In Pursuit of a Mythical State of Tamil Eelam: a rejoinder to Kristian Stokke

Abstract

This is a rejoinder to an article by Kristian Stokke published in Third World Quarterly, 27 (6), 2006, which is euphorically entitled ‘Building the Tamil Eelam state: emerging state institutions and forms of governance in LTTE-controlled areas in Sri Lanka’. This author’s critique of Kristian Stokke’s article is twofold: one criticism relates to the way research for the article was undertaken; the second is of the glaring factual inaccuracies on which Stokke’s article is based. This article presents statistical and other evidence to refute the claims made by Krishan Stokke that the LTTE is a liberation movement with mass support, performing state functions in areas under its control.