first terror organization to introduce suicide bombers equipped with suicide belts and waist jackets, and suicide attacks using explosive laden vehicles including trucks and boats. The LTTE has been making a vast contribution to the development of terrorist warfare across the world with its endless innovations in terror training tactics, arms smuggling, bomb making, and etc. The magazine implies that the LTTE has been able to accomplish all of the above, because of its "financial and procurement structures" which are "well organized and strategically positioned around the globe".
Jane's magazine also makes an interesting revelation on the LTTE making money through many charitable organizations, which have been created and staffed by the outfit itself. Behind the charitable facade of these organizations, the LTTE is "projecting its influence through this front to raise money from Tamil communities and ultimately, convert the gains into arms" the magazine says. The mechanism efficiently works to move its funds to snatch procurement opportunities and investment options as they arise "utilizing a charitable facade's tax-free status and legitimacy" Jane's adds.
The report identifies two sections of the LTTE that are operating internationally for fund raising and arms dealing activities ; the Aiyanna Group and the Office of Overseas Purchases alias KP department.
"The Aiyanna Group functions as the group's intelligence and operations body, likely to be responsible for monitoring and ensuring the organization's financial support and revenue streams, while the KP Department is most probably the LTTE's procurement arm", Jane's report says.
According the local defence intelligence sources KP stands for Kumaran Padmanadan, name of a terror suspect wanted by the International Police (Interpol). Aiyanna is also an LTTE cadre who had been appointed to lead the LTTE's international operations as the network expanded beyond the capacity of KPs' department. Intelligence sources also said these departments are operating in a mutually supportive manner with other terror organizations such as Al Queda, to achieve their objectives. The heads of these departments are operating under the direct guidance of the LTTE chief, V. Prabhakaran and its intelligence head Pottu Amman, both on the wanted list of Interpol, the sources added.
Jane's elaborates that the LTTE is adapting geographically myriad of methods to carry out its cross-border terrorist activities. "The southern province of Tamil Nadu in India plays a pivotal role in LTTE procurement and has become an essential transit point in the LTTE arms, narcotics, contraband and possibly human smuggling", the magazine says.
Recently, Maldivian defence forces sunk an Indian trawler which had been transporting weapons to the LTTE. It was later revealed that the LTTE terrorists had hijacked the vessel killing the Indian crew except one, and made use of the vessel for arms smuggling. There were many other incidents where the LTTE terrorists have killed and abducted Tamil Nadu fishermen during the recent past. The LTTE's control over the Island's North-Western coastal line from Mannar to Elephant Pass is the main supporting factor for the LTTE to carry out terrorist activities between India and Sri Lanka.
Finally, the Jane's report highlights that the main motivation for the LTTE in its fundraising campaign is to procure an anti- aircraft arsenal. During the 90s the LTTE shot down at least five transport aircraft, including the one carrying civilians, using missile technology.
Defence analysts argue that the leeway given to the LTTE by certain countries during the past had created a monstrous organization that is playing the role of the "Research and Development" department of global terrorism. It has been able to carry out remorseless ethnic ceasing campaigns against Sinhalese and Muslims; maintain a shameful "Baby Brigade" with over six thousand children, and use brain washed Tamil women as suicide bombers, for over two decades.
Ironically, despite its record of atrocities the LTTE has even acquired some legitimacy in certain parts of the world. According to the analysts this is mainly due to its effective propaganda mechanism that has been hoodwinking the world for years. Perhaps, as some defence analysts opine, the LTTE's propaganda mechanism may be the most sophisticated and complex one that any terror organization would dream of having for its own.
