Commemoration held for four martyred in Baghaichari

chtnews.com
News No. 75/2009, June 28, 2009
A commemoration meeting was held yesterday for Rupon, Samar Bijoy, Sukesh and Monotosh, who were killed in the course of a protest against the abduction of Kalpana Chakma in 1996.

Held at Rupokari High School ground at 9am, the commemoration was presided over by Abhinoy Chakma, president, Baghaichari Unit of Hill Students’ Council.

Among those spoke were Jewel Chakma, UPDF organiser in Baghaichari; Bishwajit Chakma, Chairman of Rupokari Union; Ranjit Chakma, leader of Democratic Youth Forum Baghaichari Unit; Rina Dewan, president, Hill Women’s Federation Khagrachari district unit; and Arpan Chakma, General Secretary, Hill Students’ Council Khagrachari District Unit.

The commemoration began with the leaders placing floral wreaths at the altar of the martyred.

About 1,000 took part in the program.

Of the martyred, Rupon was shot dead by a settler when he was picketing in Baghaichari town in support of a peaceful road block. PCP members Samar Bijoy, Sukesh and Monotosh were disappeared from a place called Muslim Block, a settler area, while they were on their way to Baghaichari town to participate in the picketing. They were believed to have been murdered. All these incidents took place on 27 June in 1996.

The speakers said the supreme sacrifice of these four valiant fighters will not go in vain. The Jumma struggle could not be subdued with these brutal murders, and it will never be subdued in the future, no matter how much repression the Jumma people are made to endure.

“The Jummas will always hold their heads high.” declared the speakers.

Terming the cold-blooded murder of the four valiant fighters preplanned, the speakers said it was aimed at covering up the kidnapping of Kalpana Chakma.

They demanded punishment for those responsible for the murder of Rupon, Samar Bijoy, Sukesh and Monotosh.

Expressing concern over the increase in army repression since the 12 June Baghaichari rally marking 13 years after abduction of Kalpana Chakma, peoples are being tortured and harassed in the name of house searches.

They demanded that all sorts of repression are immediately stopped.

They also urged the government to publish the inquiry report on the abduction of Kalpana Chakma and punish Lt. Ferdous and his cohorts.