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Rapper MIA Gives Voice to Tamil Tigers

Rebel leader's daughter walks fine line of glorifying terrorism

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 11, 2009 5:50 AM CST

(Newser) – America knows MIA as the rapper who dropped rhymes—and nearly a baby—at the Grammy Awards, but she’s a far more divisive figure in Sri Lanka, the New York Times reports. MIA's father is a leader in the Tamil Tigers and critics say the rapper, whose videos are loaded with Tamil imagery, is an apologist for the rebels.

Being a prominent Tamil in Western media provides a "great opportunity to sort of bring forward what’s going on in Sri Lanka,” MIA said last month while discussing the government's anti-rebel offensive. “There’s a genocide going on.” Sri Lankans from the country's majority Sinhalese community say she's lucky to get away with speaking in favor of a group branded as terrorists by the US government.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

MIA arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

MIA arrives at the GQ magazine 2008 "Men of the Year" party in Los Angeles, Nov. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)

Lil Wayne, left, MIA, center, and Jay Z, in background, perform at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Singer MIA in New York, July 24, 2007. MIA left her war-torn Sri Lankan homeland when she was 7 years old. (AP Photo/Jim Cooper)

MIA poses for a photograph backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

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Rapper MIA Gives Voice to Tamil Tigers