Tamil Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran still alive, claims MDMK leader
Though the exact circumstances of Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran's death remain disputed, the Sri Lankan military claims that he was killed in a firefight in May 2009.
More than 14 years after the Sri Lankan government declared the death of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) General Secretary Vaiko on Sunday claimed that the Tamil Tiger leader is still alive.
He also said Prabhakaran's birthday was celebrated on Sunday by cutting a cake.
On the birth anniversary of Prabhakaran, Vaiko said, "We believe that LTTE Velupillai Prabhakaran is still alive, and we have celebrated his birthday by cutting a cake. The person who has been with him [Prabakaran] like Pazha Nedumaran and Kasi Anandan will not lie."
In February this year, Tamil nationalist and veteran politician Pazha Nedumaran had claimed that Prabhakaran is still alive and healthy and that he will soon make a public appearance.
"I am happy to tell the Tamil diaspora that Prabhakaran is still alive and doing well. All the rumours and questions about him might be thus answered. His next plan to liberate Tamil Eelam will be announced by him very soon," Nedumaran said earlier.
Kasi Anandan, another Tamil leader, has also claimed that Prabhakaran is alive and questioned why the Sri Lankan government is not releasing documents about his death if he is indeed killed.
Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Tamil Tigers, a militant organisation that fought a 26-year-long civil war against the Sri Lankan government to establish an independent Tamil state, known as Tamil Eelam.
Prabhakaran, who claimed that the Tamils in Sri Lanka were increasingly marginalised and discriminated against, was seen by many Tamils as a hero fighting for their freedom. At the same time, LTTE was designated as a terrorist outfit by India, the United States, Canada, the European Union, and several other countries.
The Tamil Tiger leader, according to Sri Lankan government, was killed on May 18, 2009, in the bloody final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War. Though the exact circumstances of his death remain disputed, the Sri Lankan military claims that he was killed in a firefight as he attempted to flee the conflict zone. His body was later identified by DNA testing.