Thursday, May 29, 2008

UPDF man handed over to Naniachar police

chtnews.com
News No. 93/2008, May 29, 2008

Joyesh Chakma (27), who was arrested by army along with five others on 26 May from Morachengey village under Naniachar Upazilla (sub district), has been handed over to Naniachar police station. He is an active member of the United People's Democratic Front.

A UPDF source said he was handed over to police today, and the army personnel, who arrested him, filed a kidnapping case against him. However, he could not give further details.

The five villagers, who were arrested along with him, had been freed from Naniachar zone yesterday. They were severely tortured in the camp, said the UPDF source who met one of them after their release.

Army arrests ex -JSS man in Dighinala

chtnews.com
News No. 92/2008, May 29, 2008

On 13 May, army personnel from Dighinala cantonment arrested Anunoy Chakma (55), an ex-member of the Jana Samhati Samiti, from cantonment's check post under Emergency Powers Act.

Mr. Chakma, who joined the JSS movement during its early phases, is better known by his nom de guerre "Manos". He surrendered arms in 1998 pursuant to a peace deal signed in December 1997.

Disillusioned with JSS politics, he left the party a few years ago and opened a drug store at Baghaihat bazaar. During the 20 April communal attack that left 77 Jumma houses burnt, the settlers tried to assault and kidnap him, but he was spared when one sympathetic Bengali businessman forcefully intervened.

Manos is believed to share views with the moderate sections of the JSS which want unity with the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF). In 2005 and 2006, he supported the JSS moderates (now reformists) who attempted to effect democratic change within the party. According to sources, at its 2006 congress, JSS narrowly escaped another "10 November" meaning bloodbath. On 10 November 1983, the Priti faction of the JSS attacked JSS headquarters and killed its founder Mr. M. N. Larma.

Father of two daughters, Manos comes from Sizok Dore village in Baghaichari. He was returning from Rangamati to Baghaihat when the arrest was made.

Settlers attempt another attack in Marishya

chtnews.com
News No. 91/2008, May 29, 2008

On 25 May, the illegal setters attempted to use the death of one Abul Hossain (15) to launch a communal attack on Jumma villages in Baghaichari under Rangamati district.

Prothom Alo, a Bengali daily, reported on 28 May that Abul Hossain s/o Mohammad Abu Taher went to the lake water to catch fish on Saturday morning. The following day in the afternoon his dead body was recovered.

However, an NGO activist working in the area told chtnews.com on condition of anonymity that Abul Hossain actually drowned in the water, but his dead body was secretly kept at a place near Sarbotoli village of the Jumma people. "A section of the settlers then whipped up communal sentiment among the Bengalis over the boy's death and tried to mount an attack on Jumma villages in Sarbotoli and Sizok Dore. This happened on the night of 25 May." he said.

He said the Jummas also organised themselves to repulse the attack and the battle cry "Ujo" reverberated throughout 40 to 50 Jumma villages in the area - from Sarbotoli to Tuloban. "Because of this and because of lack of support from the army, the settlers dared not attack" he said adding "otherwise there would have been another communal attack".

"This also goes to prove that the settlers cannot attack Jumma villages without support from the army. Army's support is crucial" he commented further.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Six innocent Jummas arrested in Naniachar

chtnews.com
News No. 90/2008, May 27, 2008

The army arrested six Jummas from Morachengey village in Naniachar under Rangamati district yesterday, 26 May.

Details of the arrest are yet to come. However, apparently they were arrested from the house of Mrinal Kanti Chakma where villagers were attending the "Satdinnya" feast prepared in honour of his deceased father who died a week earlier, on 20 May.

Mrinal Kanti Chakma's son Joyesh Chakma (27) was among those arrested. He studies homeopathic medicine in a college in Dhaka.

Others arrestees include Morachengey Government Primary School teacher Propon Chakma alias Maya Baran, aged 27 s/o late Bimalendu Chakma; Nitu Chakma aged 22 s/o Tarun Kanti Chakma, a first year student of Naniachar College; Adhiratan Chakma aged 23 s/o Subolal Chakma; Purno Bikash Chakma aged 26 s/o Battya Chakma and Mitu Chakma aged 25 s/o Shushil Kumar Chakma.

They are residents of Morachengey village, which lies 7 miles north of Naniachar Upazilla (sub district) headquarter.

They have neither been produced before any court of law, nor been handed over to the police till the writing of this report at 5 pm. "They are being interrogated in Naniachar zone", one of the sources said adding that the army subjected them to inhuman torture.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

IWGIA online:- Chittagong Hill Tracts

http://www.iwgia.org/sw28280.asp

The majority of Bangladesh’s 143.3 million people are Bengalis, and approximately 2.5 million are indigenous peoples belonging to 45 different ethnic groups. These peoples are concentrated
in the north, and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in the south-east of the country. In the CHT, the indigenous peoples are commonly known as Jummas for their common practice of swidden cultivation (crop rotation agriculture) locally known as jum. There is no constitutional recognition of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh. They are only referred to as “backward segments of the population”.

Indigenous peoples remain among the most persecuted of all minorities, facing discrimination not only on the basis of their religion and ethnicity but also because of their indigenous identity and their socio-economic status. In the CHT, the indigenous peoples took up arms in defence of their rights. In December 1997, the 25-year-long civil war ended with a Peace Accord between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbattya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS, United People’s Party), which led the resistance movement. The Accord recognises the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a “tribal inhabited” region, its traditional governance system and the role of its chiefs, and it provides building blocks for indigenous autonomy.
(From The Indigenous World 2008)

Sajek inquiry team holds discussion in Dhaka

chtnews.com
News No. 89/2008, May 22, 2008

The Sajek citizen inquiry team held a discussion today in front of DUCSU Cafe on Dhaka University campus to mark the launch of its report on 20 April Sajek arson attack.

Presided over by Moshrefa Mishu, convenor of Biplobi Okyo Front, who led the team during its visit to Sajek on 27 April, the discussion was also addressed by Dr. Meghna Guhathakurta, Executive Director of Research Initiative Bangladesh, Dr. Akmal Hossain, professor, department of International Relations, Dhaka University, Said Ferdous, teacher of Anthropology Department, Jahangirnagar University and Parth Shankar Shaha, a researcher with Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD).

The discussion which began at 4:30 pm was conducted by Udisha Islam, one of the members of the Sajek inquiry team.

Ms Moshrefa Mishu narrated her team's experience during its visit to Sajek in the aftermath of a communal attack on four Jumma villages by illegal settlers with full backing of the local military personnel.

Dr. Meghna Guhathakurta said the army had no right to stay in CHT as it has failed to guarantee people's security within a radius of 3/4 km of their camps. "How can they just look on while the houses were in flame" she asked. "The army which cannot save lives and property of the people has no right to stay in CHT" she asserted.

Professor Dr. Akmal Hossain said there was a conspiracy to wipe out the ethnic Jumma people by killing their distinct languages. He said "we must recognise the right of the Jumma people to have education up to primary level through the medium of their own language." He demanded that the government should accord recognition to the languages of the ethnic minorities of the country.

Sayeed Ferdous termed the army version of the Sajek incident as their desperate attempt to justify their continued presence in the CHT. He said the army must make its position vis a vis CHT clear. "The army cannot absolve its responsibility about the Sajek attack by merely shifting the blame on unknown terrorists" he said.

Parth Shankar Shaha narrated his own experience on his visit to Sajek to investigate the incident.

The discussion was followed by a play titled "Shing-a" staged by artiste activists of Hatiar Nattyogosti. The play depicts army repression and attack on innocent Jumma people in CHT.

Sajek inquiry team holds discussion in Dhaka

chtnews.com
News No. 89/2008, May 22, 2008

The Sajek citizen inquiry team held a discussion today in front of DUCSU Cafe on Dhaka University campus to mark the launch of its report on 20 April Sajek arson attack.

Presided over by Moshrefa Mishu, convenor of Biplobi Okyo Front, who led the team during its visit to Sajek on 27 April, the discussion was also addressed by Dr. Meghna Guhathakurta, Executive Director of Research Initiative Bangladesh, Dr. Akmal Hossain, professor, department of International Relations, Dhaka University, Said Ferdous, teacher of Anthropology Department, Jahangirnagar University and Parth Shankar Shaha, a researcher with Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD).

The discussion which began at 4:30 pm was conducted by Udisha Islam, one of the members of the Sajek inquiry team.

Ms Moshrefa Mishu narrated her team's experience during its visit to Sajek in the aftermath of a communal attack on four Jumma villages by illegal settlers with full backing of the local military personnel.

Dr. Meghna Guhathakurta said the army had no right to stay in CHT as it has failed to guarantee people's security within a radius of 3/4 km of their camps. "How can they just look on while the houses were in flame" she asked. "The army which cannot save lives and property of the people has no right to stay in CHT" she asserted.

Professor Dr. Akmal Hossain said there was a conspiracy to wipe out the ethnic Jumma people by killing their distinct languages. He said "we must recognise the right of the Jumma people to have education up to primary level through the medium of their own language." He demanded that the government should accord recognition to the languages of the ethnic minorities of the country.

Sayeed Ferdous termed the army version of the Sajek incident as their desperate attempt to justify their continued presence in the CHT. He said the army must make its position vis a vis CHT clear. "The army cannot absolve its responsibility about the Sajek attack by merely shifting the blame on unknown terrorists" he said.

Parth Shankar Shaha narrated his own experience on his visit to Sajek to investigate the incident.

The discussion was followed by a play titled "Shing-a" staged by artiste activists of Hatiar Nattyogosti. The play depicts army repression and attack on innocent Jumma people in CHT.

Sajek inquiry team holds discussion in Dhaka

chtnews.com
News No. 89/2008, May 22, 2008

The Sajek citizen inquiry team held a discussion today in front of DUCSU Cafe on Dhaka University campus to mark the launch of its report on 20 April Sajek arson attack.

Presided over by Moshrefa Mishu, convenor of Biplobi Okyo Front, who led the team during its visit to Sajek on 27 April, the discussion was also addressed by Dr. Meghna Guhathakurta, Executive Director of Research Initiative Bangladesh, Dr. Akmal Hossain, professor, department of International Relations, Dhaka University, Said Ferdous, teacher of Anthropology Department, Jahangirnagar University and Parth Shankar Shaha, a researcher with Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD).

The discussion which began at 4:30 pm was conducted by Udisha Islam, one of the members of the Sajek inquiry team.

Ms Moshrefa Mishu narrated her team's experience during its visit to Sajek in the aftermath of a communal attack on four Jumma villages by illegal settlers with full backing of the local military personnel.

Dr. Meghna Guhathakurta said the army had no right to stay in CHT as it has failed to guarantee people's security within a radius of 3/4 km of their camps. "How can they just look on while the houses were in flame" she asked. "The army which cannot save lives and property of the people has no right to stay in CHT" she asserted.

Professor Dr. Akmal Hossain said there was a conspiracy to wipe out the ethnic Jumma people by killing their distinct languages. He said "we must recognise the right of the Jumma people to have education up to primary level through the medium of their own language." He demanded that the government should accord recognition to the languages of the ethnic minorities of the country.

Sayeed Ferdous termed the army version of the Sajek incident as their desperate attempt to justify their continued presence in the CHT. He said the army must make its position vis a vis CHT clear. "The army cannot absolve its responsibility about the Sajek attack by merely shifting the blame on unknown terrorists" he said.

Parth Shankar Shaha narrated his own experience on his visit to Sajek to investigate the incident.

The discussion was followed by a play titled "Shing-a" staged by artiste activists of Hatiar Nattyogosti. The play depicts army repression and attack on innocent Jumma people in CHT.

PCP marks 19th founding anniversary

chtnews.com
News No. 88/2008, May 20, 2008

The Hill Student's Council, popularly known as PCP by its Bengali acronym, has observed its 19th founding anniversary in Dhaka as well as in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Pranesh Samaddar, a veteran of anti-British movement, inaugurated the programme in front of DUCSU Cafeteria on Dhaka University campus at 10:45 am today.

In his inaugural address Mr. Samaddar, who is associated with progressive movements in the country, condemned the 20 April communal attack on innocent Jumma villagers in Sajek. At least 77 Jumma houses, one church and two Unicef-run village schools were burned to ashes during the attack. "It's a part of a larger blueprint to wipe out the hill people from the map of the CHT" he added.

He said the media had failed abysmally to play its due role in bringing the CHT issue to light.

Terming the 1997 CHT accord an unnecessary compromise on the part of the hill people, he said it had destroyed the struggle that the Jumma people had built up over many years through untold suffering and sacrifices.

He said there was no alternative to building up a new struggle to establish the rights of the hill people.

After his inaugural speech, a procession of the PCP activists and supporters paraded Dhaka University campus. They carried placards and chanted slogans.

This was followed by a rally, again in front of DUCSU Cafe, which was presided over by Ricoh Chakma, president of Hill Student's Council, a front organisation of the United People's Democratic Front.

At the rally, Kya Hla Ching Marma, a central committee member of PCP, gave a welcome address, while Samiul Alam Richi, convenor of Bangladesh Chattra Federation, Nurur Rahman Shiplu, president of Biplobi Chattra Jubo Andolan, Tofazzal Hossain, central committee member of Jatiyo Chattra Dal and Golam Ahsan Golap from Biplobi Chattra Sangha delivered solidarity speech.

Besides, ex-president of PCP Dipankar Tripura and Office Secretary of Hill Women's Federation Ms Rina Dewan also spoke.

In their solidarity speech, the student leaders said there were clearly two trends in the movement of the hill people: one was the opportunistic trend represented by Santu Larma; and the other a revolutionary trend represented by PCP and others.

They said nothing could be achieved by opportunism. "What we need is a unified struggle led by the progressive forces both in the Hills and in the plain land" they said.

They also demanded of the interim government to stop land grabbing, torture and military rule in Chittagong Hill Tracts, and withdraw the emergency rule from the country without further delay.

In observance of its 19th founding anniversary, the PCP also held discussion meeting in Khagrachari and Bandarban.

Ven. Sumanalankar condemns curb of religious freedom in CHT

chtnews.com
News No. 87/2008, May 19, 2008

Ven. Sumanalankar Mahathero has condemned religious persecution of the Buddhists in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

He was speaking at a religious gathering today at Janabal Bouddha Vihara at Mahazhon Para organised on the occasion of Buddha Purnaima.

He said security forces were harassing Buddhist devotees in many different ways and preventing them from practicing their religion peacefully. He asked why one would have to seek prior permission from the government and the army for constructing any Buddhist temples in CHT. "I condemn such blatant curb of religious freedom" he said.

He also urged the government to induct Jummas into Buddhist Welfare Trust, a government welfare trust for the Buddhist community in Bangladesh. He said after the death of Upendra Lal Chakma and Khularam Chakma, no one from the Jummas has been inducted into the trusty board.

In celebration of the Buddha Purnima, he led a Mongol Shova Jatra (procession for happiness) of one thousand devotees. The Jatra started at 8 in the morning from Yongdaw Buddhist Temple in Golabari and ended at Janabal Buddhist Temple at Mahazhon Para in Khagrachari town.

About 70 Buddhist monks took part in the procession.

4 Jummas tortured by BDR

chtnews.com
News No. 86/2008, May 19, 2008

Four innocent Jumma villagers were tortured in Logang under Panchari Upazilla in Khagrachari district on 17 May, Saturday.

Sources in Khagrachari said at around 11 am a contingent of 30 - 40 Bangladesh Rifles personnel (30 Rifle Battalion) led by Subedar Ajad from Logang camp raided the village of Lambu Karbari Para.

The BDR personnel rounded up four innocent villagers and took them to their camp. They were tortured severely in the camp and released subsequently.

The victims have been identified as Shyamol Chakma aged 18 s/o Tungo Chan Chakma, Nikel Chakma aged 17 s/o Bindu Chakma and Tuhin Chakma aged 17 s/o Rupo Moy Chakma from Lambu Para village and Ashim Chakma aged 27 s/o Lalit Mohan Chakma of Sujo Mohan Karbari Para village.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

4 Jummas tortured by BDR

chtnews.com
News No. 86/2008, May 19, 2008

Four innocent Jumma villagers were tortured in Logang under Panchari Upazilla in Khagrachari district on 17 May, Saturday.

Sources in Khagrachari said at around 11 am a contingent of 30 - 40 Bangladesh Rifles personnel (30 Rifle Battalion) led by Subedar Ajad from Logang camp raided the village of Lambu Karbari Para.

The BDR personnel rounded up four innocent villagers and took them to their camp. They were tortured severely in the camp and released subsequently.

The victims have been identified as Shyamol Chakma aged 18 s/o Tungo Chan Chakma, Nikel Chakma aged 17 s/o Bindu Chakma and Tuhin Chakma aged 17 s/o Rupo Moy Chakma from Lambu Para village and Ashim Chakma aged 27 s/o Lalit Mohan Chakma of Sujo Mohan Karbari Para village.

NGO accused of grabbing land in Bandarban

chtnews.com
News No. 85/2008, May 18, 2008

Development Organisation of the Rural Poor, a local NGO, is accused of grabbing lands belonging to Tripura nationality in Lama Upazila of Bandarban.

An NGO by the name of DORP has cleared fruit orchards and other trees of the Tripura people in Lama Upazila of Bandarban and then set fire to it, reports Prothom Alo, a vernacular daily published from Dhaka.

Now a signboard reading 'Saistyogram Dorp' (Sanatorium Village Dorp) has been put up over the said land, it added.

Taking responsibility for the destruction of the orchards, Dorp said it had taken those lands on lease. However, chairman of Bandarban District Council, Professor Thanzama Lusai and district administration officials refuted the claim saying there was no scope for land leases after the CHT peace accord.

The indigenous Tripura people have been living, for hundreds of years, in Tongo Zhiripara village under Soroi Union that lies about 20km north of Bandarban Sadar Upazila on Sualok-Lama road. Although a few families have land documents, others have been practicing Jum cultivation on the hills for generations under traditional land management system. The villagers said 10 - 12 days ago Dorp people cut the trees of their gardens in 25 - 30 acres of land and then set them on fire.

Khenda Tripura (65) said "I grew a mixed garden of teak, Gorjon, Gamari, mango and jackfruit in about 10 acres of land near my 2-acre plough land that I had been granted in 1982. The Dorp people have occupied both the plough land and the garden."

Rongsaha Tripura said "I grew an orchard five years ago. Now my heart breaks when I look at the destroyed orchard."

Zillyamoni, Rungkoma, Bikram Moni and many others said their titled lands and orchards had been grabbed by Dorp people.

Nurul Alam, a labourer employed by Dorp, said on orders of Dorp's Executive Director Noman and its field organisers Ayub and Malek, 20 - 25 labourers cut the orchards of the Tripura people and then set fire to it.

In this regard Dorp's Executive Director AHM Noman said they have 150 acres of hilly land in the area taken on lease. They have now taken initiative to grow a garden and build a hospital there. He claimed that the Tripuras did not possess any land in the said area.

A study of land leases records in the office of the Deputy Commissioner has revealed that Dorp's chief coordinator Babul Kumar Adhikari, AHM Noman, Nurul Islam and some others have been granted lease of 25 acres each in Doluchari Mouza. The leases were granted in the year 2000. However, under the provision of CHT peace accord land leases and transfer of lands already leased out should have ceased. The District Council officials were of the same view that as per the District Council Act of 1998, these leases were illegal.

Professor Thanzama Lusai, chairman of Bandarban District Council, said the Chittagong Hill Tracts Ministry had been requested to revoke all the leases granted after the CHT peace accord and the District Council Acts came into effect and without prior permission of the Councils. He added that he will take actions after an inquiry into the activities of Dorp.

The Officer-in-charge (OC) of Lama police station, Abul Kashem, said he had been informed that an NGO styled DORP cleared the orchards and gardens belonging to the Tripura people and added that the issue was under investigation.

Mohammad Ali, chairman of Soroi Union Council, agrees that what Dorp has done is tantamount to grabbing of indigenous Tripura people's land.

The Tripura villagers further said they had protested when their orchards were being cut. In order to scare the indigenous people off, the Dorp people filed a general diary (GD) with the local police station claiming that the Tripuras demanded Taka 2 lakhs (Taka 200 thousand) as subscription. They also alleged that the Dorp people had threatened them with arrest and even death.

Jonti, Manik Chandra, Bikram and Satyoram Tripura and many others said after the threats the indigenous people get frightened at the mere sight of police personnel in the area.

..............................
Based on Prothom Alo report published today, 18 May 2008. www.prothom-alo.com

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Maulvi Bazar in B'desh a hub of terror camps

Source from- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Maulvi_Bazar_in_Bdesh_a_hub_of_terror_camps/articleshow/2960603.cms

NEW DELHI: Maulvi Bazar district in Bangladesh has emerged as the biggest training hub for terrorists and northeast insurgents within India's eastern neighbour.

Though other Bangladeshi districts too have training camps, Maulvi Bazar figures prominently in the revised list of 117 camps which Border Security Force (BSF) provided to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) during a border coordination conference of the two countries here last week.

Incidentally, Maulvi Bazar - which is flanked by Assam and Tripura from two sides - comprises nearly one-fourth of the total camps located in Bangladesh.

Habibganj, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Chittagong and Sylhet are other districts where Indian intelligence agencies have pin-pointed locations of training camps - some of which are being run with the help of Pakistan's ISI to train the cadre of Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami (HuJI).

Referring to the latest list of training camps which has come down from 141 to 117 in the past two years, a senior home ministry official said that though most of the camps were meant to provide training to northeast insurgents - belonging to United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) - some of them in Maulvi Bazar and Habibganj had been identified as main hideouts of HuJI cadres.

"India has prepared the list on the basis of its own intelligence as well as after taking into account the details provided by a number of terrorists arrested along the border and elsewhere in India," the official said.

Asked what purpose the list would serve when Bangladesh denies the existence of such camps, the official said the fact that the list of such camps had come down was an indication of its importance, particularly when the neighbouring country had to show its clean record before the world community in the "global war against terrorism".

(vishwa.mohan@timesgroup.com)

UPDF members shot at, 3 arrested by army

chtnews.com
News No. 84/2008, May 15, 2008

An activist of the United People's Democratic Front was seriously wounded when army personnel opened brushfire on a group of people in Laxmichari on 4 May. The soldiers arrested 3 UPDF members including the injured one after the firing.

UPDF's Aungchaching Marma in Laxmichari said the army personnel led by Dullyatoli camp commander Warrant Officer Anwar shot at them without slightest provocation and added that "the UPDF members were on their way to visit Dewanpara Buddhist temple."

Kyalaching Marma aged 22 s/o Chudu Aung Marma of village Shilchari under Barmachari, was hit by bullet. He is now undergoing medical treatment in army custody.

The other two UPDF members arrested have been identified as Nitu Chakma aged 22 (s/o Lakshmidhan Chakma, village Gorgojjyachari, Khagrachari) and Chaila Prue Marma aged 32 (s/o Kongchai Karbari, village North Sapchari, UP: Hafchari, Ramgarh Thana).

The army took them to Laxmichari zone and beat up severely. The following day, that is, on 5 May, the zone authority called in police and handed the UPDF members over to them.

The police filed a case against the arrested UPDF members under sections 144/353/385 of Bangladesh Penal Code (case No. 1, 05/05/08) and sent them to Khagrachari district jail.

In the First Information Report, Mojibar Rahman, Sub Inspector of Laxmichari police station, stated that he had taken charge of the two UPDF members - Nitu and Chaila - from Warrant Officer Habibur Rahman at 16:50 on 5 May 2008.

Quoting a report on the incident prepared by Captain Mahmudul Hasan of 30 Field Regiment Artillery, the police SI further said: "on 4 May, at around 1500, the UPDF members had assembled at Dewanpara temple area with the objective of collecting money from market-bound people. When a patrol team led by Anwar Hossain from Dullyatoli army camp under Laxmichari zone reached the area the terrorists split themselves into two groups, with one group, three in number, taking position on a hill top. When they were about to shoot at the patrol team, the soldiers got the better of them. Kyalaching Marma was hit in the left leg."

Aungchaching Marma told chtnews.com that at least 30 UPDF members have been arrested since the declaration of the state of emergency on 11 January 2007.

He said the arrested UPDF members were neither armed nor engaged in any illegal activity. "Every party has the right to raise funds for its programmes" he said adding "UPDF does not use force while collecting funds from the people".

He said the military were trying hard to project UPDF as a terrorist organisation, "but it will fail."

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Latest from Sajek: merchandise seized

chtnews.com
News No. 83/2008, May 13, 2008

The settlers in Sajek appear to have put an economic embargo on Jumma populated areas, with merchandise for village shops of two Jummas seized at Baghaihat bazaar.

Sources said, on 11 May, two elderly Jummas in their sixties, Leipeda Chakma and Gyana Ranjan Chakma, were ferrying goods from Karengatoli bazaar to their shops at Gangaram Mukh. When they reached Baghaihat, a settler named Nazimuddin seized the goods, apparently on orders of the army officers.

As the Jummas protested at the illegal seizure, Nazimuddin asked them to contact the zone commander, Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz, the mastermind behind the 20 April attack on 4 Jumma villages in Sajek.

Attempt at capture or effacement of evidence?
Since 10 May, settlers have been cleaning the ashes and charred beams of the burned houses of the Jummas. "They are doing it on orders of the army and it is not clear if it is an attempt to capture our land or to efface the telltale mark of the brutal attack or a purely generous help" said one villager, who spoke to chtnews.com from Sajek on special arrangement.

Army beats up five Jummas in Naniachar

chtnews.com
News No. 82/2008, May 13, 2008

On 6 May 2008, captain Shamim and Sebedar Abdul Kashem from Naniachar zone beat up five Jummas who came to Morachengi Government Primary School ground to get themselves registered as voters.

The incident occurred at around 9:30 am. The Jummas stood up in a long queue in the simmering summer heat. The unwelcome abusive language of the army personnel deployed there to help the voter registration officials seemed to have shot up the temperature level beyond any tolerable point.

Some of the Jummas protested at such rude behaviour of the army, but of no use. At one stage, some of them shouted at captain Shamim: "dhara, dhara" (catch him, catch him). The soldiers became furious and instantly singled out five Jummas to mete out retribution.

The victims have been identified as Bir Ranjan Chakma (30) s/o Jharbodhan Chakma, Shanti Ranjan Chakma (35) s/o Sur Sen Chakma and Maya Dhan Chakma (22) s/o Allo Chakma of village North Morachengi, Ms Kalabi Chakma (35) d/o Roghunath Chakma of village South Morachengi and Kalamua Chakma (28) s/o Ah-Mua Chakma of village Karallyachari.

After the beating, Subedar Abdul Kashem apologized to the victims, a rare gesture of any army officer in CHT.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Indigenous families lose 1748 acres of land

from- http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=36020
Survey reveals at workshop
Staff Correspondent

Around 1983 indigenous families in 10 districts of the country have so far lost their 1748 acres of ancestral land, says a survey report.

Different organisations including the forest department grabbed or acquired the land showing forged documents or in the name of social forestry.

The findings of the survey, which is being conducted by Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP), were placed at a national workshop at the National Press Club in the capital yesterday.

JAP General Secretary Robindranath Soren placed the report of the survey which is expected to be completed by next month.

The survey showed that of the 1983 indigenous families, 521 lost their land through forged documents whereas the forest department acquired over 1185 acres of land belonging to 466 indigenous families in the name of social forestry.

Speakers at the workshop urged the government to return the land to indigenous people and establish their rights on lands.

JusticeMuhammadHabibur Rahman, former chief adviser to a caretaker government, said," I am happy that the indigenous people have come forward to establish their rights."

He said the rights of indigenous people have got a new dimension across the world.

The Australian Supreme Court has directed the government to give indigenous people their rights on land, he added.

Justice Rahman advised the indigenous people to stand before the law commission with all documents so that the commission can stand by their (indigenous) side.

The JAP has been conducting the survey since January in Naogaon, Natore, Bogra, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Chapainawabganj, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Panchagarh districts.

According to the survey, in Dinajpur alone the forest department has acquired around 1182 acres of land from 411 indigenous families.

Indigenous people at the workshop urged the government to ensure their constitutional recognition and form a land commission to resolve their land problems.

Presided over by Anail Marandi, the workshop was also addressed by former adviser Sultana Kamal, Prof Ajay Roy, convener of Sampritee Mancha, Haider Akbar Khan Rono, politburo member of the Workers' Party, and Mujahidul Islam Selim, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh.

'Constitution has no bias against ethnic groups'

New Age, Dhaka, Sunday, May 11, 2008


Former chief of a caretaker administration Justice Habiur Rahman said on Saturday that he found no discrimination against any social, religious or ethnic groups in the constitution and suggested that anyone who would find it should come up with specific recommendations for addressing the issue.

'You should suggest a clause for insertion in the constitution specifying the type of constitutional recognition [of indigenous population] you want. My personal view is that our constitution does not discriminate against [any groups],' Habibur Rahman, also a former chief justice, told a workshop on solution to disputes over the lands of indigenous people living in north-western districts.

Political leaders, senior citizens, rights activists and members of the indigenous communities addressed the workshop organised by Jatiya Adibashi Parishad, an organisation looking after the rights of indigenous people. Anil Marandi, president of the parisad chaired the workshop held at the National Press Club.

Habibur Rahman advised the indigenous communities to pursue their demands, particularly the one related to their constitutional recognition, for which they have long been campaigning.

'We have to undertake the initiative and we might face some difficulties in the process', he said adding that the people would be ready to face the problems for the sake of peace.

The former chief adviser referred to many difficulties the indigenous communities were facing across the globe and expressed satisfaction that some progress had been made towards recognition of the rights of indigenous people. He praised the communities for raising their voice for self-dignity. He said he would not be surprised to see an indigenous man or woman taking the highest office of the republic in the 21st century. He stressed the need for an effective land commission to settle ethnic minority people's land claims.

Ajay Roy, a retired professor of Dhaka University, called for 'a change in our attitude towards the indigenous people.'

Mujahidul Islam Selim, secretary general of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said that a comprehensive study on the land disputes should be carried out to settle all land-related issues.

Haider Akbar Khan Rano of the Workers Party urged all political parties to include the issues of the indigenous people in their election manifestoes so that they remain committed to the indigenous peoples' causes.

Former adviser and rights activist Sultana Kamal said that the right to land was a basic right of every citizen. 'But it is unfortunate that in the cases of indigenous people, the state does not discharge its responsibility as per its mandate.'

Bengali settlers gain profits by receiving Tk. 10,000 compensation of army chief

by Kapaeeng Watch

During the visit of the spot of arson incident of Sajek under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati, Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed declared to provide a financial grant of Tk. 10,000 for each affected family as compensation. It is learnt that the grants were already reached there and are being distributed to the affected families.

However, one Jumma villager requesting not be named alleges, "Cow and goat were given same price. The houses of Bengali settlers were merely a shack. There was nothing except four temporary hedge-rows. On the contrary, the houses of the Jumma villagers were almost permanent abode. There were valuables including furniture, utensils, cloths, rice, even some had TV and CIT sheets." He says, Bengali settlers gained more profits by receiving lump sum Tk. 10,000 alone.

One woman from Rangaram Mukh village whose house was completely burnt to ashes says, Bengali settlers even earned profits by looting the houses of the Jumma villagers before setting fire on them. She claims, she witnessed looting of valuables of her neighbouring house by the Bengali settlers. However, same relief were distributed to them (Bengalis), even some cases they are receiving relief more than one time.

In this arson attack on 7 indigenous villages committed by Bengali settlers in presence of military forces on 20 April, total 76 houses of indigenous people and 43 houses of Bengali settlers were burnt to ashes.

Army detains suspected UPDF member, releases later

chtnews.com
News No. 81/2008, May 9, 2008

On 30 March 2008, army personnel arrested Debapriya Chakma (20) from Dumdumi Union in Jurachari when he came to get himself registered as a voter.

He was arrested on suspicion of being an activist of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF). The soldiers took him to the camp and interrogated him for more than four hours.

However, he was released later only when the army became convinced that he was not a UPDF activist. The arrest was made by warrant officer Md. Ibrahim from Pukirachara army camp.

Villagers in Jurachari alleged that recently military searches, raids and harassment of innocent people have increased in the area. The people always live in constant fear of army atrocities. Many have gone in to hiding to avoid military persecution.

"The army officers arrest innocent people and then portray them as terrorists after placing arms and ammunition in their hands in order to secure a promotion for themselves" alleged a teacher of Jurachari High School who wished not to be named for fear of reprisal.

Army arrests a JSS member

chtnews.com
News No. 80/2008, May 9, 2008

Army personnel from Jurachari camp arrested a member of the Jana Samhati Samiti on 31 March from Bara Panchari in Jurachari of Rangamati district.

A petrol team comprising 30/35 military personnel led by Lt. col. Abid and warrant officer Nizam arrested Hridoy Chakma from his own house in the presence of the OC of Jurachari, Mr. Mansur Ali and sent him to jail after framing a false case.

Hridoy Chakma had been politically inactive for more than a year before arrest.

UPDF activist arrested from wedding ceremony

chtnews.com
News No. 79/2008, May 9, 2008

The Army arrested one UPDF activist named Mangol Kumar Chakma (35) son of Kalachan Chakma of village Mandir Chara in Jurachari Thana on 31 March 2008.

Mr. Chakma was attending a wedding ceremony of one of his relatives when Jurachari camp Commander Md. Nizam arrested him.

The army recovered nothing incriminating from him. Yet, they put hashish into his hands, filed a false case against him and sent him to jail.

3 Indigenous Jummas arrested in Jurachari

chtnews.com
News No. 77/2008, May 8, 2008

On 5 May 2008, a group of 20 to 25 army personnel under the command of Major Tanvir, who is in charge of Pukirachara camp, arrested three Jummas while on patrol.

Sources said Tanvir arrested Niranjan Chakma after calling him to the camp. Thereafter, the army personnel went to Pukirachara village and arrested Ranangan Chakma(23) son of Nishanto Chakma from his own house.

The following day another Jumma named Lamba was arrested when he was going to Pukirachara bazaar. The day was weekly market day in Pukirachara.

The army tortured them severely and implicated them with false cases after placing one homemade ek nola gun and a donation book in their hands. Now they are languishing in Rangamati jail.

Sources told chtnews.com that the army used to pay them regularly for providing information about UPDF activists and their whereabouts. But when they failed to provide any useful information leading to the arrest of any UPDF member, the army became angry and arrested them.

Army arrests two in Jurachari for helping UPDF

chtnews.com
News No. 77/2008, May 8, 2008

Jurachari Army camp commander, warrant officer Md. Nizam arrested two Jummas on 7 March 2008 on allegations of providing support to the UPDF.

The arrestees are Tarun Bikash Chakma (36) son of Ananda Hridoy Chakma and Surjojit Chakma (38) of village T & T area.

Sources said a group of army personnel led by Nizam surrounded their house at around 9.00pm on that day. At that time they were in sleep. The soldiers woke them up and then took them to the army camp. They were kept in confinement in the camp for more than 19 hours and were subjected to physical torture.

The army accused Tarun and Surjojit of helping UPDF.

After rigorous interrogation Surjojit Chakma was set free, while Tarun Bikash Chakma was sent to jail after implicating him with a false extortion case. Tarun Bikash Chakma's arrest put his wife Sona Chakma in a helpless situation. She works at Jurachari Hospital as a sweeper.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Sajek investigative team demands judicial probe

chtnews.com
News No. 74/2008, May 2, 2008

A team of progressive political and student leaders, university teachers and journalists at a press conference in Dhaka today called for the government to form a judicial committee to probe the Sajek incident and publish the enquiry report within six days.

They made this demand after a restricted visit to the place of occurrence at Sajek on 27 April.

Held at Reporter's Unity, the press conference was attended by all but those team members who joined the team in Khagrachari.

The press conference was presided over by Ms Mosrefa Mishu, convenor of Biplobi Okyo Front, while Mr. Manos Chowdhury, teacher of Anthropology Department at Jahangirnagar University, read out a written statement.

They said the army blocked them at Baghaihat zone before reaching the place of occurrence on 27 April. "After writing down all our names and identities, checking and listing each and every bag we were carrying with us and then reporting it to the camp authority, we were taken inside the camp complying with the order of Second-in-Command Major Kabir" Manos said.

He further said the team members were taken to the place of occurrence in three army vehicles and brought back after 20 minutes. He said: "We noticed burned houses on either side of the road from Baghaihat bazaar on ward. The area looked desolate as if it were a cremation ground. One of the victims, Buddhi Ranjan Chakma, came up to us, hugged our team leader Moshrefa Mishu and then burst into tears in front of the army and all other team members accusing the Bengali settlers for the 20 April arson attack. At that moment Major Kabir swiftly changed the topic and deprived us of the chance to speak to Buddhi Ranjan Chakma"

In the written statement Manos narrated how another Jumma victim came up to them with fear writ large on his face and whispered into their ears that they (Jummas) were not allowed to say anything about the incident. "We also knew from him that the settlers have been kept under watch of the army at the local bazaar (market place), while the Jummas have taken shelter in a Buddhist temple, in nearby jungles and in the house of their relatives." he added.

He said the team members were informed that after the imposition of the state of emergency on 11 January 2007, the Bengalis continued to build houses after grabbing Jumma people's lands. "This has been verified later on when we visited other areas." he said.

Manos said although they could not interact with the victims on the spot, subsequently they heard the victims' accounts of the incident of that day. The statement quoted a victim as saying: "In January last settlers led by Bengali leader Golam Mowla occupied my house. We did not get the opportunity to speak at the meeting at our council office. When Raja (Devashish Roy) came, we were threatened not to speak to him. It was a humid night on 20 April. I was sitting outside of my house. All on a sudden I heard some Bengali people shouting 'Narayek Takbir Allahu Akbar'. Then I saw fire at some distance from my house. The Jummas were shouting 'Ujo Ujo (advance). At that time I saw an army lorry. By that time my house and the adjacent houses began to blaze. While our houses were on fire, the settlers were busy looting."

The team members also demanded that the government must open up the Chittagong Hill Tracts region to the mass media, must publish a white paper on all cases of genocide, rape and torture committed in the past in CHT and must put an end to grabbing of hill people's land, to repression and torture.

Besides Moshrefa Mishu and Manos Chowdhury, team members also included Udisha Islam (journalist); Ricoh Chakma, president, Hill Students Council; Monjurul Ahsan, coordinator, Sangskritir Naya Setu; Md. Arifuzzaman, member, Sangskritir Naya Setu; Nurur Rahman, convenor, Biplobi Chattra Jubo Andolon; Saifuddin Sohel, organiser, Biplobi Chattra Jubo Andolon, Chittagong Unit; Sohan, Garments Workers Unity Forum; Nepali Chakma, Hill Women's Federation; Rina Dewan, organising secretary, HWF; Shahadat Hossain, Jatiyo Biplobi Front; Ashik Akbar, poet and little magazine writer; and Nisha Chakma, student, Khagrachari.

Baghaichhari arson pre-planned

Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW


The Daily Star, Dhaka, Tuesday, May 6, 2008


Front Page
Baghaichhari arson pre-planned
Citizens' group says
Staff Correspondent


The April 20 arson attack on villages of indigenous communities in Baghaichhari of Rangamati was well orchestrated and pre-planned, and the government has yet to take any action against the perpetrators, an independent citizens' group said.

They also said the victims are still living under the open sky.

The citizens' group comprising different professionals including human rights workers, university teachers, lawyers, and journalists raised questions yesterday at a news conference following a visit to the spot, wondering who could have dared to set fire to the houses next to an army camp.

"We think the reason behind the arson attack was not only the conflict between the indigenous communities and Bangalee settlers, the main motive was to drive away the indigenous people from the area to make way for new Bangalee settlements," said Robayet Ferdous, a teacher of mass communications and journalism at Dhaka University, while reading out a written statement at the conference.

At the conference, the citizens' group said in Sajek they visited eight villages, Nursery Para, Dane Bhaibachhara, Bame Bhaibachhara, Purbopara, Balughatpara, Retkaba, MSF Para, and Gangarammukh, where most of the houses that were gutted belonged to indigenous people while only a few burnt houses belonged to Bangalee settlers, and the government has yet to take an account of the damage.

They said, tension started to mount in Sajek since the Bangalee settlers started building new houses in Chakma villages just a couple of months ago. Quoting local indigenous people, the written statement said the attackers, who were speaking Bangla, first looted all furniture and other valuables in the houses and then set fire to them.

Some Bangalee settlers in Gangarammukh village even did not flinch to destroy a Buddhist temple, Bonobihar Kuthir, to build new houses for themselves, the news conference alleged.

Some Bangalee settlers there have been threatening local indigenous residents with arson attacks on their houses, if they do not go on an exodus into the forest, the citizens' group said quoting local indigenous residents.

They also said the Bangalee settlers there are very poor and depend on government provided rations.

"In Bhaibachhara village we saw a house in between two Chakma houses. The house of Bangalee settler Anawar Hossain was not burnt while the Chakma houses were gutted," said Robayet Ferdous.

In most of the villages all houses of the indigenous people were gutted while the houses of settlers were not, with only a few exceptions, the visitors noted.

"But the Bangalee victims said local indigenous people did not set fire to their houses," Robayet said reading out the written speech.

At the news conference the citizens' group demanded formation of a divisional probe committee and publication of the report. They also demanded stopping settling of Bangalees in Sajek area, and activating the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission to resolve land disputes in the area.

They also demanded release of three indigenous youths who have been detained in the army camp since the attack.

Human rights activist Barrister Sarah Hossain, Gono Forum leader Pankaj Bhattachariaya, and journalist Shameema Binte Rahman were also among the visitors, who were present at the news conference too.



=====================


New Age, Dhaka, May 6, 2008

Rangamati arson targeted ethnic minorities: civic group report
Staff Correspondent

Wrapping up its fact finding mission, a citizens' group has claimed that the poor ethnic minorities were the only target of the recent arson attack in remote Sajek union of Rangamati hill district.
'The mapping of the attack gave an impression that the indigenous people were the only targets. It was a pre-planned attack,' said a report launched Monday in Dhaka by the group after visiting the affected area in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
It said that the April 20 attack might have been an outcome of longstanding disputes over land in the CHT and encroachment by Bengali settlers.
The 11-member mission headed by columnist Abul Makshud talked to a number of arson victims, especially the indigenous minorities, Bengali settlers and members of the armed forces, who are responsible for maintaining law and order in the hilly region, during its two day field visit to Sajek.
More than 150 homes were burnt to ashes as miscreants set fire mostly to indigenous people's homes in eight villages of Sajek union at night on April 20. Many victims of Narsaripara, Bame Bhaibachhara, Dane Bhaibachhara, Purbopara, Balughatpara, Retkaba, MSF para and Gangarammukh were yet to return to their razed homesteads fearing further attack while others were seen staying in the open, said the report.
Quoting accounts of witnesses from Gangarammukh village, the report said that locals alleged that the attacks were unleashed by Bengali settlers with the help of the security forces.
'In many cases it has been observed that the homes of the poor indigenous people were burned, but adjacent homes owned by Bengali settlers remained untouched,' said the report.
Few Bengali settlers, who were also the victims of the attack, believed that the perpetrators came from outside.
As the team talked to the members of the armed forces, a commander Lt. Col. Imtiaz denied any involvement of the army in the attack. The army officer said his forces being informed visited the spots. He held 'hilly outsiders who do not want to see peaceful co-existence of indigenous people and Bengalis' responsible for the attack.
The fact finding mission, at a press conference on Monday at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium, called upon the government for appointing a judicial commission to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
It also asked the government to ensure adequate compensation package for the affected families, their rehabilitation, release of ethnic minority people who were arrested by the army on suspicion and stoppage of rehabilitation of Bengali settlers in the CHT.
The mission emphasised full implementation of the 1997 peace treaty, which ended the decades-long fight for self rule in the hills.
The mission included freedom fighter Tareq Ali, Pankaj Bhattachariya of Sammilita Samajik Andolon, lawyer Sarah Hossain and Dhaka University teacher Robayet Ferdaus.

====================

Independent Bangladesh

CHT arson victims stare into dreary future: report

Saturday, 03 May 2008

Our Correspondent

Seven bordering villages at remote Sajek in Baghaihat of Chittagong Hill Tracts wear a desolate look after the April 20 arson attack that erased 123 houses.

A team of politicians, teachers and social workers from Dhaka visited the area on April 27 and disclosed their findings from a press conference Friday. Unidentified arsonists burnt the houses, leaving a trail of devastation.

Gangaram Mukh village suffered the most. Of the destroyed houses, 79 belonged to Bangalee settlers and 53 to indigenous people. Jahangirnagar University teacher Manosh Chowdhury read out a written statement to reporters at Dhaka Reports Unity (DRU).

Biplobi Oikya Forum leader Moshrefa Mishu and Jatiya Chhatra Front leader Shahadat Hossain and Monjurul Ahsan of Sangskritir Naya Sethu were present.

According to the statement, the affected villagers are passing "inhuman days without shelter". The Bangalee settlers were sheltered under government supervision but the indigenous community is spending their days in Buddhist temples and houses of their relatives.

Many retreated into the deep jungle, the statement said. Rights campaigners demanded formation of a judicial committee to probe the Sajek incident, publication of a report on the latest human-rights situation in the CHT and an end to land grabbing.

PRESS STATEMENT

SAJEK̢۪S BURNT VILLAGES:

CITIZEN̢۪S TEAM CALLS FOR INQUIRY AND URGENT RELIEF



A group of citizens conducted an on-site inquiry on 28th and 29th April 2008 in Sajek Union, Rangamati District, following press reports of about 150 houses being burnt down across seven villages in the area. On arrival in the area, we saw that in eight villages within the reserved forest area in Sajek Union -- Nursery Para, Daney Bhaibachora, Bamey Bhaibachora, Purbopara, Balughatpara, Retkaba, MSF Para and Gongaram Mukh – the mostly Pahari (indigenous Hillman) houses which had been burnt down to the ground remained just as they were. The charred remains of burnt houses could be seen across a four kilometer long area. Many people are still in hiding. Others told us that several persons were injured during this incident. People do not have proper shelter, and some remain under open skies.

During the on-site inquiry, we spoke to victims and witnesses among both Paharis and Bengalis, other local persons, and to Army personnel, to clarify what had happened. Today we will attempt to outline for you the situation we witnessed, the main causes behind it, and the required action which we believe is necessary at this point. Those of us who visited the area at our own cost did so because we believed that the full facts of what had occurred in Baghaichari, a remote hilly area, had not been fully covered in the national media.

*****

To date, no official record appears to have been made of exactly how many houses were burnt down, or how many people affected. According to news reports, about 150 to 200 families have been affected, of whom most are Chakmas. Speaking to victims and eyewitnesses of the incident, we came to learn that on 20th April from about 9 p.m. till early morning houses in the area, mostly belonging to Paharis, and some to Bengali Settlers, with most of their contents including cooking utensils, books, clothes, were burnt to ashes.

Several Chakma inhabitants of the area described how they stood aside in fear, as their houses were burnt to the ground.

· A Chakma inhabitant of Balurghat Para village, aged 45/50, stated ‘Our rice, clothes, pots-pans-plates have all been burnt. School books, birth registration certificates, SSC certificates, they’re all totally burnt.’

· Several eyewitnesses and victims mentioned that valuables were looted by those who burnt down the houses. A Chakma inhabitant of Daney Bhaibachora village, aged 35/40, ran out of his home on hearing screaming at about 9.45 p.m. on 20th April, to see a house was burning and people shouting to be saved from the flames. His whole house had been burnt to ashes. Only the charred remains of the wooden pillars could be seen. He stated, ‘The people who were setting things alight, they first took out from our homes, the TVs, beds, wardrobes, whatever they found, they looted, and at the end they torched the houses. Those who set the houses alight. They took everything. ’Another Chakma woman stated, ‘I’ve heard that a TV was found in the Bangali Para. The Army has said that they will return the TV’.

· An elderly Chakma, aged about 80 ‘I’ve never faced such misery (oshanti) before.’ In this home, there are two school going students in this family, one studying for the SSC and another in class seven, whose books have all been burnt and who cannot attend classes.

Bengalis are also alleged to have put up huts after having broken down the place of worship in Gongaram Mukh. Local residents said that even after making a complaint to the local Army Camp, there has been no action. After the fire, about 30/35 families came to take shelter at the Baghaihat Moitripur Jogi Bono Bihara [ Buddhist Temple ].

· The priest of the Bihara said ‘I am ashamed to say this. I am also a religious leader. This kind of incident has happened in my area.’

Some of the Bengalis affected also described the events of 20 April. These Bengalis are known as ‘settlers’ to the local Paharis.

· Md Rafiqul Islam came to Baghaichari about 10/11 years ago. He lives in the Musulman Para. About two months ago, he put up a hut near the Pahari houses in Gongaram Mukh. On the night of the incident, he said he had heard the sounds ‘Ujao, Ujao’, and fled from his home in fear. He said: ‘Hearing the cries of Ujao Ujao coming closer, I fled and took shelter in the army camp.’ Another eyewitness, the General Secretary of Baghaichori Bazaar Shomiti stated that ‘On the night of the incident, at about 9.45 I was in Major Hafiz’s vehicle [as we came out of the Camp, where there was an event going on for the founding anniversary of the 2 B Regiment, on hearing a hullabaloo from outside]. We heard the sounds ‘Ujao, Ujao’ and saw about 100/150 masked people wearing black clothes setting houses alight. They were not local Paharis. They were outsiders.’

Victims̢۪ Accounts of the Background to the Arson Attacks: The vast Sajek Union is located at one end of Rangamati district, and mainly comprises of Reserved Forests. Any settlement in this area is considered to be illegal. But many Paharis have lived in this area for generations in accordance with their customary norms and without any official title deeds.

Both Paharis and Bengalis noted as a cause of the incident that there had been rising tension in the area for about two months. The main reason for this tension was that the Bengalis had been erecting houses near or adjacent to the Pahari̢۪s houses. The same sight could be seen all along the four kilometers of the main road between Baghaihat and Gongaram. Next to the Pahari house or across it is a house of a Bengali settler, in which no-one appears to stay or to sleep at night. After talking to the settler there, we learned that these huts have been put up over the last two months or so. From the beginning the Paharis could not accept that Bengalis would establish settlements on their traditional lands. There had already been conflict and confrontation over this issue. First the Paharis had objected to the Bengalis erecting these buildings. Although the hut construction did not end in the face of these protests, the tensions certainly increased.

From a visit to the area, it became evident that the fire could not have spread from house to house given the sparse density of their location, rather each house must have been separately set alight. For example, we saw in Bhaibachora village that between two burnt down Pahari houses a Bengali settler, Abul Malek and his mother in law Anwara Begum were in residence. Even though the two Chakma houses burnt down on 20th April the hut in the middle did not.

Except for in Gongaram Mukh, we could see that the Pahari homes had been burnt to the ground, but next door or close by Bengali homes or huts remained standing. This pattern indicated that whoever had been responsible for the burnings had most likely planned the exercise, identified the Pahari and Bengali houses and then set them alight. Almost everyone mentioned two names, Ali and Babul, as being the ones most involved with trying to displace the Paharis from the area through fear. A Chakma inhabitant of Gongaram Mukh said that Ali and some others had come to his shop on 19th April and threatened him that if he remained there till after dusk, then they would burn him and the shop down and kill his whole family. In fear, he sent his wife and children to another house that very evening. On the next night, 20th April, his house was burnt down. With tears in his eyes, this man said, pointing to his torn short sleeved shirt and lungi, ‘I’ve been wearing these same clothes ever since the burnings’.

A Karbari from one village said ‘If they see 2/3 of us talking to each other, they inform the Army Camp. Another Pahari inhabitant of Gongaram Mukh, unwilling to state his name, said ‘We were told to put up our houses about 2/3 km away from the road. The settlers’ houses would be next to the road. Ali and his cronies said that they would slaughter us like sacrificial cows if we said anything about it.’

It is true that the fires began because of the ongoing tensions between Paharis and Bengalis, but in our view the reasons were deeper, that is the construction of Bangali settlements here and pushing the Paharis into an even more marginal and vulnerable existence. But it is also true that most of the Bangalis who live in that area are extremely poor, dependent on government rations. These marginal people, from different districts of the country, are surviving there on government patronization.

Relief and Rehabilitation: Relief has now been distributed in the area on three occasions, most recently on the occasion of the visit by the Army Chief on 29 April, when each affected person was given Taka 500 and some food (5 kg rice, 1 kg dal and 2 kg potatoes). On two earlier occasions, Taka 500 had been given from the army and civilian administration respectively. During the Army Chief̢۪s visit it was announced that each family would be given Taka 10,000 for reconstruction of their homes. Several of those we interviewed said that this amount would not be adequate. Some Paharis alleged that Bangali settlers had been given more relief. We also saw a number of Chakmas come back empty handed from the event.

Who is Responsible? When traveling from Khagrachari to Baghaihat in Baghaichari located at the end of Rangamati up to Gongaram Mukh, any ordinary citizen would wonder ‘Is this my country’? Because of the intensity of army checking. There is very tight screening there. The names of whoever enters or exits the area is written down. Each such person has to give their identity. The car numbers are noted. And on leaving the area, that number is again checked. We thought it was important to ask how such an arson attack could take place in the midst of such close monitoring.

We asked some of the Pahari victims, who do you think is responsible? They said without any hesitation that they saw Bengali settlers burning down the houses, and the Army were with them. On the other hand, the Bengali victims said that local Paharis were not involved with the incident, but rather outsiders.

Army’s Statement: We met with personnel at the Baghaihat Army Camp. When asked about whether the Army Camp had any involvement with the incidents, Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Imtiaz stated ‘There is no question of any connection. We heard the sounds ‘Ujao! Ujao!’ and shouting and quickly went there. I sent forces. I also went there myself. I would definitely say that outsider Paharis carried out this terror, those who don’t want to see Paharis and Bengalis living together in peace and harmony’. He further informed us that it appeared to him that prima facie the JSS or UPDF were responsible for this incident. In response to a query about whether any action had been taken re the activities of Ali and Babul, Lt. Col. Imtiaz further stated that ‘The Karbari of Gongaram Mukh, Bilash Chakma had raised a complaint about threatening Mongol Kumar Chakma, and after that we held Ali for four days but then let him go. No-one else has brought any complaints to us.’ He also said that he would take action if he found that our claim that Ali was using the CO’s name to terrorize or exploit the local inhabitants is made out.

Our Recommendations: We want to place a few recommendations on the basis of our on-site inquiry, interviews with related persons and an analysis of the situation is as follows:

1. Establish an independent and impartial Judicial Inquiry Commission, required to publish its report within a fixed time period; prosecute and provide exemplary punishment to those found responsible for the attacks;

2. Provide adequate compensation and undertake prompt rehabilitation of persons affected during the arson attacks in Sajek Union, including reconstruction of houses;

3. To release the three persons held in the Baghaichari Army Camp;

4. To cease all Bengali settlements in Sajek Union and the three Hill Districts;

5. In accordance with the CHT Accord 1997

a) To activate the Land Commission, to review and settle all land disputes;

b) To withdraw army camps from the CHT; and

c) To enable full functioning of the civil administration, including through effective functioning of the CHT Regional Council.

*****

The group of citizens which conducted an on-site inquiry at Sajek Union in Baghaichari Upazila in Rangamati District comprised of:

1. Syed Abul Maqsud, Writer, Journalist

2. Ziauddin Tareque Ali, Member, Shonmilito Shamajik Andolon

3. Pankaj Bhattacharya, Member, Shomilito Shamajik Andolon

4. Shameema Binte Rahman, Journalist

5. Supriyo Chakma, Prothom Alo, Rangamati

6. Jewel Dewan, Advocate, BLAST, Rangamati
7. Robayet Ferdaus, Associate Professor, Dhaka University

8. Sara Hossain , Advocate, Supreme Court

9. Abu Ahmed Faizul Kabir, Investigator, Ain o Salish Kendra

10. KCing Marma, Student, Chittagong University

11. Rajiv Mir, Assistant Professor, Chittagong University

12. Anirban Saha, Investigator, Ain o Salish Kendra

Opinion-exchange meeting held by Education and Commerce Advisor in Rangamati

Government undertakes initiatives for building infrastructure to bring CHT under sustainable development programme, says advisor Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman



On 2 May 2008 a view-exchange meeting was held by Education and Commerce Advisor of Caretaker Government Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman with public representatives including CHT Regional Council, Hill District Council and Union Council, traditional leaders, government officials, businessmen, civil society members including teachers and development activists at Tribal Cultural Institute (TCI) in Rangamati in Chiitagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Chairman of CHT Regional Council Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on CHT Affairs and Forest and Environment Raja Devasish Roy attended as special guests at the meeting presided over by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Md. Nurul Amin.

Among others, opening up border trading in CHT with Indian state of Mizoram, scarcity of capitals and loans for business, establishment of cold storage in Rangamati, inclusion of schools into monthly pay order (MPO), introduction of primary education through mother (indigenous) tongue, providing hill allowance to non-government teachers in CHT, opening honour course with more subjects in Rangamati Government College, relaxation of conditions in registering schools for CHT region considering geographical condition, providing speed boat for inspection of schools in Rangamati district etc were discussed in the meeting.

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman said that the Caretaker Government has undertaken different development programmes for creating infrastructure to bring CHT under sustainable development programmes. He said that there were potentials for border trading at Sajek and Thega in Rangamati and Nakkyngchari in Bandarban districts. Commerce Ministry will take steps to construct roads in three border areas - one in Sazek union under Baghaichhari upazila, one at Thegamukh under Barkal upazila in Rangamati district and one in Nikkhyangchhari upazila in Bandarban district to start border trading with neighbouring countries. He added that necessary steps will be taken to help capitalisation by providing loans for setting up industry in CHT. He encouraged farmers to cultivate production of gingers saying that there was scope for more production of gingers in CHT.

He said that boarding schools will be launched in CHT to prevent dropout of children. He said declaring that a speedboat will be provided for the education officers in Rangamati so that they can regularly inspect all the schools and help maintain standard of teaching there. He added that opening up more honours course in Rangamati College, enactment of specific rules to easy recognition and registration of the schools, bank loans for businessmen, hill allowances for non-government teachers etc. will be taken consideration on priority basis.

Dr. Zillur urged the CHT leaders and representatives to visit Dhaka for discussion and address of these issues with him.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on CHT Affairs and Forest and Environment, also Circle Chief of traditional Chakma circle Raja Devasish Roy delivered welcome speech at the meeting. Among others, member of CHT Regional Council Mr. Goutam Kumar Chakma, member of the Rangamati Hill District Council Mr. Ratikanta Tanchangya, chairman of Rangamati municipality Mr. Habibur Rahman Habib, former district education officer Mr. Anjulika Khisa, headmistress of Rangamati Government High School Ms. Nirupa Dewan, principal of Rangamati Women College Ms. Banchita Chakma, members of advisory committee of CHT Affairs Ministry Mr. Molla Shahjahan, president of Rangamati chamber of commerce and industry Mr. Kazi Nazarul Islam, principals of Rangamati BM Academy, Karphuli College and Sijak College, representatives of Rangamati and Khagrachari Teachers' Association, representatives of CHT NGOs spoke at the view-exchange meeting.

Bandarban view-exchange meeting

Before attending the Rangamati meeting, advisor Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman and special assistant Raja Devasish Roy participated in the opinion-exchange meeting held in Bandarban district in which advisor for culture and women Ms. Rasheda K Chowdhury also attended. Among others, member of CHT Regional Council Mr. K S Mong, former Awami League MP Mr. Bir Bahadur, representatives of civil society and development workers spoke at the meeting presided over by Deputy Commissioner of Bandarban district Mr. Abdul Majid Shah Akond.

Rasheda K. Chawdhury said that the CHT as a backward region is being given priority in development intervention. She also said that primary education through indigenous mother tongue for the children of 11 indigenous ethnic groups will be introduced in CHT.

The opinion-exchange meeting was followed by cultural programme. The advisors visited Bandarban Women College and Faruk Para, a village of indigenous Bawm community.

Baghaihat arson pre-planned, orchestrated

Baghaihat arson pre-planned, orchestrated

Says army chief

Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari



Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord was signed to ensure peace in the region, but a section of the population there is always involved in terrorist activities in an effort to sabotage the areas development, said Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed.

He urged the local administration to take actions against the 'terrorists'.

He made the comments yesterday while distributing relief materials in Gangaram Muk under Sajek union of Rangamati among the victims of April 20 arson attack in Baghaihat, which left 132 houses burnt to ashes and 9 persons injured.

Terming the April 20 incident as pre-planned and orchestrated, he also said such incidents occurred in CHT several times as a section of the population there always wants to keep the hilly districts unstable to stifle development activities.

Some of the crime prone people incite clashes between peaceful Banglee settlers and the people of the indigenous communities, and later they clap their hands sitting in Dhaka, the general said adding that the 'criminals' never want to see actual peace in the area.

As CHT is a part of the country, there is no division between Bangalees and the indigenous people, he said.

All citizens in the area should think of themselves as Bangladeshis and work in unison for real development of the region, he added.

The region has the potential to become one of the most amazing tourist attractions in the country, if the situation there improves, Moeen said.

The army has been constructing roads and bridges there for real development and it will continue to do so, he said.

The government decided to introduce mobile phone network in the region to improve public communication, and a judge court will be set up to ensure justice in CHT, but if the situation there remains unstable then how those plans will be implemented, the army chief questioned.

The people of remote Sajek area are getting benefited by the roads and other communication systems built there, they are being able to sell their products in markets, which was once unimaginable, Gen Moeen went on.

He also said CHT is very different from the plain, the people there have to face natural calamities like the recent rat infestation in agricultural fields there, he added.

"You all have to fight these unfavorable situations. The government has taken an initiative to introduce the VGF system here to help the people face the food crisis sparked by the rat infestation in agricultural fields," the army chief assured the people of CHT.

Later he distributed rice, potato, dal and Tk 500 in cash among each of the victimised families, and announced that he will contribute Tk 10,000 and some clothes to the compensation fund.

Unknown assailants burnt to ashes at least 132 houses in a clash between Bangalee settlers and the indigenous communities in Baghaihat under Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati on April 20 leaving 9 persons injured.

Remark of army chief slammed

New Age, Dhaka, May 3, 2008

Remark of army chief slammed
Staff Correspondent

Leaders of seven student organisations, including Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council, in a joint statement protested at the statements of the army chief, General Moeen U Ahmed, made on April 29 as he visited the fire-ravaged villages of Sajek in Baghaichari.
The student leaders alleged the army chief tried to protect the perpetrators, terming the incident a criminal acts and result of 'provocation of some people.' They said Moyeen was trying to cover up the misdeeds of some identified persons involved in the incident labelling them as criminals.
The Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council in another statement raised a question about the call of the army chief for working together to establishing peace in the hill tracts by maintaining friendly relations between the hill people and the settlers.
The organisations are Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Jatiya Chhatra Dal, Biplobi Chhatra-Juba Andolon, Propod, Biplobi Chhatra Sangha, Sangskritik Naya Setu, and Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council.
On April 19, hoodlums set fire to six villages of hill people and settlers at Sajek.
Moeen U Ahmed on April 29 called on all to work together to establish peace in the hill tracts by maintaining friendly relations. He said a section was out there to destroy peace in the hill tracts, but they were unlikely to be successful in their ill efforts.

Hills people allege arson attack

Rangamati

Hills people allege arson attack

Staff Correspondent



Victims of an arson attack on four hilly villages under Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati yesterday alleged that Bangalee settlers there set fire to their 77 houses on the night of April 20.

They further alleged that some defence personnel were present during the occurrence.

At a news conference held at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) the victims from indigenous communities of the hilly district demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.

They also demanded compensation for and rehabilitation of the victims, and removal of the Bangalee settlers from the area.

Binoy Chakma read out a written statement at the news conference, which was attended, among others, by Ganendu Bikash Chakma, Clinton Khisa, Shanti Bikash Chakma, Dwin Mohan Chakma, and Shimul Chakma.

They said that after burning their houses to ashes the Bangalee settlers continued to occupy their lands, which was allegedly backed by some defence personnel.

To give the occupation a legal cover, the Bangalee settlers were supplied with fake land documents, with which the settlers have already started claiming ownerships of hilly lands, they alleged.

The written statement also said the attackers first looted all valuables from the houses of the indigenous people and then set fire to them.

The victims also said around 200 Bangla speaking attackers were brought in from outside the area, who ended up setting fire to many houses of the Bangalee settlers too by mistake, as they lacked knowledge about the area.

They said a total of 77 houses in four villages were gutted, 28 of which were in Purba Para village, 11 in Gangaram Mukh village, 5 in Retkaba village, and 33 were in Dane Baiba Chhara village.

The representatives of indigenous communities also brought allegation that they were being evicted in a planned way and the Bangalee settlers were put in their place. This has the support of some defence personnel, they alleged.

After a recent infestation of rats in agricultural fields there, the government and different other organisations provided money and food for the affected people, but the indigenous communities were deprived of the relief, the news conference alleged.

List of indigenous Jumma villagers whose houses were burnt down at Sajek area in CHT:

On 20 April 2008 at mid-night an arson attack was made by newly infiltrated Bengali settlers with the direct support of Bangladesh military forces at Baghaihat area of Sajek union under Baghichati upazila in Rangamati district in CHT. In this attack, around 76 houses of indigenous Jumma villagers of 7 villages were completely burnt down. It is report that Selim Bahari, President of Baghaichari branch and Golam Molla, President of Baghaihat branch of Equal Rights Movement, an extreme nationalist and fanatic organisation of Bengali settler led the Bengali settlers to conduct this attack with the direct sup[port of military forces of Baghaihat army zone of 33 East Bengali Regiment (2) led by commanding officer Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz, Captain Zabaedur Rahman and RP Habilder Harun. The following list of indigenous Jumma villagers whose houses were burnt down prepared by three members of Sajek union, namely, Kalachoga Chakma, Swapanika Chakma and Jotsna Chakma are as follows:

Daine Baibachara village including Shanti Mamber Para and Kachu Adam:

Bimal Kanti Chakma
Shanti Bikash Chakma(1)
Nayan Ranjan Member
Brisha Muni Chakma
Chiringo Chakma
Subhanga Chakma
Dayal Kista Chakma
Kina Chan Ckakma
Shyamal Kanti Chakma
Pratilata Chakma
Shanti Jiban Chakma
Gobinda Chakma
Subolya Chakma
Kala Kachu Chakma
Jyosna Rani Chakma (Member)
Rabi Shankar Chakma
Rupayan Master
Shakya Bodhi Master
Neuton Chakma (Dr.)
Rakhi Chakma
Nihar Kanti Chakma
Nirmal Kanti Chakma
Chigon Chiji Chakma
Dhabana Chakma
Shanti Ranjan Ckakma
Kala Chan Chakma
Neuton Chakma (Kalabo)
Kamini Ranjan Chakma
Sushi Ranjan Chakma
Rabi Ranjan Chakma
Baratya Chakma
Shanti Bikash Chakma (2)
Suma Chakma (Para Kendra School)
Gangaram Mukh village:

Gyana Chakma
Sunesh Chakma
Kaladhan Chakma
Jagadish Chakma
Lorbo Chakma
Maratshaw Chakma
Ajit Chakma
Mangal Sadhan Chakma
Chiranta Master
Suman Chakma
Chandra Mohan Chakma
Baghaihat Purba Para village:

Jyoti Moy Chakma
Kala Maratya Chakma
Arun Bikash Chakma
Jagadish Chakma
Rupan Chakma
Bhubati Chakma
Sumati Ranjan Chakma
Dhana Gula Chakma
Nilamoy Chakma
Mangal Sen Chakma
Dhana Bikash Chakma
Gyana Ranjan Chakma
Sunil Kanti Chakma
Trishankar Chakma
Paran Sona Chakma
Monu Ranjan Chakma
Dulal Chakma
Amar Bikash Chakma
Rumel Chakma
Bangalya Chakma
Laxmi Kumar Chakma
Samar Kanti Chakma
Amar Kanti Chakma
Minal Chakma
Laxmindra Chakma
Indra Raj Chakma
Aiub Kanti Chakma
Retaabachara village:

Mon Mohan Chakma
Ranesh Chakma
Kinadhan Chakma
Ladu Muni Chakma
Goyeshur Chakma
=========================
Sajek Arson Attack

Translation of news titled "Swajaner Sandhaney Supayan Chakma" published in Bengali daily 'Prothom Alo' on 28 April 2008

Supayan Chakma's quest for relatives

One-night incident has changed the life of Supayan Chakma, a student of grade VI of Baghaihat High School. He along with a bag and a bundle of books was looking for his family members for six days. He was crossing one hill to another hill of deep forest. But he could not trace out his family members.

Kamini Chakma of Daine Baibachara village of Sajek union is the father of Supayan Chakma. Like other houses, their house was also burnt to ashes during the arson attack committed by some miscreants on 20 April. He became detached from his father, mother and his elder brother Biken Chakma while they escaping.

Supayan Chakma who reached at Kabakhali moan (hill) under Dighinala upazila last Saturday said that he would go Babuchari union close to Indian border to find out his parent. Some one informed him that his father, mother and brother took shelter at a hill there.

Supayan Chakma, like other villagers, started walking for safe shelter along with his books and cloths. After walking a long distance along with the villagers, they halted for rest at a place. But he became aware suddenly that his father, mother and brother are not along with. He passed nights sleeping at bottom of tree or at house of different families even without food and started every day tracing for his family members during daytime.

The sun was simmering while he started walking 10 kilometres distance along with his books and bag. However, could he find out his family members?

During arson attack by some miscreants at Baghaihat area of Sajek union under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati district at night of 20 April, more than hundred houses of Jumma and Bengali peoples of seven villages were burnt to ashes. Of them, most of Jumma villagers took shelter in deep forest while other Jummas at a Buddhist temple and a cluster village. And Bengali people took shelter at Bghaihat bazar. Though one week have been passed after occurrence of the incident, but commander of the Baghaihat zone admitted that situation is yet to be normal.

Baghaichari Unpazila Nirbahi Officer Mr. Shibir Bichitra Barua admitted that more than two hundred students' books were burnt down in this arson attack. He said that the books for these students would be bought for continuing their study without interruption.

Follow-up

Arson attack by Bengali settlers on indigenous Jumma peoples in Sajek

Latest report confirmed that the arson attack on indigenous villages in Sajek area occured on 20 April was led by two leaders of Sama Odhikar Anlodon (Equal Rights Movement), an extreme Bengali nationalist and fanatic organisation in CHT. The two leaders were Mr. Selim Bahari (35), president of Baghaichari branch and Mr. Golam Molla (50), president of Baghaihat branch of this organisation. Golam Molla also holds post of bazar chowdhuary of Baghaihat market that basically controlled by military forces. Victims of indigenous villagers also confirmed that military forces of Baghaihat army zone of 33 East Bengali Regiment (2) led by commanding officer Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz fully supported the Bengali settlers in setting fire on indigenous villages while a group of army of engineering core from Gangaram Mukh camp, at a stage, prevented Bengali settlers to conduct more attack on indigenous villages and brought the situation under control.

It is also learnt that 33 houses of Baibachara including Shanti Mamber Para and Kachu Adam, 27 houses of Baghaihat Purba Para, 11 houses of Gangaram Para and 5 houses of Retkabachara, in total 76 houses of indigenous villagers were completely burnt to ashes. Witnesses also confirmed that a number of houses of Bengali settlers were also burnt down, but the actual numbers of these houses are yet to be estimated. The Bengali settlers alleged that some miscreants set fire on houses of Bengali settlers. On the contrary, indigenous villagers alleged that Bengali settlers themselves set fire on their houses to make excuse for their brutal attack. It is also learnt that most of the Bengali settlers whose house were burnt down are now staying nearby areas of Baghaihat bazar with the assistance of military forces. However, some Bengali settlers sent their women and children to settler localities of Merung of Dighinala upazila and Longadu upazila.

It is reported that most of relief have been distributed to Bengali settlers. Victims of indigenous villagers are not interested to come army camp to receive relief due to security reason. In addition, army always favour Bengali settlers in providing relief for the victims. Preparation of victim list and distribution of relief are dominated by the military authority of Baghaihat zone. Even, a grant of Taka 100,000 of Rangamati Hill District Council were also handed over to commanding officer Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz for distribution.

BISAC holds demonstration

BISAC holds demonstration against arson attack on indigenous villages by Bengali settlers in CHT

On 23 April 2008 a demonstration against arson attack on 7 indigenous villages in remote Sajek area was organised by Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad (Bangladesh Indigenous Students Action Council – BISAC) at Dhaka University (DU) campus where more than two hundred students attended. At 11.00 a procession was brought from 'Aparajeya Bangla' of DU campus and ended circumambulating arts building of the campus. Then protest meeting was held with Mr. Karunamoy Chakma, President of BISAF in the chair at 'Aparajeya Bangla'.

Representatives of different indigenous students' organizations, namely, Hill Students Council (PCP), Bangladesh Garo Chhatra Sangathan (Bagachas), Santal Students Union, Bangladesh Marma Students' Council (BMSC), Bangladesh Chatra Federation, Bangladesh Hajong Students Sangathan etc. participate in the demonstration. Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of DU Mr. Robayet Ferdaus and Associate Professor of Department of Linguistic of Dhaka University Dr. Saurov Shikdar were also present there and expressed their solidarity with students protest.

It is mentionable that newly infiltrated Bengali settlers with the direct support of Bangladesh military forces attacked on the 7 villages of indigenous Jumma peoples throughout the 4 kilometre long area from Nursery Para to Gangaram Mukh areas of Sajek union under Baghaichari upazila (sub-district) in Rangamati district in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) on 20 April 2008 at mid-night. More than 100 houses of indigenous villagers were burnt to ashes. Bengali settlers beat the Jumma villagers including women and children indiscriminately and looted valuables of the houses during the attack that lasted for almost 4 hours from 9.30 p.m.

Student leaders condemned the arson attack in Sajek terming it as barbaric attack against humanity. They demanded exemplary punishment to the persons responsible, compensation for affected indigenous families and immediate withdrawal of Bengali settler families from Sajek area.

At the beginning of the program Sohel Hajong, General Secretary of BISAC demanded to stop rampant land grabbing by Bengali settlers and eviction of indigenous people from their homeland. He said that demonstration would be carried till the exploitation and repression against the indigenous people is stopped. He demanded to rehabilitate Bengali settlers outside CHT with dignity.

Mr. Pintu Haui of Bangladesh Garo Chatra Songothon (Bagachas) said that this arson attack is nothing but a blueprint to alienate the indigenous people from their own land outlined by the army. He expressed solidarity with the hill people's fight. He threatened to declare hard programme if the indigenous people have been given to live peacefully in their homeland.

Central General Secretary of Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) (Hill Students Council) Mr. Hiran Mitra Chakma threatened that the situation of CHT is very vulnerable. In such situation no one in CHT can stay at home. He urged to the government to bring culprits to justice.

Santal Students Union's representative Mr. Bernard demanded to conduct impartial inquiry to the inhuman incident otherwise Caretaker Government would be controversial.

Mr. Aungyajai Marma of Bangladesh Marma Students' Council (BMSC) expressed his solidarity and urged the indigenous students to be prepared to launch movement against any kind of inhuman atrocities. He added that the land of the indigenous people is being grabbed in the name of establishment of cantonment. He asked to the students to choose "Either freedom or death."

Mr. Shamsujjoha of Bangladesh Chatra Federation expressed his solidarity with the indigenous students. He urged the government to resolve land disputes in CHT by reactivating Land Commission as per CHT Peace Accord.

In his closing speech Mr. Karunamoy Chakma, President of BISAC announced the ends of the programme saying that the students should take preparation for greater movement for achieving the just rights of indigenous peoples.

At the beginning of the demonstration, Mr. Lutherson Zetra, Organizing Secretary of BISAC read out a leaflet circulated by the BISAC on arson attack in Sajek in which they demanded proper compensation for the victims and withdrawal of Bengali settler families from Sajek area.

Follow-up programme

Today (24 April) demonstration against the arson attack on indigenous peoples in Sajek was also held in Jahangirnagar University campus (Savar, Dhaka) and Chittagong University campus by Hill Students Council (PCP).

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE

24 April 2008

BANGLADESH: SEVEN TRIBAL VILLAGES BURNT DOWN IN CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS

Seven villages belonging to the 'Jumma' tribal people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts were burned to the ground on Sunday by Bengali settlers, with the support of the Bangladesh army.

Jumma villagers, including women and children, were beaten in the attack, and their belongings looted. One hundred houses were destroyed, and the Jumma villagers have fled into the surrounding forests. Bengali settlers were also injured.

The Bangladesh army recently began a new settlement programme in the Sajek area of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), bringing in new groups of Bengali settlers. The construction of settler houses led to conflict between settlers and the Jumma.

Hundreds of thousands of settlers have been moved into the Hill Tracts over the last sixty years, displacing the eleven Jumma tribes and subjecting them to violent repression.

In 1997 the government and the Jummas signed a peace accord that committed the government to removing military camps from the region and to ending the theft of Jumma land by settlers and the army. The accord offered hope, but military camps remain in the Hill Tracts and violence and land grabbing continue. Abuses have escalated since the declaration of emergency rule in Bangladesh in January 2007.

Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'Bangladesh continues to want the land, but not the people, of the Chittagong Hills. Destroying these villages is a criminal human rights violation, a massive human tragedy, and comes close to a declaration of war. Only international pressure can end this. Quiet diplomacy has never worked there.'

-ENDS-

For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org

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