by Betty Carew

Created on: April 19, 2009   Last Updated: April 24, 2009

The Tamil Tigers are a well known band of violent terrorist that are acknowledged in at least 30 countries. Their home base is located in northern Sri Lanka. They were formed in 1776 in what started out as a secessionist movement that sought to create an independent Tamil state north of Sri Lanka and are referred to today as the LTTE otherwise known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In the 1970's they became a formidable fighting force. For a faction of terrorist that don't have any qualms about assassinating political figures or attacking innocent civilians it is just another step for them to get involved in piracy. Let's take a look at how the Tamil Tigers have become involved in piracy.

The Tamil tigers are a militant group that is well organized and has three main priorities these are military, political and monetary which makes hijacking large vessels very enticing as far as monetary gains. Piracy is not new to the LTTE they were accused of hijacking several vessels in the waters off Sri Lanka. These include such ships as the Irish Mona in August 1995, the Princess Wave in 1997, the Athena in May of 1997, the Misen in July 1997, the Morong Bong in July 1997, the MV Cordiality in September 1997, the Princess Kash in August of 1998 and the MV Farah III in December 2006. So has you can see they have been busy for quite a while with a long involvement in piracy.

In 1997 there was a warning given by the Maritime Intelligence and Counter Piracy Operations center that due to the LTTE at that time, Sri Lankan waters had become extremely dangerous areas for maritime traffic. They also warned that if steps were not taken the LTTE would expand its geographic space as well as their range of operations. Today we know how true this prediction was. They were the most feared force on the seas due to their ruthlessness.

The Tamil tigers are a very forceful threat to the Sri Lankan Navy at Sea and it is stated by the Woodrow Wilson School of Politics and International Studies the Sea Tigers are responsible for destroying 35 to 50% of the Sri Lankan Naval Coastal craft. They have their own naval force that is lead by Colonel Soosai and there force is believed to have 2000 personnel.

This militant group has no hesitation in using whatever means they can find to get the outcome they are looking for. They have been known to recruit young children as soldiers and have obtained the prestigious credit for being the first to use "suicide belt" bombs. They are known to have frequently

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