Assassinations, murders and wholesale massacres of civilians in Sri Lanka have become an internationally recognized problem since the inception of the Sri Lankan civil war since 1983. Most are categorized as extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions by the UN. Over 60,000 (est.) civilians have been killed so far, of which 2,000[1] were killed since January2006. These killings have been attributed to various actors including the government of Sri Lanka, government aligned para-military groups and the main rebel group LTTE. Following is Assassinations and murders during the Sri Lankan civil war.
Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
LTTE is a rebel group proscribed as a terrorist organization in many countries. It is fighting for independence for the minority Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It is one of the many Tamil militant groups that has used extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of political and other real or perceived enemies. [2] It has been accused of many extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions some of which have been met with denial or no response from the LTTE.
Sri Lanka also harbors many armed para-military groups such as the Karuna group and other political–military organizations such as PLOTE and EPDP most aligned with the government that also indulge in extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of perceived opponents. [3]
LTTE vs. Tamil militant groups
Further the fine line between categories of politicians, rival militants, informants and paramilitary operatives is constantly crossed as most anti-LTTE , Tamil militant groups functioned at these various capacities during their existence. [4]
Following is a list of prominent minoritySri Lankan Tamils as well as others, whose assassinations and murders have been attributed the Government, Paramilitary groups and the LTTE by various self admissions, NGO’s, UN agencies, foreign governments and by the state owned media of Sri Lanka.[5]
