Army-police cordon off UPDF office in Naniachar

A joint force of army and police personnel cordoned off the office of the Naniachar branch of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) yesterday, 7 November, a day after it was opened for the first time in nearly two years.

Like all other political parties of the country, the UPDF also closed down its offices after the promulgation of the state of emergency on 11 January last year suspending all kinds of political activities.

After the announcement of polls schedule on 2 November, the caretaker government relaxed the emergency rules, allowing the parties the freedom to conduct election related activities. A few months earlier, the government had withdrawn a ban on indoor politics.

In the morning of 6 November, the UPDF members and supporters opened their office in Naniachar Thana under Rangamati district. At 12 noon, two security intelligence personnel visited the office, but they did not speak to any one. "They stayed a few minutes at the office and then left" said a UPDF member from Rangamati.

The following day, i.e., 7 November, around 7am a joint force of army and police personnel came to the office in three pick-up vans and cordoned it off until 5pm.

The soldiers asked the people, present at the nearby tea shops, who had opened the office the day before.

The soldiers also told them that they had information that there would be a meeting at the office.

Sachib Chakma, a central committee member of the UPDF, confirmed the incident and said "the way the army and police cordoned off our office is a clear violation of our democratic rights."

"This is a tactic of intimidation and coercion, and they did it so that we are not able to participate in the polls freely and openly." he added.

chtnews.com
News No. 163/2008, November 8, 2008