COLONEL KITTU: the first Great Commander of the LTTE

Colonel Kittu

name of birth: Sathasivam Krishnakumar

In 1979, during the foundation of the LTTE, an eighteen-year-old boy named Sathasivam Krishnakumar turned himself into a freedom fighter and changed his name to Vengittu, later affectionately known as Kittu by his friends.

Since Kittu had the natural ability to learn anything quickly and efficiently, Kittu, who was always beside the leader, knows the leader’s thoughts and the boundless affection he had for the people. His speed and prudence, combined with his extraordinary skill have given rise to a certain confidence in him. Kittu waits for the time to prove the leader’s faith in him. He received direct military training from LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Col. Kittu rose to public prominence as the LTTE’s Jaffna Commander from 1985-1987 and was based in the Paduvankarai region during the first phase of the war. He was later appointed head of the LTTE’s International Secretariat in London and was on his way home from the UK when his ship was intercepted by the indian navy forces.

Kittu had explained to the navy officials, who surrounded him, but they had rejected his explanation and had taken the LTTE ship by force to the shores. Following this action by the Indian navy Kittu and nine of his comrades committed suicide to prevent themselves from becoming prisoners of the Indian government

The influence of Kittu’s thoughts is also one of the reasons for the immense development of the Tamil media industry in the way that the Tamil people living in Tamileelam and around the world can feel the true face of their liberation struggle.

Colonel Kittu, and nine other LTTE cadres, who committed suicide after being surrounded by Indian navy warships in 1993, are:

- Lt.Col. Kuttisiri: Rasaiah Sri Ganesan from Suthumalai, Jaffna

- Sea Tiger Captain Jeeva: Nadarajah Mark Jeyarajah from Pashaiyoor, Jaffna

- Sea Tiger Captain Gunaseelan: Segan Cruz Michael Jeeva from Maniam Thottam in Jaffna

- Major Malaravan (Velan): Suntharalingam Suntharavel from Viyaparimoolai, Point Pedro

- Sea Tiger Captain Rosan: Ratnalingam Arunarajah from Nallur, Jaffna

- Sea Tiger Captain Nayagam: Sivalingam Seharan from Polikandy in Point Pedro

- Sea Tiger Lt. Thuyavan: Mahalingam Jeyalingam from Kandy Road, Jaffna

- Sea Tiger Lt. Amuthan: Aloysius Johnson from Navanthurai, Jaffna

- Sea Tiger Lt. Nallarasan: Sivagnanasundaram Ramesh from Columbuthurai, Jaffna

The National Leader said, “Kittu you are not dead, you have been born a new breath”.