UPDF will not accept replacement of army camps with police camps – Ujjal Smriti Chakma

chtnews.com
News No. 105/2009, August 14, 2009

UPDF leader Ujjal Smriti Chakma said his party will not accept the
government decision to set up police camps to replace the withdrawn
army camps.

Mr. Chakma said this when asked to comment on a news article published
in the Samakal, a national Bengali daily, today in which it was
reported that the government will set up police camps on lands vacated
by the army.

Terming the said decision as “contradictory”, Ujjal said “the
government has been consistently assuring us that there will be no law
and order problems after the withdrawal of the army.”

“So, the legitimate question is: if there is no break down of law and
order situation, then what is the need of setting up police camps?” he
asked.

He further said “the decision to replace the army camps with police
camps only gives credence to our claim that the government
announcement of withdrawing one army brigade is purely an eyewash.”

“It also indicates that the government is not willing to end its
ultra-Bengali nationalist domination over the Jumma people” he added.

He regretted that the government has succumbed to the pressure of the
communal forces like the so-called Sama Odhikar Andolon, Parbottyo
Gono Parishad and Bengali Chattra Parishad – all backed by a vested
quarter in the army.

Mr. Chakma reiterated their demand for a complete withdrawal of the
army from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and said “there can be no peace
as long as the army remains in the CHT.”

He said it was also imperative that the government began a
rehabilitation programme for the Bengali settlers outside the CHT.