The '''Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam''' (LTTE), also known as the '''Tamil Tigers''', is an organization that has waged a [[Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka|violent secessionist campaign]] against the Sri Lankan Government since the 1970s in order to secure independence for the majority [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Tamil]] regions of [[Sri Lanka]].
The formation of the LTTE allegesis thatattributed to government policy over the years, has beenconsidered discriminatory againstby Ceylon Tamils.Additionally the LTTE alleges that Sri Lanka has carriedand outincludes [[State_terrorism_in_Sri_Lanka|state terrorism]] and crimes against humanity [http://www.disappearances.org/mainfile.php/articles_srilanka/9/] against the Tamil minority. These allegations have not been supported by the International community.
Some of the [[Notable attacks by the LTTE|LTTE tactics it has employed]] in its campaign, such as the use of [[suicide bombers]], assasination of elected politicians, ethnic cleansing and [[Military use of children|use of child soldiersrecruits]] have been condemned (although government backed paramilitaries are known to recruit children [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL319390.htm]) and resulted in the LTTE being bannedlisted as a terroristproscribed organization in a 29number of countries, including the [[United States]], the [[European Union]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]] and [[India]]. The LTTEUN, activitiesSri areLanka proscribedand in some161 other countries under(a majority in the UN resolutiongeneral callingassembly) forhave thenot restrictionimposed ofa terroristban groupson the organization.
The LTTE is headed by its reclusive founder, [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]].
