History and Motivators of Terrorism: Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers - Term Paper Example

Running head: History and Motivators of Terrorism History and Motivators of Terrorism [Click here and type [Click here and type your institution's name] CONTENTS History and Motivators of Terrorism 4 Introduction 4 Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers 5 Introduction 5 History / Background & Issues of Tamil Tigers 6 Actions & Activities of Tamil Tigers 9 The Military System 9 The Fund Raising System 9 Arms Smuggling 10 Sea Piracy 10 Credit Card Frauds 11 Conclusion & Future Prospects 11 Hezbollah - The Islamic Jihad Group 13 Introduction 13 History / Background & Issues 14 Ideology & Doctrine of Hezbollah 16 Actions of Hezbollah Pertaining to Israel and Jews 17 Political Activities 17 Military Activities 18 Conclusion & Future Prospects 19 References 21 History and Motivators of Terrorism Introduction The following is a research assignment that would focus on investigating the terrorism acts and profile groups of Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka and the religious Jihad group Hezbollah. The research would include all the necessary details that would highlight the impacts, history, prospects, issues, actions, the actors, and motivators of these groups along with their current situations and future prospects. Every single and descriptive information would be provided in the following paper so that the main idea and theory run by these groups could be evaluated and analyzed. This research assignment is divided into two main parts where the first part would emphasize on the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka, and the second part would include all the mandatory descriptive detail regarding the Islamic Jihad group Hezbollah. Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers Introduction Sri Lanka is basically a pear shaped island situated in the Indian Ocean between 5-54'N and 9-52'N latitudes, and longitudes of 79-39'E and 81-53'E. The island was originally a part of India that got separated with time by a channel and now is only 35 kilometers of wide at its narrowest. The entire region of Sri Lanka is famous for its cultivation, monsoonal climate, green lavish tea producing farms, elephant breeding, and biological parks. Sri Lanka has always been very famous also because of the highest literacy rate of its population that was supposed to be above 90% in 1990s according to its census. Apart from all these delicacies, natural inheritance, and scenic beauties; there is a dark side of the island as well, which is known as the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers. The following information will reveal more details about the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka with necessary details and descriptions. The Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers can also be referred to as Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Tiger Movement, Air Tigers, Eellalan or Ellalan Force, Sangilian Force, Black Tigers, Sea Tigers, Tiger Organization Security Intelligence Service (TOSIS), or Women's Combat Force of Liberation Tigers (WCFLT). This league or liberation party is a militant organization originally based in northern Sri Lanka and was founded in the year 1976. The main purpose and objective of this organization is to actively fight violently secessionist campaign in order to seek independence for Tamils in the shape of a Tamil state in the north and east side of Sri Lanka. This is one of the longest running and unsolved violent conflicts in Asia that has not solved till date and has get into the Sri Lankan civil war as well. At present, the Tamil Tigers are identified as a terrorist group or organization by almost 32 independent countries who regard them as terrorist. This is because of the fact that Tamil Tigers are involved in the well-organized militia cadre, and are dishonorable of carried out violence against civilians and normal people, including elimination and murder of many Sri Lankan and Indian politicians and high-ranking officials. They train adults and children simultaneously and help them to become Tamil Tigers and fight against the government to seek independence by utilizing violence, gunshots, fires, bombings, and suicide bombing as well. They even made use of modern ammunitions, including air crafts and jet fighters to support their fight (Morgan, 2004, p41). History / Background & Issues of Tamil Tigers The history of Tamil Tigers started from 5th May, 1976 where the founder Velupillai Prabhakaran became the successor of the league after the assassination of the Mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiyappah in the year 1975. The league succeeded in many violent attacks against several politicians and high-ranking police officials. The initial stage of the league was supported by other Tamil militant groups, but later on, the league formally joined a common militant front. The LTTE was supported and joined by many leagues, but later on, LTTE became the sole operating body of all the attacks (Washington Post Website, 2006). The group became famous because of the two major things, one was the practice of oath of loyalty by the team members of LTTE whose main objective was to devote all the sincerities of the people of the league to gain independence state for Sri Lankan Tamils, and second was the cyanide vial that was supposed to be used by the captured or detained militants so that they could sacrifice their lives in order to prevent their league and sole objectives. In 1987, the league made a new group of Black Tigers who were meant to be used for suicidal attacks only. By that time in 1987, India got directly involved in the conflict by providing food through aircrafts in Jaffna. To resolve this matter, the governments of India and Sri Lanka signed Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, according to which India would send a peace keeping force to Sri Lanka to help the government, while both governments agreed on maintaining a certain degree of regional autonomy in Tamil regions with Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) to control the regional council and to help in dropping weapons. The league of LTTE totally rejected all these acts and got directly involved into more conflicts with the Indian Army. This made the Indian Army to develop worst popularity among the Sri Lankan Tamils and the fight between them stayed for more than 2 years that brought heavy loss to the Indian force. This grand fight between the Tamil Tigers and the Indian force remained on fire in the entire decade of 1990s, killing Rajiv Gandhi (Indian Prime Minister in 1991), Ranasinghe Premadasa (Sri Lankan President in 1993), and Mahattaya (deputy leader of LTTE in 1994). However, the year 2001 is said to be the year of ceasefire when the LTTE dropped its demand of a separate homeland and instead, the Tamil Tigers demanded a form of regional autonomy and finally, in December 2001, the league unilaterally dropped their weapons and adopted ceasefire. The Sri Lankan government and the LTTE signed on an official agreement in March 2002 that was monitored and looked after by the outsider forces of Norway and Nordic countries (Nubin, 2002, p87). Despite all the joining hands efforts, LTTE dropped its talks in the year 2003 due to certain reasons and claims and proposed Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) that was absolutely welcomed by the international countries community but was totally rejected by the government of Sri Lanka. Seeing this, the LTTE boycotted the presidential elections of 2005 and declared that the people under LTTE are free wherever to vote according to their freewill. However, resources tell that they allegedly used threats and force to stop the Sri Lankan population from voting process. Seeing this situation, the monitoring country Norway and other Nordic countries asked both parties to hold talks in the year 2006 which was later cancelled by LTTE because they thought their travelers would not be provided safe environment for travel and accommodation and would have to suffer through death threats. This gave rise to other violent attacks and suicide bombings after the year 2006 and the Sri Lankan government pulled itself out from the Cease Fire Agreement legally with LTTE in the year 2008. The disturbance continued till January 2, 2009 when the government claimed that Sri Lankan Army has detained Kilonochchi, the city that was used as the administrative main body by LTTE. This affected LTTE badly because it was the main functioning element of the league. On January 8, 2009; the LTTE tried to make its last stand by taking positions on the Jaffna peninsula in the jungles of Mullaitivu; but even the peninsula was captured by the Sri Lankan troops later by the sunset on January 25, 2009. After the defeat of their last stand, it is assumed that it is the end of the LTTE, but it is also feared that the league might make use of the underground guerilla operation in case if it is conquered as a conventional force (Marston et al, 2006, p175). Actions & Activities of Tamil Tigers The entire structure of LTTE can be divided into three main segments, such as the military wing, the political wing, and the fund raising wing. The supreme leader of the entire system is Velupillai Prabhakaran (Atkins, 2004, p180). The Military System The soldiers who are hired in the military force of the Tamil Tigers are known to be very determinant and loyal towards their fight for the independence. They have been sub-divided into several groups that can be explained and listed as under (Reuter & Kirkby; 2004, p156): Air Tigers Black Tigers Sea Tigers The Political Wing The intelligence Wing The Fund Raising System The Tamil Tigers received a very major part of the funds form the western countries that help Tamils in order to become civilized and less violent. This money is received followed by the fund raising system of the Tigers and is mainly raised from the enterprises, institutions and donations that are transferred to the bank accounts of the Tamil Tigers, and from their account the money is later on transferred to the accounts of a weapons broker or even by the KP Branch operational heads (Bell & Gunaratna; 2007, p49). Other criminal actions or activities of the Tamil Tigers include: Arms Smuggling It is assumed by many international institutions that the Tamil Tigers are involved secretly in the smuggling and international use of weapons, explosives, and dual use technologies. This group activity of the Tigers has been known as the KP Branch. This branch functions secretly functions by maintaining as less connection with the Tamil Tigers as possible for security reasons. The main purpose of this team is to hand over the weapons, arms and ammunition to the Sea Tigers so that they could be delivered ahead to the dominant areas ruled by the Tamil Tigers. The Mackenzie Institute also assumes that operates its own personal fleet of ocean-going vessels so that they could deliver the international arms trafficking successfully. Previously, LTTE has its own shipping base in Myanmar, but later it was forced to leave that base due to several reasons (Rand Corporation Website, 2009). Sea Piracy There are many illegal acts that the Tamil Tigers are being accused of outside the waters of Sri Lanka that is referred to as the sea piracy. Sea Tigers are involved in this activity and are famous for hijacking several vessels outside the territory of Sri Lankan waters, such as, Irish Mona (August 1995), Princess Wave (August 1996), Athena (May 1997), Misen (July 1997), Morong Bong (July 1997), MV Cordiality (September 1997), Princess Kash (August 1998), and MV Farah III (December 2006). Credit Card Frauds The LTTE is not only active in the terrorism attacks and violence, but they are quite ahead in the technological areas as well. They have been feared to be accused of carrying out unlimited credit card frauds through personal or online use on the Internet. The main countries that have been affected with their credit card frauds are Kenya, India, and the United Kingdom. Other relevant frauds in which the LTTE are accused of being involved in are social security fraud, organized crime, and counterfeit currency trading. Conclusion & Future Prospects LTTE has said to be involved in more suicidal attacks that any other institutions, which includes of Al-Qaeda, Hamas, or Islamic Jihad. Over the entire period of disagreement with the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE has switched over control of authority and territory in north-east Sri Lanka with that of Sri Lankan Army repeatedly, by keeping up in ferocious confrontations in the entire procedure. They have also been indulged in peacemaking talks to conclude the divergence for about four times, but the attempt was unfortunately unsuccessful every time it was tried by either side of the party. However, by the end of the last peace talk attempt in the year 2006, the Sri Lankan military showed vigilant and strong offensive against the LTTE, that enabled them to make hold of a vast LTTE dominant area. By doing so, the LTTE became limited to a certain area of 21.5 kilometers square area in the District of Mullaithivu. The future of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka is vague since there is a certainty that the group might lose its power, or it might get stronger again by using proper defense and planning measures against the Sri Lankan military. After the defeat and military control of the Sri Lankan government, LTTE lose its control over major dominancy of area and are expected to be defeated completely by the end of February 2009. Although, it is also fared that the LTTE militants would get back with the most fierce guerilla attack campaign against the Sri Lankan military. But they are being told by the government to negotiate, and come up to a mutual decision by surrendering peacefully so that the entire area could be regarded as violence free. Hezbollah - The Islamic Jihad Group Introduction Hezbollah is originally an Islamic Jihad Group that is also a Shi'a Islamic religious, paramilitary, and political party that has significant force acting in the areas of Lebanon's politics. This group provides significantly several types of services and offers to the people of Lebanon in form of schools, hospitals, agricultural means, and social services. The word Hezbollah is driven from Arabic language which means Party of God. This institute is referred to as a justifiable confrontation movement throughout the entire Muslim and particularly the Arab world, but other major countries of the world including the united states, the united kingdom, Canada, Australia, Israel, and Netherlands regard this movement as entirely as terrorism institute that is involved in many terrorism attacks and activities. The movement of Hezbollah was started in the year 1982 in response to the Israeli Invasion of Lebanon with a very small number of militants against the Israeli army. The main leaders of the movement were inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini and the major portion of the militants training was supported, provided and organized by the contingent of Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The beginning number of the militants of Hezbollah was very less in number, but at present, the organization has emerged as one of the largest movements running in the Arab world that holds legal seats in the Lebanese government in the areas of satellite, radio, social development, and television-station. The main purpose of the Hezbollah movement is to support the Shi'a population and to collect support from the Christian, Sunni, and Druze since the 2006 Lebanon War (Harik, 2005, p13). At the time of its establishment, the Hezbollah movement had no organizational structure and the members were supposed to carry no certain responsibilities as such that could relate them directly to be in relation with an organization. However, with the change in the structure and working of the movement as it changed its pace from violence to political, social and cultural services, the movement thought of acquiring a formal governing organizational structure so that every person could know his position and better working conditions within the movement. In this way, every individual is now able to serve the movement and the homeland of Lebanon better. At present, the flow of the movement starts from the Ulama down to the entire community that signifies every single person's goals and duties separately while stating their standardized responsibilities (Capaldo, 2008, p253). History / Background & Issues The main origin of the Hezbollah movement is said to be formed and founded in the year 1982, where the main purpose of the movement was to focus on demolishing Israel's illegal and unwanted positioning of Southern Lebanon. The movement of Israel in the Lebanon was entirely undesirable and unethical that was needed to be removed, that gave rise to the Hezbollah movement in the 1982 Lebanon War (Schnabel, 2006, p372). Soon after its establishment, Hezbollah launched fierce guerilla war against the unwelcomed Israeli militants and mainly made use of suicidal attacks against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) within and outside Lebanon. Previously, Hezbollah gained popularity as the first resistance group for using tactical suicidal bombing attacks, assassination of important and high-ranking Israeli officials or militants, and captivating against foreign soldiers in the areas of Middle East. But later on, Hezbollah made got ahead and made use of paramilitary missiles, detonation of explosive charges, and rocket launchers. The movement never gets involved with the sectarian bloodletting during the entire period of the Lebanese Civil War, but instead fought enthusiastically against Israel's Lebanese proxies (SLA) and the Amal militia for gaining control over the Shi'a dominant areas. This continued over the entire decade of 1980s (Norton, 2007, p14). The decade of 1980s was full of vigorous war against the Israel army, but the movement took drastic change in the 1990s. The Hezbollah movement transformed itself from a militant and fighting base of institute to the political and social services ground and communicated a compassionate standpoint towards the Lebanese state. The drastic change started with the election and promotion of Abbas Al-Musawi to become the secretary general. The movement also showed interest in participating the elections of 1992 that was initiated by the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khameini. Later on, Hezbollah published its political agenda that incorporated deliverance of Lebanese land from Zionist illegal captivity, making sure of political and media independence, abolishment of political sectarianism, and making improvements in electoral law to characterize it as more flexible of the general population. This publishing act helped the entire movement to win around 12 seats. By the end of that particular year, the Hezbollah started negotiating with the Christian Lebanese. The working of the Hezbollah considers political, social, cultural and religious liberty in Lebanon as consecrated. The dialog then expanded to other several groups except for those who have direct influence or relationship with the Israel. By the end of the year 1997, Hezbollah formed another multi-confessional Lebanese Brigades to Fighting the Israeli Occupation, who main emphasize was to stimulate nationwide and secular confrontation against Israel (Hoffman, 2006, p208). Ideology & Doctrine of Hezbollah Every institution, organization, group or movement has its particular ideologies or principles according to which it operates and functions forever. The main theme and ideology behind the Hezbollah movement was revealed on February 16, 1985, which are represented in the following (Parsi, 2007, p128): To propose the Phalanges to a just supremacy and transport them all to justice for the illegal crimes they have committed in opposition to Muslims and Christians To drive out the Americans, the French and their associates definitely from Lebanon, putting an end to any colonialist entity on our land To allow all the sons of our people to agree on their future and to choose in all the independence the form of government they wish for. We call upon all of them to pick the option of Islamic government which, alone, is competent of guaranteeing justice, autonomy, and independence for all. Only an Islamic management can stoop any future tentative challenges of imperialism penetration onto our country. The main ambition and objective of the Hezbollah movement was to spread Islamic revolution that follows a unique and separate form of distinct version of Islamic Shi'a Faqihi ideology that was primarily developed by the leader of Islamic Revolution of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The main purpose of the Hezbollah has been disposed of due to several reasons, that was, to put emphasize on to transform Lebanon into formal Faqihi Islamic Republic. Actions of Hezbollah Pertaining to Israel and Jews The main focus and purpose of the formation of Hezbollah since the time of its establishment till now is to focus on to demolish Israel from the map of the world. The movement will stop its violent struggle till the time Israel will not be eliminated and to focus on liberating Palestine borders from the hands of Israel. However, the group differentiates between Zionism and Judaism; and has laid several anti-Semitic statements concerning them. Political Activities Hezbollah is considered to be one of the most important two political parties acting actively in Lebanon that represents Shi'a Muslims. It serves the homeland of Lebanon on political grounds very strongly and holds around 14 seats out of 128 seats in Lebanon Parliament. It is said to be the most powerful single political entity and political movement in Lebanon. The main aim of the movement is to represent and secure the Shi'a Muslims of Lebanon. It became the main parties of the country ever since after the polarization of political atmosphere of Lebanon in March 2005. After that time period, the movement insisted on gaining the establishment of a National Unity Government in which they also demanded early elections and one-third of the Cabinet seats followed by the veto power in hand. After receiving rejection from the government, the Cabinet Ministers of the movement resigned and started 2006-2008 Lebanese Political Protests in which they insisted on getting their power and authority on electoral basis. In the year 2008, the government ordered to seize the telecommunication network of Hezbollah, which was declared as a war against the movement as described or foreseen by the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and insisted on revoking the illegal law enforcement. The opposition seized areas of Hezbollah were transferred to the Lebanon military. Here the military played a very supportive role that it tried to resolve the 18 months conflict between the government and the Hezbollah movement and granted veto power to Hezbollah with certain principles and legislations in the Parliament (Heo, 2005, p794). Military Activities Hezbollah has a military branch or system that is known as The Islamic Resistance. Apart from that, there are some other small relevant militant groups which are sponsored by the Hezbollah group. These groups are not very well known in general and can be categorized as; Followers of Prophet Muhammad, the Organization of Right against Wrong, the Organization of the Oppressed, and the Revolutionary Justice Organization. The United Nations insisted on Hezbollah to disarm its militants by the time the Lebanese Civil War ends up; but the leaders of Hezbollah declined and rejected this idea by protesting against it. Moreover, the conflict of 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel has increased the controversy. But it has got the people's vote and most of the population believes that Hezbollah should not disarm its militant forces after 2006 Lebanon War. Although the armed forces and armed strength of Hezbollah has never been revealed by the movement, but it is estimated that the entire movement is fully quipped with brilliant minds that includes of around 1,000 full time Hezbollah members, that are supported wholeheartedly by volunteers that make up to the number of around 6,000 - 10,000 militants in total. The movement possesses a variety of weapons and missiles. For the air defense and other kinds of defense, Hezbollah possesses anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Hezbollah was previously involved in the suicide bombing attacks, but with radical change in its movement and the working surroundings, it changed its pace of attack since the time Israel left foot from the Lebanon soil. The Hezbollah group is involved mainly in missile attacks and political, social, cultural, and social services affairs (Cordesman, 2006, p262). Conclusion & Future Prospects The starting zone of Hezbollah aims with very small number of members that worked on the purpose to remove Israeli militants from the land of Lebanon. With this ambition and objective, the movement started its work since the year 1982 and got succeeded eventually. Because of its working and support from the public, Hezbollah represents the protection of the majority of Shi'a population and expanded course of sustainability from Lebanon's broader border population straight away followed by the 2006 Lebanon War, and is able to mobilize demonstrations of a huge number of population. Hezbollah started the 2006-2008 Lebanese political protests against the government, and later on succeeded in preserving its telecommunication network. However, the government handed over the Hezbollah dominant areas to the military that was later on handed back to the group with veto power in Lebanon's Parliament. The main financial supporters of Hezbollah are Syria, Iran, and several other Shi'a and Lebanese populations. The military strength of Hezbollah has never been revealed by the movement or through any other resources. The future of Hezbollah can be foreseen by the people and government of Lebanon because members of Hezbollah believe in serving the nation with full motivation and enthusiasm more than ever. The President of Lebanon sees the movement as a national resistance force serving the people and do not consider it as a terrorist group. However, the attitude of the United States government seems to be returning to backdoor diplomacy when it comes to criticizing Hezbollah movement. Therefore, the status of Hezbollah group remains in flux with its future unclear because it is related with the future of the Lebanon government and its members. The movement of Hezbollah is expected to prosper till the time its practices and efforts are supported by the people and government of Lebanon, otherwise it might face failure and downfall. References Atkins, Stephen E.; 2004, Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups, Published by Greenwood Publishing Group, p180. Bell, Stewart; Gunaratna, Rohan; 2007, Cold Terror: How Canada Nurtures and Exports Terrorism Around the World; Published by John Wiley and Sons, p49. Capaldo, Giuliana Ziccardi; 2008, The Pillars of Global Law, Published by Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., p253. Cordesman, Anthony H.; Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.); 2006, Arab-Israeli military forces in an era of asymmetric wars; Published by Greenwood Publishing Group, p262. Harik, Judith Palmer; 2005, Hezbollah: The Changing Face of Terrorism; Published by I.B.Tauris, p13. 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