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.