ARMY REPRESSION IN SAJEK: VICTIMS HARASSED AFTER PRESS CONFERENCE

chtnews.com
News No. 79/2009, July 08, 2009

REPORTS REACHING FROM SAJEK SAID ARMY HAD BEEN HARASSING THOSE TORTURE
VICTIMS WHO HAD TAKEN PART IN A PRESS CONFERENCE IN DHAKA TO TELL
THEIR STORIES.

Bali Kumar Chakma alias Ballya (53) was picked up from his home in the
village of MSF Para at 4pm on 6 July, Amar Dhan Chakma told
chtnews.com by mobile phone from a location in Sajek.

Both Bali Kumar Chakma and Amar Dhan Chakma were present at the Dhaka
press conference on 2 July.

It is not known where Bali Kumar Chakma has been kept or whether he
has been handed over to the police.

HOUSE SEARCHES

The army also searched the houses of all those who had participated in
the Dhaka press conference.

Sources said a group of army personnel from Baghaihat zone carried out
the search on 7 July. The aim of the search was to arrest them.

However, none of the victims was present in their homes during the
search. Some settlers accompanied the army during the search, they
added.

Ten Jumma torture victims participated in the Dhaka press conference.
They are Bali Kumar Chakma, 53, of MSF Para; Mintu Chakma, 27,
Gangaram Dore; Kala Dhan Chakma, age 52, Gongaram; Amar Dhan Karbari,
age 49, Hogeyatoli; Jagot Joti Chakma, 32, village Korengatoli,
Bongoltoli Union; Ajit Chakma, 32, Gangaram Dore; Sukkho Chakma, age
29, Jarulchari; and Ms Kamala Chakma, age 26, Balurghat Purbopara.

ARMY DETAINS HOGEYATOLI VILLAGE CHIEF

On 6 July around 7pm, the army raided the village of Hogeyatoli and
picked up Manek Karbari, the village chief, and took him to Baghaihat
zone.

The army asked him such questions as whether he knew Amar Dhan
Karbari, whether he himself had taken part in the press conference,
who asked him (Amar Dhan) to go to Dhaka and take part in the press
conference, who sponsored his travel and stay in Dhaka, and who helped
him organise the press conference etc.


In reply, Manek Karbari told the army that Amar Dhan is involved in a
UNDP project in his village and that UNDP might have sponsored his
visit to Dhaka.

The interrogation lasted for three hours.

The army also picked up Amar Dhan Chakma’s brother-in-law, Priya
Shanti Chakma of Hogeyatoli village, took him to the camp and
subjected him to interrogation.


KOJOICHARI VILLAGE CHIEF DETAINED

On 5 July, the army detained Ajit Chakma, village chief of Kojoichari.
He was taken to Baghaichari zone and interrogated.

The army asked him whether he had participated in the press conference
in Dhaka organised by Sajek victims.

One torture victim named Ajit Chakma was present in the said press
conference, but he is not the village chief; the army mistook Ajit
Chakma, the village chief, for Ajit Chakma, the victim.

Later the army released him after interrogation.

The participants of the conference now fear army reprisals and have
been forced to go into hiding.