# How is the Sri Lankan Army suddenly defeating the Tamil Tigers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230 "2009-01-27T14:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/1 "2009-01-27T14:58:00Z")
Seeing that the Sri Lankan Army has taken the Tiger’s unofficial capital, it seem sudden that the SLA has now reconquered so much land, so quickly, after 25 years of war. I haven’t seen any analysis of how the SLA is doing it though – new general that’s a millitary genius? Tactics? Strategies? Luck? Morale on both sides changed? Is there some military analysis out there? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/2 "2009-01-27T15:05:00Z")
They have been told by the Government to essentially do whats necessary and damn the consequences. Also they are better equipped now, they raised an armoured brigade ;last year (with pakistani [help](http://www.boloji.com/plainspeak/067.htm)) and were trained again in Pakistan in air assualt operations. They have a lot better arty now than before, and have been using it judiciously. The US also helps with intel and India can’t help the Tigers as much as before due to the prevailing international sentiment against terror. The Sri Lankan raised two new divisions for this offessive. All in all they are better prepared and equipped and most importantly-led, almost all their generals have served as juniors in the conflict, they have quite a bit of experience now. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/3 "2009-01-27T21:28:52Z")
Overseas funding for the Tigers has also dried up a bit as nations with Sri Lankan expatriate populations are clamping down on terrorism-related funding. MMost Western nations have declated the LTTE a terrorist organization just in the last few years. So in addition to being better trained and equipped, the Sri Lankan army is fighting an enemy that’s shorter than ever on funds, equipment, and personnel. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/4 "2009-01-28T03:28:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Overseas funding for the Tigers has also dried up a bit as nations with Sri Lankan expatriate populations are clamping down on terrorism-related funding. MMost Western nations have declated the LTTE a terrorist organization just in the last few years. So in addition to being better trained and equipped, the Sri Lankan army is fighting an enemy that’s shorter than ever on funds, equipment, and personnel. RickJay nailed it . All supply lines ( medicines,money,arms,etc) are cut off. It is end game for LTTE at least for now ! Plus I believe a lot of fighters seem have deserted their ranks ( reported in some Indian newpapers) ! ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/5 "2009-01-28T11:59:35Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > India can’t help the Tigers as much as before due to the prevailing international sentiment against terror. How was India helping the LTTE before? ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/6 "2009-01-28T18:24:20Z")
Supplies, weapons, intel. The deployment of the Indian Army to Sri Lanka in the late 80’s is something else, the Indian Intel agencies were still supporting the Tamils while IA troops were chasing LTTE. Sri Lanka falls into S Asia logic, India supports the Tamils because of its own Tamil population, Pakistan supports Sri Lanka because it will annoy India, India tries to get Lanka back in its Orbit by sending two divisions there, Pakistan actively supports both LTTE and the Sri Lankan army, the LTTE against the Indians and the Sri Lankans against the LTTE. Byzantine dose not even begin to describe it. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/7 "2009-01-28T20:36:48Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Supplies, weapons, intel. The deployment of the Indian Army to Sri Lanka in the late 80’s is something else, the Indian Intel agencies were still supporting the Tamils while IA troops were chasing LTTE. Sri Lanka falls into S Asia logic, India supports the Tamils because of its own Tamil population, Pakistan supports Sri Lanka because it will annoy India, India tries to get Lanka back in its Orbit by sending two divisions there, Pakistan actively supports both LTTE and the Sri Lankan army, the LTTE against the Indians and the Sri Lankans against the LTTE. > > Byzantine dose not even begin to describe it. Do you have a cite that the Indian government was supplying the LTTE with weapons, supplies or intel post IPKF deployment? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/8 "2009-01-28T23:09:33Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > Do you have a cite that the Indian government was supplying the LTTE with weapons, supplies or intel post IPKF deployment? A quick search ( I was curious myself ) turned up this article ( pdf ): [http://www.karainet.org/files/LTTE’s%20India%20links%20were%20far%20more%20dubious%20than%20are%20made%20out%20to%20be%20-22-01-2008.pdf](http://www.karainet.org/files/LTTE's%20India%20links%20were%20far%20more%20dubious%20than%20are%20made%20out%20to%20be%20-22-01-2008.pdf) Damning if true, though I’m not sure how reliable that source is. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/9 "2009-01-28T23:22:15Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > A quick search ( I was curious myself ) turned up this article ( pdf ): [http://www.karainet.org/files/LTTE’s%20India%20links%20were%20far%20more%20dubious%20than%20are%20made%20out%20to%20be%20-22-01-2008.pdf](http://www.karainet.org/files/LTTE's%20India%20links%20were%20far%20more%20dubious%20than%20are%20made%20out%20to%20be%20-22-01-2008.pdf) > > Damning if true, though I’m not sure how reliable that source is. It wouldn’t surprise me if prior to Rajiv Gandhi’s assasination, there were contacts between Indian intelligence officials and various rebel groups in Sri Lanka (of which, at the time, the LTTE was not the only one). However, **AK84** seems to be making the claim that until recently, the Indian government was supplying the LTTE with weapons, supplies and intel, and that recent events have curtailed the Indian government’s ability to continue doing this. Although anything is possible, I’m skeptical that a Congress Party-led government would supply anything to the organization responsible for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The claim reeks to me of nutty Pakistani gov’t/ISI propaganda, so I would like a reputable source for this claim. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/10 "2009-01-29T00:56:42Z")
The above is an Indian source, from the Indian Express. Just because it dose not conform to your world view dose not mean that it is “nutty ISI propaganda” Here is the [economist](http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13008128) An Indian MP arrested for helping the [Tigers](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2125555.stm) Indian support for the Tamils since 1992 (when PV Narishima Rao came to power) is a bit like Republic of Ireland support for the PIRA during the troubles, officially a banned organisation, however there was great support and the Gov often turned a blind eye and often actively helped. And no its not ISI propaganda that India has nearky 70 million Tamils, the majority of whom support the Tamiil cause in Lanka, if not the LTTE and its tactics and India will always keep that in mind. Thats not “nutty”, thats realpolitik. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/11 "2009-01-29T00:58:32Z")
Council on Foreign relations [article](http://www.cfr.org/publication/11407/#3)on the issue. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/12 "2009-01-29T01:16:37Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The above is an Indian source, from the Indian Express. Just because it dose not conform to your world view dose not mean that it is “nutty ISI propaganda” Gee, then how come all of these articles do conform to my world view. Have you even been reading what you are citing? > [@](#): > > Here is the [economist](http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13008128) This article is from 1987. Where is the evidence of recent support? > [@](#): > > An Indian MP arrested for helping the [Tigers](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2125555.stm) So, the Indian government arresting people who support the LTTE is evidence of the Indian government’s support of the LTTE?:rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Indian support for the Tamils since 1992 (when PV Narishima Rao came to power) is a bit like Republic of Ireland support for the PIRA during the troubles, officially a banned organisation, however there was great support and the Gov often turned a blind eye and often actively helped. And yet you are unable to provide any evidence of this support. > [@](#): > > And no its not ISI propaganda that India has nearky 70 million Tamils, the majority of whom support the Tamiil cause in Lanka, if not the LTTE and its tactics and India will always keep that in mind. I am asking you for evidence that the Indian government has supported the LTTE recently. > [@](#): > > Thats not “nutty”, thats realpolitik. If it’s not nutty, then provide some semblance of evidence. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/13 "2009-01-29T01:18:49Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Council on Foreign relations [article](http://www.cfr.org/publication/11407/#3)on the issue. Did you even read this article? It indicates that the current LTTE support comes from extortion and criminal activity and only mentions Indian support pre-IPKF deployment. Nothing you’ve posted in this thread remotely supports the idea that the Indian government has given support to the LTTE post Gandhi’s assassination. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/14 "2009-01-29T01:38:41Z")
Let me clarify, since **AK84** seems to be misreading my posts and responding with irrelevant cites. I am skeptical of the idea that a Congress Party-led Indian government would support the LTTE after Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Posting articles about Indian government activity prior to Gandhi’s assassination or even posting articles during periods of non-Congress party control do nothing to refute my skepticism. Posting articles about the behavior of private citizens does nothing to refute my skepticism either. If you wish to respond to the issue I’m having, then do so relevant citations. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/15 "2009-01-29T03:17:53Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > I haven’t seen any analysis of how the SLA is doing it though – new general that’s a millitary genius? Tactics? Strategies? Luck? Morale on both sides changed? > ? This [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7857247.stm) article has some analysis on the issue: > [@](#): > > Guerrilla tactics > > For almost a year, as Sri Lankan troops have advanced from the south, the story has been the same. They have taken territory, boosted by better weapons and weight of numbers. > > But the local population has melted away in front of them. > > Why has the army suddenly had such striking military success? > > It is partly because they have taken on the Tigers at their own game - guerrilla warfare. > > They have deployed small teams of fighters deep in the jungle, and sent out highly manoeuvrable boats to take on the Tigers’ fledgling navy. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/16 "2009-01-29T05:07:37Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > Let me clarify, since **AK84** seems to be misreading my posts and responding with irrelevant cites. > > I am skeptical of the idea that a Congress Party-led Indian government would support the LTTE after Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Posting articles about Indian government activity prior to Gandhi’s assassination or even posting articles during periods of non-Congress party control do nothing to refute my skepticism. Posting articles about the behavior of private citizens does nothing to refute my skepticism either. If you wish to respond to the issue I’m having, then do so relevant citations. BrightNShiny, It is India bashing season here in SDMB and don’t expect any cites ! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/17 "2009-01-29T06:32:14Z")
> [@indian](#): > > BrightNShiny, > > It is India bashing season here in SDMB and don’t expect any cites ! 😉 Heh. I’m not really a fan of the Congress Party, but I am having trouble picturing them supporting the LTTE after the whole IPKF debacle/Gandhi assassination. I could picture certain elements of the BJP or one of the Communist Parties supporting the LTTE, but even then I’d need some sort of evidence to be convinced. This quote from **AK84** ’s last cite pretty much sums up how I’ve thought of the Indian government’s viewpoint on the conflict: > [@](#): > > Although many Sinhalese would like India to play a bigger role in the current crisis, Schaeffer likens its previous involvement in Sri Lanka to that of the United States in Vietnam. She says India “certainly isn’t going to get involved in cease-fire monitoring under these circumstances.” But she also says India wants negotiations to resume, because it does not want to see a renewed conflict resulting in a flow of refugees to its shores, or an independent Tamil state that could stir up problems in Tamil Nadu. That article is from 2006, though. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/18 "2009-01-29T10:20:13Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Indian support for the Tamils since 1992 (when PV Narishima Rao came to power) is a bit like Republic of Ireland support for the PIRA during the troubles, officially a banned organisation, however there was great support and the Gov often turned a blind eye and often actively helped I’m going to grit my teeth, remember that this is GQ and simply ask “cite?”. As to the OP, from what I’ve read, it seems that the government of Sri Lanka is pumping a lot more money into the conflict than before. I’ll have to wait till I’m back home to grab a cite from the Economist, but Government spending is starting to negatively affect their economy. Besides, I thought half the problem for the LTTE was that having made themselves into a mini-state within a state, they were just making themselves into one big fat target all of a sudden. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-sri-lankan-army-suddenly-defeating-the-tamil-tigers/483230/19 "2009-02-02T23:13:04Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > I’m going to grit my teeth, remember that this is GQ and simply ask “cite?”. +1 as they say in net lingo.