Rally against repression and land grabbing held in Chittagong

chtnews.com
News No. 22/2010, February 05, 2010

The government has been urged to end all forms of repression on Jumma people and stop land grabbing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The demand was made at a rally organised by Sacheton Jubo Samaj (Conscious Youth Society) in Chittagong today at 4pm.

Held in front of Chittagong Press Club with Enjoy Chakma, president of SJS, in the chair, the rally was addressed, among others, by professor Hossain Khan, Maruf Hossain Rumi, Biplob, Jibon, Aungshupru, Legal Chakma and Mong Sajai Marma.

The speaker said twelve years have passed since the CHT accord was signed, but repression on Jumma people still continues unabated and land grabbing has become a serious threat to the existence of the ethnic minorities.

“The military is still there, and they continue to violate the rights of the Jumma people.” Enjoy said.

The speakers criticized the construction of “Swargachura Tourist Centre” in Bandarban on land belonging to a private individual and urged the government to stop it.

They urged the government to end all forms of repression against Jumma people, stop land grabbing and withdraw the army and settlers from CHT.

The rally was followed by a procession which ended at Shahid Minar.

Jitesh Chakma, a SJS activist, told chtnews.com that the Santu Larma supporters had prevented many Jummas living in Bandar area of Chittagong from participating in the rally.

“Many of our supporters as well as common people could not join us in the rally because of the threats of the JSS (Santu faction)” he said adding: “They (JSS Santu group) have become a real problem in our struggle; they would not do the struggle themselves and when others do, they would create obstacles. This must end.”