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HISTORY OF TAMIL STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM IN SRI LANKA
A PHOTO ALBUM

TAMIL RESISTANCE TO OPPRESSION

From 1949 (when Tamils started to protest) to
1974 (when, for the first time,Tamil youth took up arms)
(i.e. TWENTY FIVE YEARS),
The methods of protest by the Tamil people were
ENTIRELY NON-VIOLENT
"... at the time of the Amnesty International Mission (January 1975), 42 young members of the Tamil community (were) arrested and detained since the end of 1972. They were arrested for their agitation (generally peaceful, so Amnesty International understands) for greater autonomy for the Tamils who feel that the provisions in the 1972 constittution regarding language and religion discriminate against them..."
- Report of Amnesty International Mission to Sri Lanka, January 1975


School Girls Marching for Tamil Rights (Jaffna 1961)


Women March in Jaffna (1961)

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Dmonstration Outside Government Secretariat in Jaffna (1961)

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Demostration - Another Scene
During this period, as has been shown, the Tamils were subject to repeated Sinhala mob-attacks.

Finally, in spite of the non-violent response from the Tamils, the government started to use its armed forces to suppress the Tamil dissent.