Tigers terror income second biggest in world - Jane's
Huge income generated from drugs and extortion :
Walter Jayawardhana
US: The August issue of the Jane's Intelligence Report said the
annual income of the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
is between US $ 200-300 million making it the rebel group generating the
second biggest income both by legal and illegal business.
The report said the huge income is generated perhaps from shipping to
drugs and extortion by a network of professional managers -both Tamils
and others- across a string of countries and as a terrorist group, its
income is second only to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia
whose income comes from its vast cocaine sales.
"Shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles are almost certainly the
most probable item on the wish list, but there will also be small arms
and other weapons," Christian LeMiere, Managing Editor of Jane's Country
Risk said.
Jane's said part of its income also comes from purported Tamil
charities, the funds of which are allegedly transferred for its coffers.
The LTTE has been spending part of this vast income to buy
conventional arms to fight the Sri Lankan Security Forces.
The report said the group has been engaged in a conflict with waning
results since 2006 and its weapons have been smuggled in from South-East
Asia and nearby parts of India.
LeMiere said; "But the progress of the war since 2006 has been
against the LTTE, so it hasn't done them very much good."
A series of arrests of Tiger weapons buyers in North America, Europe
and Thailand have also worsened the situation.
The report said many Tamil charities have become an effective way of
transferring money to the terrorist outfit.
The report said a network of Tamil charities proved an effective way
of moving money for the coffers of the outfit. It said the Sri Lankan
Government says large amounts of money raised after the 2004 tsunami
found their way to the Tigers. Australian Federal Government has
prosecuted LTTE supporters against the same charge.
Possessors of the world’s only terrorist Air Force and a Navy of fast
attack boats, the Tigers were able to bomb the capital and airport this
year with light aircraft probably smuggled into the country in pieces,
the report said.
But the terrorists have lost large amounts of territory, it added, in
the East to the Army since the 2002 ceasefire collapsed last year and
Government jets have been able to raid their bases with impunity-hence
their wish for anti-aircraft missiles.
The Tigers have been widely condemned for their use of suicide
bombing and are listed in the US, European Union and elsewhere as
terrorists, the report said.
Jane’s also said the Tigers freedom to operate overseas was reduced
by a global crackdown on militant groups after the September 11, 2001
attacks.
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