‘Terrorism’ or ‘Liberation’? Towards a Distinction: A Case Study of the Armed Struggle of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

This article based on extensive empirical field research and primary sources/data attempts to distinguish terrorismfrom liberation / freedom struggle by means of a case study of the armed struggle of the Liberation Tigers of TamilEelam in Sri Lanka. It is argued here that the LTTE was primarily a terrorist organisation/movement because:(i) it’s struggle was overwhelmingly based on armed violence; (ii) it demanded support from the masses throughpersecution; (iii) it intentionally targeted civilians; (iv) it substantially relied on suicide attacks; (v) it substantiallydeployed under-age children; and (vi) it was proactively involved in internecine war.