Chinese Arms in LTTE Hands

Photo: 21 Black Tigers who are involved with Anuradhapura Attack

By:Defencewire

(October,26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) In a picture released of the latest troupe of young Tamils to sacrifice themselves to the unattainable dream of Tamil Ealam see the Tigers brandishing nothing but Chinese weapons. In the picture, some Black Tiger cadres carry QBZ 97, export version of QBZ 95, produced for the Republic of China military by Qīng Buqiang-Zidong company, designed by NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation). The weapon is a 5.56mm caliber (NATO-term) weapon.

Members of the group is also shown holding Anti-Tank Weapons, also made in China (Type-69 or RPG7 variation) loaded with Airburst Anti-Personnel HE with HEAT rockets in their back. The body colour of this weapon seems to indicate it is more a T69. Members of the group also hold 66mm Light Anti-Tank Weapons (LAWs) with disposable rounds and the RPGs are of reusable type. One Tiger poses with a CIS 40 Singapore made 40mm Grenade Launcher (CIS 40 GL). Tamil Tigers use CIS 40 and Ultimax LMG as weapon of choice in many battles. The Sub Machine Gun held by one Tiger is a T86 silenced version and again 5.56mm. The LMGs in the picture are Type 88 GPMG (QJY 88 or General Purpose Machine Gun).

Those weapons are all Chinese and seem to be directly imported from China through Burma or Chinese weapons bought and resold by the Burmese Junta. There is a high likelihood that NORINCO, China North Industries Corporation, a state-run company, is selling the weapons and using the Burmese route to sell such weapons to the LTTE (Click here to see how China's NORINCO is aiding Burma).

The same company sold weapons to Sudan. Unlike in the weapons manufactured in the West, many of these Chinese firearms do not have serial numbers and are therefore very difficult to trace without any records available of their manufacture, purchase or eventual destination.

The Singapore government has cracked down on illegal arms sales following a revelation and subsequent international pressure that they sold weapons to aid a conflict in the Balkans. However, the LTTE's acquisition of the CIS 40 GL Grenade Launcher seems to indicate otherwise. Whatever the case maybe, the Chinese are double-crossing the Sri Lankan government.

We like to thank our reader nemesis for drawing our attention to the picture and starting the conversation.