chtnews.comNews No. 33/2009, May 4, 2009
The Democratic Youth Forum organised a youth conference in Mahalchari on May 1, with the slogan: “Strengthen national unity and fraternity, join the movement to protect land and national property of the Jumma people”. (photo attached)
Held at Tholipara ground, the conference was presided over by Michael Chakma, Organising Secretary of the DYF and convenor of the preparatory committee of the conference.
While Remin Chakma conducted the conference, it was addressed, among others, by Mithun Chakma, General Secretary of DYF, Konica Dewan, General Secretary (in charge) of Hill Women’s Federation, Sumen Chakma of PCP and Sorbananda Chakma and Zamini Kumar Chakma of DYF.
The conference was followed by a rally that paraded the streets of Mahalchari.
In the conference the leaders said: “the Semutang gas field belongs to the CHT people. While it is heartening to know that the government is taking initiative to launch production of gas at this field, we want to make it clear that the CHT people must have share in the use of the gas.”
They added that the CHT people did not get electricity after the construction of the Kaptai dam. They have always been discriminated against. Even the right of entrance to the Kaptai Electricity House has been almost restricted for the Jumma people. Although the Karnaphuli Paper Mill is situated in CHT area, the Jumma people do not have partnership in it.
“The CHT people have become alien to their own homeland. Thousands of acres of land have been forcibly taken away form them. The government and the army are direct participant in this orgy of land grabbing.” They said.
The leaders demanded that the government must withdraw army check posts, stop grabbing of land and put an end to military rule and repression in all its forms that is in place under code name Operation Uttoran.
Later a 19-member Mahalchari Thana committee of the DYf was formed with Sarbananda Chakma as President and Ushamoy Khisha as General Secretary.
