Sri Lanka: Existence of a pro-Tamil, anti-IPKF (or anti-Sinhalese) "Women's Front" organization in Sri Lanka
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LKA1007 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sri Lanka: Existence of a pro-Tamil, anti-IPKF (or anti-Sinhalese) "Women's Front" organization in Sri Lanka, 1 May 1989, LKA1007, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aada43.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The attached documentation mentions that women are members of the Tamil militant groups. One passage from Lament for Lanka claims that while some female members of the Tamil militant groups are doing first aid work, others have taken up arms. [Alison Wynne, Lament for Lanka (Hong Kong: The Christian Conference of Asia, 1988), p. 14.] As the largest Tamil militant group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, assumed control of Jaffna in early 1987 it was reported that over 2500 women had been trained by the L.T.T.E. in first aid to serve in 164 health centres. [Iqbal Athas, "Tamil guerilla group operating as government in northern Sri Lanka", The Ottawa Citizen 10 January 1987, p. B7.] During the Indian Peace Keeping Force seige of the Jaffna peninsula in October 1987, armed female militants were reported to have participated in the operation of checkpoints on the exit routes out of the Jaffna Peninsula. [Bryan Johnson, "Tamil stronghold called "madhouse"", The Globe and Mail 17 October 1987, no page given.]
Also find attached photocopies of articles containing pictures of armed female militants, reportedly members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a group which continues to fight the Sri Lankan Army and the Indian Peace Keeping Force. It is not known when these pictures were taken.
ATTACHMENTS
"Alive and Kicking", Tamil Voice International. Vol. 1, No. 24, January 1989, 19.
Athas, Iqbal. "Tamil guerrilla group operating as government in northern Sri Lanka", The Ottawa Citizen. 10 January 1987, B7.
Johnson, Bryan. "Tamil stronghold called "madhouse", The Globe and Mail. 17 October 1987, no page given.
Weisman, Steven R. "Sri Lanka Struggles to OVercome Centuries of Ethnic Ill Will", The New York Times. 30 August 1987, E2.
Wynne, Allison. Lament for Lanka. Hong Kong: The Christian Conference of Asia, 1988, 13-17.
