PCP, HWF and DYF holds joint meeting in Dighinala

chtnews.com
News No. 98/2009, August 8, 2009
In a joint meeting of the PCP, HWF and DYF in Dighinala on Friday, yesterday, the speakers urged for a complete pull-out of the troops from the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Presided over by Remin Chakma, convenor of Dighinala Branch of the Democratic Youth Forum, the meeting also addressed by Mithun Chakma, Convenor of the DYF’s Central Council Convening Committee, Hill Student’s Council (PCP) president Ricoh Chakma, Rupali Chakma, leader of Hill Women’s Federation Dighinala branch, Milan Chakma, convenor of PCP Dighinala Branch, Dipan Chakma and Alo Jiban Chakma.

The speakers said peace cannot be established unless there is a complete withdrawal of the army from CHT.

“Partial troops pull out is welcome, but we will not accept anything other than a complete pull-out of the troops who are the constant source of insecurity for the Jumma people in the CHT.” said Mithun Chakma.

He also urged the government to accord constitutional recognition to the age-old customary land laws of the Jumma people and to return all the lands grabbed from them.

“The settlers have taken away hundreds of acres of land from the Jumma people during the military-backed emergency rule alone.” he said and urged the government to prove its sincerity by returning these lands to their rightful owners.

Ricoh Chakma condemned the rape of Meena Chakma and demanded of the government to bring Grameen Bank employee Nazrul Hassan, the culprit, to justice.

He also urged the government and the money –lending NGOs to put a moratorium on micro credit in CHT.

“Micro credit is not beneficial to the Jumma people and hence it must be stopped.” he said.