|
|
|
|
|
Velupillai PrabhakaranVelupillai Prabhakaran (sometimes spelt Velupillai Pirapaharan, also known as the Pol Pot of Eelam; born November 26, 1954) is the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organization fighting for Tamil self-rule in North-East Sri Lanka. He was born in Velvettithurai, Sri Lanka. In 1972, at the age of 18, he founded an organization named Tamil New Tigers(TNT). In May 5, 1976, the TNT was renamed Liberation Tigers of Tamil-Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers. Prabhakaran is widely known as a militant leader, and has been black-listed as a terrorist in certain countries, including the USA and India, who seek his extradition over his alleged role in the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But among a significant number of the Tamil people, he is viewed as a freedom fighter who fights against the racial suppression in Sri Lanka. The issue of his legitimacy as a leader of his people, and of his acceptance as a fighter rather than a terrorist, remains controversial. A few other nations declare him as a "rebellion leader"—an ambiguous term that carefully avoids the issue. Most, but not all of Prabhakaran's alleged victims are Sinhalese, the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka. He is also suspected of being the mastermind behind several terrorist activities within his native Sri Lanka. Notable words - It is the plight of the Tamil people that compelled me to take up arms. I felt outraged at the inhuman atrocities perpetrated against an innocent people. - The Week, March 1986
External links Velupillai Prabhakaran
|
 |
| |
|
|