Document #1127806
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Information regarding the Student
Organization of Liberation Tigers (SOLT) is scarce among the
sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The following
information was received from a professor of International
Relations at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and author of
International and Regional Security Implications of the Sri
Lankan Tamil Insurgency.
1. What is SOLT's mandate?
SOLT is the student wing of the LTTE. Its mandate is to influence school children to join the LTTE. As you may be aware 60% of the LTTE strength is under 18.
2. When did SOLT come into existence and does it still exist today?
Yes, SOLT is fully operational. Its leader in 1996 was Idayan. He may still be the leader.
3. What methods does SOLT use to recruit new members?
Go to schools and recruit. They are very effective in propaganda. Sometimes they recruit forcibly.
4. What is the relationship between SOLT and the LTTE?
It is a part of the LTTE main organisation. The head of SOLT reports to the head of LTTE. All SOLT members take an oath to the head of the LTTE, V. Prabhakaran (5 Aug. 1999).
The Research Directorate was unable to
corroborate this information within time constraints.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Professor of International Relations,
University of St. Andrews, Scotland. 5 August 1999.
Correspondence.
Additional Sources Consulted
Extremist Groups: An International
Compilation of Terrorist Organizations, Violent Political Groups
and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements. 1996.
Mondes rebelles. 1996.
Revolutionary and Dissident
Movements of the World. 1991.
Youth Movements of the World.
1990.
Electronic sources: Internet, IRB
Databases, WNC.