LTTE leader pays homage to Black Tigers
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 05 July 2006, 19:28 GMT]
LTTE leader Mr. V. Pirapaharan participated in the Black Tigers commemoration day events held Monday in Vanni. 273 Black Tigers have died since July 05 1987 when LTTE's first Black Tiger, Captain Miller, drove an explosive laden truck on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops garrisoned in Nelliyadi in Vadamaradchi, Jaffna. 194 of the Black Tigers who died on their mission till 25 June 2006, were Black Sea Tigers, according to LTTE sources in Vanni.
56 Black Sea Tigers were women fighters and 18 of the 79 Black Tigers who died during attacks on land were women cadres, LTTE sources added.  LTTE's media unit released edited photos of LTTE leader paying homage to Black Tigers who died in their missions. Senior Commanders of the LTTE and other Black Tigers were present with Pirapaharan at an undisclosed location in Vanni.
A number of Black Sea Tiger divers have blown themselves up to destroy Sri Lanka Navy vessels. Analysts have identified a third type of Black Tiger cadres referred as "Champion Black Tigers." Very little is known about this special unit. During the strategic LTTE operation on Elephant Pass (EPS) garrison, Black Tiger units destroyed artillery positions. On 24 July, 2001, a major attack was carried out in Colombo on Colombo Air base, 8 military aircrafts of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) were destroyed. The attack on Katunayake military base and the adjoining airport, is regarded as a landmark operation that brought Colombo to negotiation table. The Black Tigers Day is observed in the NorthEast on July 5th. Black Tigers are not referred to as suicide cadres, since all LTTE cadres carry a glass vial of cyanide to prevent being captured alive by the enemy.
Chronology:
Related Articles:23.04.03 EPS fall: reassessing LTTE's manoeuvre warfare prowess 24.07.01 Tension after dawn raid
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