1987 Suicide of Tamil Tigers

In 1987, the Tamil Tigers, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), experienced a significant and troubling event involving the suicide of numerous members within the organization. This period marked a phase of intensified conflict during the Sri Lankan Civil War, which was characterized by brutal ethnic tensions between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority. The phenomenon of suicide within the LTTE was viewed as both a tactic and a form of protest against perceived oppression, with members believing that martyrdom furthered their cause for an independent Tamil Eelam. The events of 1987 intensified debates regarding the tactics employed by the LTTE and the psychological motivations of its members, leading to broader discussions about the implications of such acts within the context of terrorism and armed resistance.