UPDF stages protest against kidnapping of its supporter in Rangamati

chtnews.com
News No. 97/2009, August 8, 2009
The Kawkhali Unit of the United People’s Democratic Front on 6 August staged a demonstration, demanding the release of one its supporters kidnapped by JSS (Santu) terrorists from Rangamati stadium on 30 July.

The local administration tired to obstruct the demonstration. The OC of Kawkhali police station delivered a verbal order to the organisers not to organise the planned rally and procession.

“The OC told us that we were not allowed to organise the demonstration; but when we asked him to show any written document forbidding our program, he failed to show us any.” Charan Sing Tonchongya, a UPDF member, told chtnews.com by mobile phone from Kawkhali.

He further said that the OC was merely conveying the order of the UNO. “However, we had duly informed the UNO of our program a day before our program, on 5 August.” he added.

When the procession took off at 2pm, the police tried to prevent it and this led to an altercation between them.

However, the demonstrators broke through the police barricade and paraded the Upazila town. Thereafter, they held a rally at Upazila Gate.

The rally was addressed by Pulok Chakma, Rupok Chakma, Charan Sing Tonchongya and Jubolika Chakma.

The speakers condemned the kidnapping of Shankar Chakma, a UPDF supporter, and demanded his immediate release.

They accused the local administration of colluding with the Santu faction of the Jana Samhati Samiti.

Charan Sing Tonchongya urged the government to investigate the corruption allegations against Santu Larma, who is also the chairman of the Regional Council.

Pulok Chakma urged Santu Larma to shun the politics of killing and kidnapping and join the struggle for the right to self-determination.

HWF leader Ms Jubolika Chakma condemned the police and local civil administration for their undemocratic behaviour and said “gone are the days when the Jumma people had to tolerate all sorts of injustices meted out to them.”

“Now the people have risen up, and therefore no amount of repression will be able to subdue our struggle.” she asserted.

She demanded of the government to take immediate steps to rescue Shankar Chakma.

“The army and the government always maintain double standards.” she alleged, adding “when any Bengali people are kidnapped the army and the civil administration immediately throw themselves into action; but in the case of a Jumma they don’t even raise a finger.”

“This is such kind of communal and racist attitude of the government and the army which is contributing to the problems of the CHT.” she said.