'Modhu Purnima', one of the most important Buddhist festivals, was celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervour at the Rangamati Rajban Bihar, last Wednesday.
Devout Buddhists (from Chakma, Marma, Tangchangya, Tripura and Barua communities) from far-flung areas of the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari thronged at the Rajban Bihar on that day.
Modhu Purnima is usually observed to pay homage to Lord Goutam Buddha through the offering of honey by the devotees.
Devotees -- young and old -- made the offerings to Buddha and Bana Vante at the festival.
Aroti Roy, mother of the Chakma Circle Chief (Chakma King) Barrister Devashis Roy and former minister for CHT Affairs Kalpa Ranjan Chakma attended the programme.
The event started with “Pancha-shila” prayer by the acting president of Rajban Bihar Upasak Upasika Parishad, Samorbijoy Chakma.
Respected spiritualist and chief monk of the Bihar Sadhana Nanda Mohasthabir, widely known as “Bana Vante” addressed the gathering and recited from the holy book Thripitak.
In his speech, the Bana Vante urged the devotees not to drink liquor as it is considered a sin. He said a drunk loses dignity.
Urging devotees to be civil and wise, he also advised them to follow the way of truth.
Modhu Purnima has been celebrated since time immemorial. It is believed that the tradition started when monkeys collected honey from a deep jungle and made an offering to Lord Buddha. Since then Modhu Purnima has been celebrated by the Buddhists.
News By Shantimoy Chakma, Rangamati
The Daily Star
Friday, September 28, 2007 08:11 AM GMT+06:00
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Another instance of restriction of religious freedom in CHT
As expansion of illegal Bengali settlement continues in Maischari under Khagrachari district, the Upazilla Nirbahi Officer of Mahalchari, Md. Abdul Matin has issued a public notice prohibiting construction of new religious institutions without prior permission of the authorities concerned.
The notice, issued on 12 September 2007 against the backdrop of a failed attempt to capture the land of Sadhana Tila Ban Vihara in Babuchara, did not mention what prompted the UNO to issue it. Neither did it specify under which authority the notice has been issued.
Although the prohibitory measure is applicable to all the three major religious places of worship in CHT such as Hindu's Mondir, Muslim's Masjid and Buddhist's Kiyang, the objective of the issuance of the notice becomes clear once the recent policy of land aggression of the government is taken into account. And it is to restrict the practice of religions other than Islam and to facilitate further expansion of illegal Bengali settlement in CHT and particularly in Mahalchari.
The notice, a copy of which has been made available to the HWHRF, also violates the article 41 of the constitution of Bangladesh. It reads: Subject to law, public order and morality (a) every citizen has the right to profess, practise or propagate any religion; (b) every religious community or denomination has the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institutions.
No such notice has been issued in other places of CHT. This also makes the design of the civil administration clear.
In the last few months, the military has brought in hundreds of settler families in Dadkuppya under Mahalchari Thana and settled them on Jumma villagers' lands.
News By Hill Watch Human Rights Forum NEWS No. 40/2007, September28, 2007
The notice, issued on 12 September 2007 against the backdrop of a failed attempt to capture the land of Sadhana Tila Ban Vihara in Babuchara, did not mention what prompted the UNO to issue it. Neither did it specify under which authority the notice has been issued.
Although the prohibitory measure is applicable to all the three major religious places of worship in CHT such as Hindu's Mondir, Muslim's Masjid and Buddhist's Kiyang, the objective of the issuance of the notice becomes clear once the recent policy of land aggression of the government is taken into account. And it is to restrict the practice of religions other than Islam and to facilitate further expansion of illegal Bengali settlement in CHT and particularly in Mahalchari.
The notice, a copy of which has been made available to the HWHRF, also violates the article 41 of the constitution of Bangladesh. It reads: Subject to law, public order and morality (a) every citizen has the right to profess, practise or propagate any religion; (b) every religious community or denomination has the right to establish, maintain and manage its religious institutions.
No such notice has been issued in other places of CHT. This also makes the design of the civil administration clear.
In the last few months, the military has brought in hundreds of settler families in Dadkuppya under Mahalchari Thana and settled them on Jumma villagers' lands.
News By Hill Watch Human Rights Forum NEWS No. 40/2007, September28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Appeal to the Government of Japan and European country
To Mr. Nobutaka Machimura
Honorable MinisterMinistry of Foreign Affairs,
Japan
Date: September 21., 2007
Subject: An appeal to stop ODA to Bangladesh
Sir,
We are writing on behalf of the Jumma People's Network-Japan, an organization of the exiled Jumma peoples in Japan, along with other organizations to express our deep concern over what appears to be a planned and systematic campaign of the settlers and members of Bangladesh military to grab lands belonging to the Jumma people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), especially in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district.We have learnt from various sources that during the last 2-3 months, more than 500 acres of plough land as well as hilly land have been taken away by force in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district. Of these, 42 acres have been grabbed in Rengkarjya Mouza No. 28 under Merung, 149.18 acres in Choto Merung Mouza No. 29, 5.2 acres in Bara Merung Mouza No. 30, 300 acres in Kobakhali Mouza and 26 acres belonging to Boalkhali Buddha Vihara and Orphanage under Dighinala Thana.It is to be mentioned herewith that despite our appeal to Bangladesh Government on 31st August, 2007, land-grabbing and threats by the Bengali settlers with guidance of the army still continues in CHT.To highlight the recent land grabbing pattern, let us explain a few cases below:a. On 19 July 2007, Betchari sub-zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) in Bara Merung forced three Jumma villagers to abandon their 5.2 acres of land to three settler families, despite the fact that Jummas showed their documents of possession. The same commander also forced Mrs. Supriya Chakma of Boradam village to abandon her 3.2 acres of plough land in Betchari village of Merung area to a settler woman. On 2 August, 2007 illegal settlers Md. Yunus and Md. Nazrul and his brother Sirajul took away two acres of first class paddy land from sixty year old Buddhamuni Chakma of Tara Charan Karbari Para village, with the help of the Army.b. Sporadic land grabs: Kobakhali caseAs part of a systematic land grab campaign throughout Khagrachari district, the settlers have grabbed approximately 300 acres of land belonging to Jummas in Kobakhali Mouza (No. 51) under Dighinala Thana of Khagrachari district. Of this, 59 acres of lands were grabbed from 1 to 15 August with the help of the army personnel from Dighinala zone. Dighinala Army zone Commander Major Qamrul Hassan has kept up his efforts to expand Bengali settlement in Dighinala. Reports reaching from Dighinala said, The Jumma villagers tried to protest but all in vain. 'When the army backs the settlers, we are helpless and our protests become useless', said Nigira Mohan Chakma (50) of Reserve Chara village, who has also lost his 2 acres of hilly land.c. Fresh attempt at expansion of Bengali settlement in Sadhana Tila, BabucharaAccording to sources, the army is making desperate attempts to settle 812 Bengali families on approximately 300 acres of land in Sadhana Tila under Babuchara in Dighinala Upazilla of Khagrachari district. The settlers have begun clearing the land since 13 August. The area houses a Buddhist temple and a sizable Jumma settlement. If the plan is implemented, the temple will be destroyed, many Jummas will be evicted and dispute over land will increase dramatically. The zone commander of Dighinala Major Qamrul Hassan has reportedly announced an incentive grant of Taka 50,000 for each settler family who will be willing to settle there, in addition to Taka 1,000 as monthly allowance. He has also threatened to cancel the ration cards of those settlers who would refuse to resettle in Sadhana Tila. The situation in Sadhana Tila remains volatile and tense as the settlers continue to provoke the Buddhist monks and Jumma villagers in order to find pretext for launching a full scale communal attack. Moreover, since 30 August, the army personnel have been cutting jungle around the Sadhana Tila Buddhist temple. They have also stepped up patrol to provide protection to the settlers. e. Extension of Bengali settlement in BabucharaAccording to reliable sources, the government is allegedly planning to settle 18 thousand Bengali families on a vast area of land stretching between Dhanpata Tila, north of Babuchara in Dighinala, and Naraichari bordering Tripura state of India. f. An estimated 250 acres of titled land belonging to Jumma people in North and South Shantipur village, Sutokorma Para village and Manikkya Para village under Choto Panchari Mouza (No. 246) in Latiban Union of Panchari Thana have been illegally occupied by Bengali settlers. g. A total of 200 illegal settler families have been implanted in East Gamaridhala under Dadkuppya Mouza (No. 259), about 7 kilometers south of Khagrachari district town. The army personnel directly planned and implemented the settlement.We have also learnt that illegal land grabbing and settlement of non-resident plain settlers have continued in other parts of the CHT. The Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeastern corner of Bangladesh is home to eleven ethnic nationalities that have been living there for centuries. They have their own customs governing land use and management system which is often referred to as traditional land rights by which lands are owned by the whole community. The successive governments of Bangladesh have refused to acknowledge this right of the Jumma people and settled under a state-sponsored transmigration programme approximately 400,000 landless Bengali people on the lands of the Jumma people. This has had a devastating impact on the Jumma societies and became a perennial source of tension and conflict in CHT.An Appeal to the Japanese Government and its Citizens:It is our earnest appeal to the Japanese Government and the Japanese people that the Jumma peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, who are an indigenous group distinctive to the majority Muslim Bengalis, are subject to systematic ethnic cleansing by the successive governments of Bangladesh. We are losing our land rapidly due to continued land grabbing and forceful occupation of our land by the majority Bengalis with the help of the Bangladesh Army. Gross violations of human rights, including massacre, unlawful killing, torture, arbitrary arrest, falsified cases, burning of villages, religious persecution, and political oppression are well reported and documented. Our population with a Buddhist majority had decreased from 98% in 1947 to 50% present day. If the international community does not come to rescue us, we will perish within a few decades. The CHT, Bangladesh's only Buddhist region, will be Islamized very rapidly. We have no choice but to deliver this appeal to your government, because Japan is one of the main donors to Bangladesh since its birth in 1971. Hence, your government has a major responsibility to protect these peoples from destruction by the Bangladesh government. You may say, the Bangladesh government has already taken measures to protect our peoples by signing the peace-accord in 1997. But, it is an accord only on paper, never implemented even after ten years have passed. A huge military presence, torture, expansion of Muslim Bengali settlements and severe human rights violations continue with the hand of the Security forces, which should not happen after signing the Accord. It can clearly be said that the Bangladesh government has never had a mind to solve this problem, rather it wants a slow extinction of our peoples by any means.Bangladesh is largely dependent upon foreign aid for its development. Despite receiving huge amounts of aid every year from the donor countries, Bangladesh still remains one of the world(I¡Ç(Bs poorest nations, although its GDP has increased in recent years. What are the reasons behind this? It is because of corruption in every field of the state institutions and lack of sincerity about poverty reduction and unnecessary expansion of the military budget, which is used for ethnic cleansing of all religious and ethnic minorities, maintaining a huge military presence in CHT that makes it one of the world(I¡Ç(Bs most heavily militarized regions, and implementing of population transfer of landless Muslim Bengalis. It is reported that army men are providing cash to the Muslims settlers and instigating them to grab the Jummas' land and settle there against their will. We believe the Japanese government can play a vital role to stop this ethnic cleansing of the Jummas in CHT and help to protect them from extinction in the wake of the de-population policy of Bangladesh governmentYou may say that your government can not interfere with the domestic problems of Bangladesh, but as sufferers and victims of the Bangladesh Government(I¡Ç(Bs ethnic policy, we, the Jumma peoples, also have the right to urge you to stop ODA to Bangladesh, because your ODA indirectly gives Bangladesh the ability to conduct such policy by maintaining huge military presence in the tensed region, although we are not saying that it is being spent directly for ethnic cleansing of the Jummas.Therefore, we would like to urge the Japanese government to intervene regarding CHT matters.Though we the Jummas have many things in common with the Japanese peoples such as color, religion and etc., it is not because of this reason but because Japan is a major donor country, hence part of the life-force of Bangladesh. Why should Japan continue its ODA to a country that conducts such ethnic cleansing of its ethnic and religious minorities, a punishable crime against humanity? We urge you only for our survival; as human beings, we want to live. Please stop all kinds of ODA to the Bangladesh government and apply pressure until it meets the following demands.
1. To order its forces stationed in CHT to stop ethnic cleansing of indigenous Jummas.
2. To stop further non-indigenous Bengali settlement in CHT and stop land grabbing from the Jumma peoples.
3. To return all the grabbed land to the rightful Jumma owners.
4. To immediately return the lands that were grabbed by the settlers with the help of the army in Merung, Rengkajya, Boalkhali, Dighinala, east Gamaridala and Panchari of Khagrachari district during the last two months.
5. To withdraw all army personal from CHT, except those explained in the 1997 Accord.
6. To resettle all the Bengali Muslim settlers who were settled by the government sponsorship programme, outside CHT with means of livelihood.
7. To stop all kind of human rights violations including torture, killing, arbitrary arrest, and falsified cases by the Army against ethnic Jummas.
8. To immediately put to trial and punish Major Qamrul Hassan, zone commander of Dighinala, Khagrachari District, who is responsible for recent land-grabbing and threatening Jumma peoples to vacate their land for the Muslim settlers.
9. To ensure that no future human rights violation on Jummas by the army and the settlers will occur in CHT.
Sincerely yours,
On behalf of Jumma Peoples Network-Japan
Chichikko Chakma
Sonaram Chakma
Dipti S. Chakma
This Appeal have been suported by the following Organizations and partionalities
1. Jumma Ayumukai
2. Civic-Action -Chiba
3. Jumma Peoples Network-United Kingdom
4. Jumma People movement in USA
5. Mori no tami no Kai
6. CHT Jumma Peoples Network of the Asia Pacific-Australia
7. Ven.Buddharatana Bhikkhu, USA
Honorable MinisterMinistry of Foreign Affairs,
Japan
Date: September 21., 2007
Subject: An appeal to stop ODA to Bangladesh
Sir,
We are writing on behalf of the Jumma People's Network-Japan, an organization of the exiled Jumma peoples in Japan, along with other organizations to express our deep concern over what appears to be a planned and systematic campaign of the settlers and members of Bangladesh military to grab lands belonging to the Jumma people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), especially in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district.We have learnt from various sources that during the last 2-3 months, more than 500 acres of plough land as well as hilly land have been taken away by force in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district. Of these, 42 acres have been grabbed in Rengkarjya Mouza No. 28 under Merung, 149.18 acres in Choto Merung Mouza No. 29, 5.2 acres in Bara Merung Mouza No. 30, 300 acres in Kobakhali Mouza and 26 acres belonging to Boalkhali Buddha Vihara and Orphanage under Dighinala Thana.It is to be mentioned herewith that despite our appeal to Bangladesh Government on 31st August, 2007, land-grabbing and threats by the Bengali settlers with guidance of the army still continues in CHT.To highlight the recent land grabbing pattern, let us explain a few cases below:a. On 19 July 2007, Betchari sub-zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) in Bara Merung forced three Jumma villagers to abandon their 5.2 acres of land to three settler families, despite the fact that Jummas showed their documents of possession. The same commander also forced Mrs. Supriya Chakma of Boradam village to abandon her 3.2 acres of plough land in Betchari village of Merung area to a settler woman. On 2 August, 2007 illegal settlers Md. Yunus and Md. Nazrul and his brother Sirajul took away two acres of first class paddy land from sixty year old Buddhamuni Chakma of Tara Charan Karbari Para village, with the help of the Army.b. Sporadic land grabs: Kobakhali caseAs part of a systematic land grab campaign throughout Khagrachari district, the settlers have grabbed approximately 300 acres of land belonging to Jummas in Kobakhali Mouza (No. 51) under Dighinala Thana of Khagrachari district. Of this, 59 acres of lands were grabbed from 1 to 15 August with the help of the army personnel from Dighinala zone. Dighinala Army zone Commander Major Qamrul Hassan has kept up his efforts to expand Bengali settlement in Dighinala. Reports reaching from Dighinala said, The Jumma villagers tried to protest but all in vain. 'When the army backs the settlers, we are helpless and our protests become useless', said Nigira Mohan Chakma (50) of Reserve Chara village, who has also lost his 2 acres of hilly land.c. Fresh attempt at expansion of Bengali settlement in Sadhana Tila, BabucharaAccording to sources, the army is making desperate attempts to settle 812 Bengali families on approximately 300 acres of land in Sadhana Tila under Babuchara in Dighinala Upazilla of Khagrachari district. The settlers have begun clearing the land since 13 August. The area houses a Buddhist temple and a sizable Jumma settlement. If the plan is implemented, the temple will be destroyed, many Jummas will be evicted and dispute over land will increase dramatically. The zone commander of Dighinala Major Qamrul Hassan has reportedly announced an incentive grant of Taka 50,000 for each settler family who will be willing to settle there, in addition to Taka 1,000 as monthly allowance. He has also threatened to cancel the ration cards of those settlers who would refuse to resettle in Sadhana Tila. The situation in Sadhana Tila remains volatile and tense as the settlers continue to provoke the Buddhist monks and Jumma villagers in order to find pretext for launching a full scale communal attack. Moreover, since 30 August, the army personnel have been cutting jungle around the Sadhana Tila Buddhist temple. They have also stepped up patrol to provide protection to the settlers. e. Extension of Bengali settlement in BabucharaAccording to reliable sources, the government is allegedly planning to settle 18 thousand Bengali families on a vast area of land stretching between Dhanpata Tila, north of Babuchara in Dighinala, and Naraichari bordering Tripura state of India. f. An estimated 250 acres of titled land belonging to Jumma people in North and South Shantipur village, Sutokorma Para village and Manikkya Para village under Choto Panchari Mouza (No. 246) in Latiban Union of Panchari Thana have been illegally occupied by Bengali settlers. g. A total of 200 illegal settler families have been implanted in East Gamaridhala under Dadkuppya Mouza (No. 259), about 7 kilometers south of Khagrachari district town. The army personnel directly planned and implemented the settlement.We have also learnt that illegal land grabbing and settlement of non-resident plain settlers have continued in other parts of the CHT. The Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeastern corner of Bangladesh is home to eleven ethnic nationalities that have been living there for centuries. They have their own customs governing land use and management system which is often referred to as traditional land rights by which lands are owned by the whole community. The successive governments of Bangladesh have refused to acknowledge this right of the Jumma people and settled under a state-sponsored transmigration programme approximately 400,000 landless Bengali people on the lands of the Jumma people. This has had a devastating impact on the Jumma societies and became a perennial source of tension and conflict in CHT.An Appeal to the Japanese Government and its Citizens:It is our earnest appeal to the Japanese Government and the Japanese people that the Jumma peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, who are an indigenous group distinctive to the majority Muslim Bengalis, are subject to systematic ethnic cleansing by the successive governments of Bangladesh. We are losing our land rapidly due to continued land grabbing and forceful occupation of our land by the majority Bengalis with the help of the Bangladesh Army. Gross violations of human rights, including massacre, unlawful killing, torture, arbitrary arrest, falsified cases, burning of villages, religious persecution, and political oppression are well reported and documented. Our population with a Buddhist majority had decreased from 98% in 1947 to 50% present day. If the international community does not come to rescue us, we will perish within a few decades. The CHT, Bangladesh's only Buddhist region, will be Islamized very rapidly. We have no choice but to deliver this appeal to your government, because Japan is one of the main donors to Bangladesh since its birth in 1971. Hence, your government has a major responsibility to protect these peoples from destruction by the Bangladesh government. You may say, the Bangladesh government has already taken measures to protect our peoples by signing the peace-accord in 1997. But, it is an accord only on paper, never implemented even after ten years have passed. A huge military presence, torture, expansion of Muslim Bengali settlements and severe human rights violations continue with the hand of the Security forces, which should not happen after signing the Accord. It can clearly be said that the Bangladesh government has never had a mind to solve this problem, rather it wants a slow extinction of our peoples by any means.Bangladesh is largely dependent upon foreign aid for its development. Despite receiving huge amounts of aid every year from the donor countries, Bangladesh still remains one of the world(I¡Ç(Bs poorest nations, although its GDP has increased in recent years. What are the reasons behind this? It is because of corruption in every field of the state institutions and lack of sincerity about poverty reduction and unnecessary expansion of the military budget, which is used for ethnic cleansing of all religious and ethnic minorities, maintaining a huge military presence in CHT that makes it one of the world(I¡Ç(Bs most heavily militarized regions, and implementing of population transfer of landless Muslim Bengalis. It is reported that army men are providing cash to the Muslims settlers and instigating them to grab the Jummas' land and settle there against their will. We believe the Japanese government can play a vital role to stop this ethnic cleansing of the Jummas in CHT and help to protect them from extinction in the wake of the de-population policy of Bangladesh governmentYou may say that your government can not interfere with the domestic problems of Bangladesh, but as sufferers and victims of the Bangladesh Government(I¡Ç(Bs ethnic policy, we, the Jumma peoples, also have the right to urge you to stop ODA to Bangladesh, because your ODA indirectly gives Bangladesh the ability to conduct such policy by maintaining huge military presence in the tensed region, although we are not saying that it is being spent directly for ethnic cleansing of the Jummas.Therefore, we would like to urge the Japanese government to intervene regarding CHT matters.Though we the Jummas have many things in common with the Japanese peoples such as color, religion and etc., it is not because of this reason but because Japan is a major donor country, hence part of the life-force of Bangladesh. Why should Japan continue its ODA to a country that conducts such ethnic cleansing of its ethnic and religious minorities, a punishable crime against humanity? We urge you only for our survival; as human beings, we want to live. Please stop all kinds of ODA to the Bangladesh government and apply pressure until it meets the following demands.
1. To order its forces stationed in CHT to stop ethnic cleansing of indigenous Jummas.
2. To stop further non-indigenous Bengali settlement in CHT and stop land grabbing from the Jumma peoples.
3. To return all the grabbed land to the rightful Jumma owners.
4. To immediately return the lands that were grabbed by the settlers with the help of the army in Merung, Rengkajya, Boalkhali, Dighinala, east Gamaridala and Panchari of Khagrachari district during the last two months.
5. To withdraw all army personal from CHT, except those explained in the 1997 Accord.
6. To resettle all the Bengali Muslim settlers who were settled by the government sponsorship programme, outside CHT with means of livelihood.
7. To stop all kind of human rights violations including torture, killing, arbitrary arrest, and falsified cases by the Army against ethnic Jummas.
8. To immediately put to trial and punish Major Qamrul Hassan, zone commander of Dighinala, Khagrachari District, who is responsible for recent land-grabbing and threatening Jumma peoples to vacate their land for the Muslim settlers.
9. To ensure that no future human rights violation on Jummas by the army and the settlers will occur in CHT.
Sincerely yours,
On behalf of Jumma Peoples Network-Japan
Chichikko Chakma
Sonaram Chakma
Dipti S. Chakma
This Appeal have been suported by the following Organizations and partionalities
1. Jumma Ayumukai
2. Civic-Action -Chiba
3. Jumma Peoples Network-United Kingdom
4. Jumma People movement in USA
5. Mori no tami no Kai
6. CHT Jumma Peoples Network of the Asia Pacific-Australia
7. Ven.Buddharatana Bhikkhu, USA
Monday, September 17, 2007
Jumma Students demanding Solution, Sri Lanka
To,
Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed,
The Hon’ble Chief Advisor,
The Care-Taker Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Date: 12th September, 2007.
Through: His Excellency, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Colombo – Sri Lanka.
You’re Excellency,
We respectfully to state that, and make an appeal to you, as we are Jumma Buddhist monks from Bangladesh, who are engaged to study on Buddhism and Comparative Religions in various Universities and Educational institutions in Sri Lanka.
It is very deep sorrow that we have to bring to your attention about the recent attack, land grabbing, extra-judicial arrest, harassment on the indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts [CHT] in Bangladesh after the Emergency Power of “Care-Taker” government by the illegal Bengali Settlers with the help of Military forces.
Here are the episodes: The Sadhana Tila area under Dighinala Upazila of the district of Khagrachari, which comprises of about 300 acres of land, and houses a Buddhist Meditation Center and a sizable indigenous Jumma population. Since 13 August 2007, indigenous Jumma peoples and illegal plain settlers supported by the military personnel and the police have been living on the edges of an impending communal riot, which have already been broke out on 4th September at 3:10pm by Bangladesh standard time by the illegal Bengali Settlers and Army force.
Bangladesh army personnel led by Dighinala Zone Commander, Major Qamrul Hassan ordered the Buddhist monks of the Meditation Centre and the indigenous people to leave Sadhana Tila area in order to settle over 800 illegal plain settlers' families there. If the plan is implemented, the temple will be destroyed, many Jummas will be evicted and dispute over land will increase dramatically. Zone Commander Major Mr. Hassan has been putting continuous pressure on the headman of Baghaichari Mouza No. 50 Mr. Sattyendriyo Chakma, Union Council Chairman Paritosh Chakma and other local elders to agree to his settlement plan.
In a major development, Chief of Bangladesh Army and de facto ruler of the country, General Moeen U Ahmed visited Dighinala of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) on 28 August 2007. While nothing has been made public nor reported in the press in Bangladesh, the visit is significant considering that the government of Bangladesh has intensified the settlement of illegal plain settlers into the CHTs and repression on the indigenous Jumma activists.
And also we kindly would like to draw your kind attention about the total lands grabbing in CHTs of Bangladesh, so far, at least 222.38 acres of plough as well as hilly land have been taken away by forced in Dighinala Upazilla (sub-district) under Khagrachari district. Of these, 42 acres have been grabbed in Rengkarjya Mouza No. 28 under Merung, 149.18 acres in Choto Merung Mouza No. 29, 5.2 acres in Bara Merung Mouza No. 30 and 26 acres belonging to Boalkhali Buddha Vihara and Orphanage under Dighinala Thana.
In May and June, about one hundred settlers illegally took possession of a total of 37 acres of hilly land belonging to nine Jummas in the village of Betchari under Rengkarjya Mouza, Merung. Chongrachari army camp commander Subedar Siraj (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) provided protection to the settlers, who have already built four houses on the occupied land.
On 19 July 2007, Betchari sub-zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) in Bara Merung called an unsolicited arbitration meeting in his camp and in a whimsical verbal judgment gave away 13 Kani (5.2 acres) of land belonging to three Jumma villagers to other three settler families. Similarly, in Kamalchari, Bizitala, East Gamaridhala, Datkuppya and Magistrate Para of Maischari, the process of settling hundreds of illegal Bengali settler families is nearing completion. The lands on which they are being settled belong to the Jumma people.
The problem of land grabbing is much more acute in the southern part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which roughly comprises the district of Bandarban. Approximately 569,538.40 acres of land or 59.38 percent of the total land of Bandarban (9, 59,174.76 acres) have been taken away by the illegal Bengali Muslim settlers with the help of military forces.
On 17 July a group of army personnel led by Shuknachari camp commander raided "Bhujuli Bhavana Kendra", a Buddhist meditation centre, situated on remote Bhujulichuk hill-top in Lakshmichari Upazila under Khagrachari district, destroyed the prayer hall and took two Buddhist novices and their attendant to the camp. The raid was conducted by a group of 20 army personnel under the command of Captain Raihan. The commander ordered the Sramanas (novices) to pack their belongings and leave the meditation centre immediately, where the Novices had been meditating at the instruction of the Bana Bhante, the most venerated Buddhist monk in Chittagong Hill Tracts, and that they had been living there since March this year. They reached the camp at 6 p.m. and kept them there until 8 p.m.
The Jumma activists have been unfairly targeted by the Bangladesh military taking advantage of the Emergency situation. Since the declaration of Emergency on 11 January 2007, at least 50 Jumma activists have been arrested, including 20 members of PCJSS and 10 members of UPDF. False cases such as extortion, kidnapping, murder etc have been lodged against the arrested Jumma activists. Finally, we would wish to seek your sympathetic support to stop such Human Rights Violations and atrocities on the indigenous people in CHT, Bangladesh. Therefore, we are making an appeal for immediate action and implementation of the following demands as a lasting solution of the inhuman problems in CHT: 1. To stop military harassment of the indigenous people in CHT and let them practice their respective religions without harassment and oppression of religious priests.2. To take necessary action immediately against the Dighinala Zone Commander, Major Qamrul Hassan and the Shuknachari camp command, Captain Raihan.3. To stop illegal land grabbing in CHT including Sadhana Tila of Babuchara, Merung, Boalkali, Kobakhali, Kamalchari, Bizitala, East Gamaridhala, Datkuppya and Magistrate Para of Maischari, of Khagrachari District and various parts of Bandarban District.4. To give back the lands that were grabbed by the illegal Bengali settlers to the indigenous people’s and stop land grabbing in CHT.5. To stop repression of the leaders and activists of the Jumma political parties and Human Rights violations in CHT and respect Fundamental Human Rights declared the United Nations Conventions.6. To stop making false cases against the innocent Jumma indigenous people in CHTs. Page Page 3 of 4 7. To De-militarize CHTs of Bangladesh.8. To rehabilitee the Bengali Muslim settlers out side the CHT.9. To allow the local and international media personals to have access to the CHT, exercising their “freedom of expression” which is a fundamental right. Yours truly, On-behalf-of the Bangladesh Jumma Buddhist Monks in Sri Lanka: No. Name: Signature:01. Ven: Upatissa Chakma02. Ven: Jointu Chakma03. Ven: Animes Chakma 04. Ven: Rupa Chakma05. Ven: Sanghapala Shraman06. Ven: Shakya Mitra Bhikkhu07. Ven: Sujit Moy Chakma08. Ven: Sugata Bhikkhu09. Ven: Popular Chakma10. Ven: Sanjit Chakma11. Ven: Sumit Tanchangya12. Ven: Mongla chak13. Ven: Shraddha Priya Bhikkhu14. Ven: Sudharson Bhikkhu15. Ven: Dhammapala Shraman16. Ven: Amita Nanda Shraman17. Ven: Bodhiratna Bhikkhu18. Ven: Gnanalankara Shraman19. Ven: Jibok Jyoti Chakma20. Ven: Chingmong Marma21. Ven: Gyana Prashad Chakma22. Ven: Sukhya Chakma23. Ven: Ginawansa Marma24. Ven: Chandra Muni Bhikkhu25. Ven: Sumana Priyo Shraman ………………………………………………………………………….. Copy to: - 1. The President, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.2. The Prime Minister, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.3. The President, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.4. The Minister of Religious Affairs, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.5. The Minister of Foreign affairs of Sri Lanka.6. The Resident Representative, United Nations in Sri Lanka. Page 4 of 4 7. The High Commissioner of Canada, Sri Lanka.8. The High Commissioner of U.K. in Sri Lanka.9. The High Commissioner of Australia, in Sri Lanka.10. The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka. 11. The Ambassador of U.S.A. in Sri Lanka.12. The Ambassador of France, in Sri Lanka.13. The Ambassador of Netherlands in Sri Lanka.14. The Ambassador of Norway in Sri Lanka.15. The Ambassador of Switzerland, in Sri Lanka.16. The Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka.17. The Ambassador of Republic of Korea in Sri Lanka.18. The Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka.19. The Ambassador of Thailand in Sri Lanka. “May all beings be happy, peaceful, compassionate and harmonious” “May all violence be destroyed and bring a non-violence peaceful world”.………………………………………………………………………………………………………Thilakaratnaramaya, No: 160, Ward Place, Colombo-07, Sri Lanka:Tel :- (+94)-0722-701-571 & (+94)-0785186428. E-mail: jumma_adivasi@yahoo.com
Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed,
The Hon’ble Chief Advisor,
The Care-Taker Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Date: 12th September, 2007.
Through: His Excellency, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Colombo – Sri Lanka.
You’re Excellency,
We respectfully to state that, and make an appeal to you, as we are Jumma Buddhist monks from Bangladesh, who are engaged to study on Buddhism and Comparative Religions in various Universities and Educational institutions in Sri Lanka.
It is very deep sorrow that we have to bring to your attention about the recent attack, land grabbing, extra-judicial arrest, harassment on the indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts [CHT] in Bangladesh after the Emergency Power of “Care-Taker” government by the illegal Bengali Settlers with the help of Military forces.
Here are the episodes: The Sadhana Tila area under Dighinala Upazila of the district of Khagrachari, which comprises of about 300 acres of land, and houses a Buddhist Meditation Center and a sizable indigenous Jumma population. Since 13 August 2007, indigenous Jumma peoples and illegal plain settlers supported by the military personnel and the police have been living on the edges of an impending communal riot, which have already been broke out on 4th September at 3:10pm by Bangladesh standard time by the illegal Bengali Settlers and Army force.
Bangladesh army personnel led by Dighinala Zone Commander, Major Qamrul Hassan ordered the Buddhist monks of the Meditation Centre and the indigenous people to leave Sadhana Tila area in order to settle over 800 illegal plain settlers' families there. If the plan is implemented, the temple will be destroyed, many Jummas will be evicted and dispute over land will increase dramatically. Zone Commander Major Mr. Hassan has been putting continuous pressure on the headman of Baghaichari Mouza No. 50 Mr. Sattyendriyo Chakma, Union Council Chairman Paritosh Chakma and other local elders to agree to his settlement plan.
In a major development, Chief of Bangladesh Army and de facto ruler of the country, General Moeen U Ahmed visited Dighinala of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) on 28 August 2007. While nothing has been made public nor reported in the press in Bangladesh, the visit is significant considering that the government of Bangladesh has intensified the settlement of illegal plain settlers into the CHTs and repression on the indigenous Jumma activists.
And also we kindly would like to draw your kind attention about the total lands grabbing in CHTs of Bangladesh, so far, at least 222.38 acres of plough as well as hilly land have been taken away by forced in Dighinala Upazilla (sub-district) under Khagrachari district. Of these, 42 acres have been grabbed in Rengkarjya Mouza No. 28 under Merung, 149.18 acres in Choto Merung Mouza No. 29, 5.2 acres in Bara Merung Mouza No. 30 and 26 acres belonging to Boalkhali Buddha Vihara and Orphanage under Dighinala Thana.
In May and June, about one hundred settlers illegally took possession of a total of 37 acres of hilly land belonging to nine Jummas in the village of Betchari under Rengkarjya Mouza, Merung. Chongrachari army camp commander Subedar Siraj (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) provided protection to the settlers, who have already built four houses on the occupied land.
On 19 July 2007, Betchari sub-zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) in Bara Merung called an unsolicited arbitration meeting in his camp and in a whimsical verbal judgment gave away 13 Kani (5.2 acres) of land belonging to three Jumma villagers to other three settler families. Similarly, in Kamalchari, Bizitala, East Gamaridhala, Datkuppya and Magistrate Para of Maischari, the process of settling hundreds of illegal Bengali settler families is nearing completion. The lands on which they are being settled belong to the Jumma people.
The problem of land grabbing is much more acute in the southern part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which roughly comprises the district of Bandarban. Approximately 569,538.40 acres of land or 59.38 percent of the total land of Bandarban (9, 59,174.76 acres) have been taken away by the illegal Bengali Muslim settlers with the help of military forces.
On 17 July a group of army personnel led by Shuknachari camp commander raided "Bhujuli Bhavana Kendra", a Buddhist meditation centre, situated on remote Bhujulichuk hill-top in Lakshmichari Upazila under Khagrachari district, destroyed the prayer hall and took two Buddhist novices and their attendant to the camp. The raid was conducted by a group of 20 army personnel under the command of Captain Raihan. The commander ordered the Sramanas (novices) to pack their belongings and leave the meditation centre immediately, where the Novices had been meditating at the instruction of the Bana Bhante, the most venerated Buddhist monk in Chittagong Hill Tracts, and that they had been living there since March this year. They reached the camp at 6 p.m. and kept them there until 8 p.m.
The Jumma activists have been unfairly targeted by the Bangladesh military taking advantage of the Emergency situation. Since the declaration of Emergency on 11 January 2007, at least 50 Jumma activists have been arrested, including 20 members of PCJSS and 10 members of UPDF. False cases such as extortion, kidnapping, murder etc have been lodged against the arrested Jumma activists. Finally, we would wish to seek your sympathetic support to stop such Human Rights Violations and atrocities on the indigenous people in CHT, Bangladesh. Therefore, we are making an appeal for immediate action and implementation of the following demands as a lasting solution of the inhuman problems in CHT: 1. To stop military harassment of the indigenous people in CHT and let them practice their respective religions without harassment and oppression of religious priests.2. To take necessary action immediately against the Dighinala Zone Commander, Major Qamrul Hassan and the Shuknachari camp command, Captain Raihan.3. To stop illegal land grabbing in CHT including Sadhana Tila of Babuchara, Merung, Boalkali, Kobakhali, Kamalchari, Bizitala, East Gamaridhala, Datkuppya and Magistrate Para of Maischari, of Khagrachari District and various parts of Bandarban District.4. To give back the lands that were grabbed by the illegal Bengali settlers to the indigenous people’s and stop land grabbing in CHT.5. To stop repression of the leaders and activists of the Jumma political parties and Human Rights violations in CHT and respect Fundamental Human Rights declared the United Nations Conventions.6. To stop making false cases against the innocent Jumma indigenous people in CHTs. Page Page 3 of 4 7. To De-militarize CHTs of Bangladesh.8. To rehabilitee the Bengali Muslim settlers out side the CHT.9. To allow the local and international media personals to have access to the CHT, exercising their “freedom of expression” which is a fundamental right. Yours truly, On-behalf-of the Bangladesh Jumma Buddhist Monks in Sri Lanka: No. Name: Signature:01. Ven: Upatissa Chakma02. Ven: Jointu Chakma03. Ven: Animes Chakma 04. Ven: Rupa Chakma05. Ven: Sanghapala Shraman06. Ven: Shakya Mitra Bhikkhu07. Ven: Sujit Moy Chakma08. Ven: Sugata Bhikkhu09. Ven: Popular Chakma10. Ven: Sanjit Chakma11. Ven: Sumit Tanchangya12. Ven: Mongla chak13. Ven: Shraddha Priya Bhikkhu14. Ven: Sudharson Bhikkhu15. Ven: Dhammapala Shraman16. Ven: Amita Nanda Shraman17. Ven: Bodhiratna Bhikkhu18. Ven: Gnanalankara Shraman19. Ven: Jibok Jyoti Chakma20. Ven: Chingmong Marma21. Ven: Gyana Prashad Chakma22. Ven: Sukhya Chakma23. Ven: Ginawansa Marma24. Ven: Chandra Muni Bhikkhu25. Ven: Sumana Priyo Shraman ………………………………………………………………………….. Copy to: - 1. The President, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.2. The Prime Minister, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.3. The President, Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.4. The Minister of Religious Affairs, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.5. The Minister of Foreign affairs of Sri Lanka.6. The Resident Representative, United Nations in Sri Lanka. Page 4 of 4 7. The High Commissioner of Canada, Sri Lanka.8. The High Commissioner of U.K. in Sri Lanka.9. The High Commissioner of Australia, in Sri Lanka.10. The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka. 11. The Ambassador of U.S.A. in Sri Lanka.12. The Ambassador of France, in Sri Lanka.13. The Ambassador of Netherlands in Sri Lanka.14. The Ambassador of Norway in Sri Lanka.15. The Ambassador of Switzerland, in Sri Lanka.16. The Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka.17. The Ambassador of Republic of Korea in Sri Lanka.18. The Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka.19. The Ambassador of Thailand in Sri Lanka. “May all beings be happy, peaceful, compassionate and harmonious” “May all violence be destroyed and bring a non-violence peaceful world”.………………………………………………………………………………………………………Thilakaratnaramaya, No: 160, Ward Place, Colombo-07, Sri Lanka:Tel :- (+94)-0722-701-571 & (+94)-0785186428. E-mail: jumma_adivasi@yahoo.com
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Chittagong Hill Tracts: ‘Landgrabbing’ Must Stop
Source from :- http://www.unpo.org/article.php?id=7132
2007-09-10
Representatives of the Jumma people have put pressure on the Government to investigate what is seen by many as illegal, military-orchestrated settlement operations, depriving the indigenous population of their land.
Below are extracts from a letter on behalf of several NGOs to the Chief Adviser of the Interim Bangladeshi Government:
To:Dr. Fakruddin AhmedChief AdviserInterim Caretaker GovernmentPeople's Republic of Bangladesh
Subject: Concern at illegal and forcible occupation of land belonging to the Jumma people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Sir,
We are writing to express our deep concern over what appears to be planned and systematic campaign of the settlers and members of the Bangladesh military to grab lands belonging to the Jumma people in Chittagong Hill Tracts, especially in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district of the Chittagong Hill tracts (CHT).
We have come to know from various sources that Bangladesh militaries and Bengali settlers have been involved in human rights abuses on the indigenous Jumma people of the CHT. According to recent reports from various sources at least 222.38 acres of plough as well as hilly land have been forcibly taken away in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district during the last 2-3 months. Of these, 42 acres have been grabbed in Rengkarjya Mouza No. 28 under Merung, 149.18 acres in Choto Merung Mouza No. 29, 5.2 acres in Bara Merung Mouza No. 30 and 26 acres belonging to Boalkhali Buddha Vihara and Orphanage under Dighinala Thana.
To highlight the recent land grabbing pattern, I take the liberty of citing a few cases below:
a. Unsolicited arbitration by army: gross injustice
On 19 July 2007, Betchari sub-zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) in Bara Merung called an unsolicited arbitration meeting in his camp and in a whimsical verbal judgment gave away 13 Kani (5.2 acres) of land belonging to three Jumma villagers to other three settler families namely Sirajul Islam, his brother Nazrul Islam s/o Kashem Ali and Md. Yunus s/o Abdul Mannan of Rashik Nagar village.
Of the 13 Kanis, 5 kanis each belongs to Sadhan Chakma s/o Bandara Chakma and Lalit Kumar Chakma s/o Ranga Mua Chakma, and 3 kanis to Bilati Chakma s/o Megh Raj Chakma.
The Jummas had been in the possession of these lands since the time of Pakistan and they did have valid documents pertaining to these lands and showed them during the so-called arbitration meeting. On the other hand, the settlers, who came to the area in the 1980s under government-sponsored transmigration programme, have failed to produce any valid papers. Yet, the commander assuming the roles of the judge, the jury and the land surveyor at one and the same time gave his judgment in fovour of the settlers.
b. Unsolicited arbitration: Supriya Chakma's land taken away
Mrs. Supriya Chakma is the head teacher of Boradam Government Primary School in Dighinala. She owns 3.2 acres of plough land in Betchatri of Merung. In July a so-called arbitration committee formed by Dighinala zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan gave her land to a settler woman, despite the fact that she had valid documents pertaining to the said land.
[…]
d. Fresh attempt at expansion of Bengali settlement in Sadhana Tila, Babuchara
According to sources, the army is making desperate attempt to settle 812 Bengali families on approximately 300 acres of land in Sadhana Tila under Babuchara in Dighinala Upazilla of Khagrachari district. The settlers have begun clearing the land since 13 August. The area houses a Buddhist temple and a sizable Jumma settlement. If the plan is implemented, the temple will be destroyed, many Jummas will be evicted and dispute over land will increase dramatically.
[…]
We want to believe that the recent land grab incidents have been committed without knowledge of the government and that your government does not support and tolerate such activities. In our opinion a vested interest group within the military establishment in CHT may have orchestrated those incidents knowing full well that they would cause disturbance and embarrass your government.
We are aware that since assumption of office on 12 January this year, your interim caretaker government has taken a number of courageous measures including reclamation of illegally occupied lands and canals. While we appreciate your government for bringing the land grabbers to justice, we regret to note that such measures are confined merely to the plain districts and that no such measures have been taken so far to reclaim the land of the Jumma people in CHT.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeastern corner of Bangladesh is home to eleven ethnic nationalities that have been living there for centuries. They have their own customs governing land use and management system which is often referred to as traditional land rights by which lands are owned by the whole community. The successive governments of Bangladesh have refused to acknowledge this right of the Jumma people and settled under a state-sponsored transmigration programme approximately 400,000 landless Bengali people on the lands of the Jumma people. This has had a devastating impact on the Jumma societies and became a perennial source of tension and conflict in CHT.
The government authorities of Bangladesh often cite CHT's low population density to justify its population transfer policy. However, studies showed that the argument advanced by the proponents of this policy that the CHT had been lying vacant is a myth. Suffice it to say that after the inundation of 54 thousand acres of first class cultivable land due to the construction of Kaptai dam in the 1960s, an estimated 40,000 Jummas had to cross over to India because there had not been enough land for their rehabilitation in CHT.
We, therefore, appeal to the interim caretaker government of Bangladesh to take bold steps to reverse the policy that the partisan governments of the past had pursued with regard to the CHT and acknowledge and respect the traditional land rights of the Jumma people.
We also urge your government to take the following measures in the interest of the people of the CHT:
a. To immediately stop illegal land grabbing in CHT including Merung, Boalkhali and various parts of Bandarban and return the illegally occupied lands to their rightful owners.
b. To cancel the plan to resettle illegal settlers in Sadhana Tila in Babuchara under Dighinala Thana of Khagrachari district;
c. To stop using the settlers as a tool of national oppression against Jumma people and to agree in principle to rehabilitate them in plain districts with means of livelihood;
d. To take legal actions against those army officers and settlers who would be found guilty of land grabbing and inciting communal tension;
e. To stop all kinds of repression and human rights violations in CHT;
f. To lift the state of “emergency” and to restore all political and civil rights of the citizen of Bangladesh; and
g. To withdraw all military camps from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in order to stop military terrorism against the Jumma people.
Sincerely,
On behalf of the following organizations
Jumma People's Network – Korea (JPNK)Imagination for International solidarity (IFIS)Palestine peace solidaritySecretary General, Buddhist solidarity for reform (BSR)Oh Kyungseok. Research Professor. Academy of Democratic Society and Policy.Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS)
Copy to:
Ministry of foreign affairs, Republic of Korea
Embassy of the united state of America
United Nations high commissioner for Human rights
Embassies of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional cooperation): India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives
2007-09-10
Representatives of the Jumma people have put pressure on the Government to investigate what is seen by many as illegal, military-orchestrated settlement operations, depriving the indigenous population of their land.
Below are extracts from a letter on behalf of several NGOs to the Chief Adviser of the Interim Bangladeshi Government:
To:Dr. Fakruddin AhmedChief AdviserInterim Caretaker GovernmentPeople's Republic of Bangladesh
Subject: Concern at illegal and forcible occupation of land belonging to the Jumma people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Sir,
We are writing to express our deep concern over what appears to be planned and systematic campaign of the settlers and members of the Bangladesh military to grab lands belonging to the Jumma people in Chittagong Hill Tracts, especially in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district of the Chittagong Hill tracts (CHT).
We have come to know from various sources that Bangladesh militaries and Bengali settlers have been involved in human rights abuses on the indigenous Jumma people of the CHT. According to recent reports from various sources at least 222.38 acres of plough as well as hilly land have been forcibly taken away in Dighinala Upazilla under Khagrachari district during the last 2-3 months. Of these, 42 acres have been grabbed in Rengkarjya Mouza No. 28 under Merung, 149.18 acres in Choto Merung Mouza No. 29, 5.2 acres in Bara Merung Mouza No. 30 and 26 acres belonging to Boalkhali Buddha Vihara and Orphanage under Dighinala Thana.
To highlight the recent land grabbing pattern, I take the liberty of citing a few cases below:
a. Unsolicited arbitration by army: gross injustice
On 19 July 2007, Betchari sub-zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan (37 Bengal, 4 Bir) in Bara Merung called an unsolicited arbitration meeting in his camp and in a whimsical verbal judgment gave away 13 Kani (5.2 acres) of land belonging to three Jumma villagers to other three settler families namely Sirajul Islam, his brother Nazrul Islam s/o Kashem Ali and Md. Yunus s/o Abdul Mannan of Rashik Nagar village.
Of the 13 Kanis, 5 kanis each belongs to Sadhan Chakma s/o Bandara Chakma and Lalit Kumar Chakma s/o Ranga Mua Chakma, and 3 kanis to Bilati Chakma s/o Megh Raj Chakma.
The Jummas had been in the possession of these lands since the time of Pakistan and they did have valid documents pertaining to these lands and showed them during the so-called arbitration meeting. On the other hand, the settlers, who came to the area in the 1980s under government-sponsored transmigration programme, have failed to produce any valid papers. Yet, the commander assuming the roles of the judge, the jury and the land surveyor at one and the same time gave his judgment in fovour of the settlers.
b. Unsolicited arbitration: Supriya Chakma's land taken away
Mrs. Supriya Chakma is the head teacher of Boradam Government Primary School in Dighinala. She owns 3.2 acres of plough land in Betchatri of Merung. In July a so-called arbitration committee formed by Dighinala zone commander Major Qamrul Hassan gave her land to a settler woman, despite the fact that she had valid documents pertaining to the said land.
[…]
d. Fresh attempt at expansion of Bengali settlement in Sadhana Tila, Babuchara
According to sources, the army is making desperate attempt to settle 812 Bengali families on approximately 300 acres of land in Sadhana Tila under Babuchara in Dighinala Upazilla of Khagrachari district. The settlers have begun clearing the land since 13 August. The area houses a Buddhist temple and a sizable Jumma settlement. If the plan is implemented, the temple will be destroyed, many Jummas will be evicted and dispute over land will increase dramatically.
[…]
We want to believe that the recent land grab incidents have been committed without knowledge of the government and that your government does not support and tolerate such activities. In our opinion a vested interest group within the military establishment in CHT may have orchestrated those incidents knowing full well that they would cause disturbance and embarrass your government.
We are aware that since assumption of office on 12 January this year, your interim caretaker government has taken a number of courageous measures including reclamation of illegally occupied lands and canals. While we appreciate your government for bringing the land grabbers to justice, we regret to note that such measures are confined merely to the plain districts and that no such measures have been taken so far to reclaim the land of the Jumma people in CHT.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts in the southeastern corner of Bangladesh is home to eleven ethnic nationalities that have been living there for centuries. They have their own customs governing land use and management system which is often referred to as traditional land rights by which lands are owned by the whole community. The successive governments of Bangladesh have refused to acknowledge this right of the Jumma people and settled under a state-sponsored transmigration programme approximately 400,000 landless Bengali people on the lands of the Jumma people. This has had a devastating impact on the Jumma societies and became a perennial source of tension and conflict in CHT.
The government authorities of Bangladesh often cite CHT's low population density to justify its population transfer policy. However, studies showed that the argument advanced by the proponents of this policy that the CHT had been lying vacant is a myth. Suffice it to say that after the inundation of 54 thousand acres of first class cultivable land due to the construction of Kaptai dam in the 1960s, an estimated 40,000 Jummas had to cross over to India because there had not been enough land for their rehabilitation in CHT.
We, therefore, appeal to the interim caretaker government of Bangladesh to take bold steps to reverse the policy that the partisan governments of the past had pursued with regard to the CHT and acknowledge and respect the traditional land rights of the Jumma people.
We also urge your government to take the following measures in the interest of the people of the CHT:
a. To immediately stop illegal land grabbing in CHT including Merung, Boalkhali and various parts of Bandarban and return the illegally occupied lands to their rightful owners.
b. To cancel the plan to resettle illegal settlers in Sadhana Tila in Babuchara under Dighinala Thana of Khagrachari district;
c. To stop using the settlers as a tool of national oppression against Jumma people and to agree in principle to rehabilitate them in plain districts with means of livelihood;
d. To take legal actions against those army officers and settlers who would be found guilty of land grabbing and inciting communal tension;
e. To stop all kinds of repression and human rights violations in CHT;
f. To lift the state of “emergency” and to restore all political and civil rights of the citizen of Bangladesh; and
g. To withdraw all military camps from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in order to stop military terrorism against the Jumma people.
Sincerely,
On behalf of the following organizations
Jumma People's Network – Korea (JPNK)Imagination for International solidarity (IFIS)Palestine peace solidaritySecretary General, Buddhist solidarity for reform (BSR)Oh Kyungseok. Research Professor. Academy of Democratic Society and Policy.Korean House for International Solidarity (KHIS)
Copy to:
Ministry of foreign affairs, Republic of Korea
Embassy of the united state of America
United Nations high commissioner for Human rights
Embassies of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional cooperation): India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives
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