By-Hari Kishore Chakma, Rangamati,
News Text: It has been reported that to end the fratricidal conflict in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts initiatives have been taken from the part of the
government and the Chakma chief, Raja Devashis Roy. From the relevant
sources it has been informed that in this regard there had been discussion
with both the conflicting groups. However, the JSS had informed that they
are not aware of anything as such.
It is known to all that a conflict within the hill people was created
because of differences in political opinions on the subject of peace accord
between the PCJSS and a section of hill students leadership led by Prasit
and Sanjoy Chakma on the eve of signing the accord in 1997. As a result of
this the group that opposed the peace accord formed a new party and named it
UPDF (United Peoples' Democratic Front) after about one year of the signing
of the peace accord on 2nd December 1997. This group so far rejected the
peace accord and started a movement demanding a full autonomy for the
indigenous and hill peoples of the CHT region.
However, the conflict between the JSS and the UPDF intensified after the
later accelerated its organizational activities. So the fratricidal conflict
among the hill people set in as soon as more than two decades long armed
movement is over. As a result of this, all the hopes and aspirations of the
common people for development winded up in the activities of killings,
kidnappings of the political opponents by both the parties.
So far more than three hundred persons are killed and many others are
injured or kidnapped in this process of internal conflict in the hill. Both
the parties blame each-other for the failures and violations of terms of
understanding of the earlier negotiation process initiated by the returnee
refugee leader and ex-MP, Mr. Upendra Lal Chakma, Mr. Hongshadwaj Chakma,
convener of CHT peace committee that negotiated the peace procees leading to
signing of the peace accord and Mr. Gautom Dewan, ex-Chairman of Rangamati
District Council.
But this year in the mid April on the eve of the Bizu, the biggest
traditional festival of the indigenous people, from the part of the UPDF
posters and leaflets were distributed urging for a reconciliation to end
this bloody conflict. However, there was no response from the part of the
JSS. Though there was not much success in this reconciliation process, this
time the initiative is taken from the part of the government and the civil
society of the indigenous and hill people.
When Mr. Moni Swapan Dewan, the state minister for the CHT Affairs Ministry
was communicated in this regard, he acknowledged the reconciliation
initiative taken by him. He further added that, whatever might be the
existing political differences in the hills of CHT, but for the seek of the
greater interest and development of the society as a whole he has taken this
initiative. He has already spoken to Raja Devashsi Roy and other acceptable
personalities of the indigenous and tribal peoples. Chakma chief, Raja
Devashis Roy also told to the correspondent that he has also taken this
initiative for the reconciliation as he is tormented by his moral
conscience. He further added that he had already talked to some meaningful
figures of the JSS and the UPDF and he expressed his hope that for the
greater interest of the society this initiatives for reconciliation will be
a successful one.
However, when this correspondent communicated with the Chairman of Regional
Council and the Supremo of JSS, Mr. J.B. Larma (Santu Larma) told that no
such proposal for reconciliation has been put up to him so far. When the
correspondent asked if such a proposal is placed before him whether he will
be accepting that or not; Mr. Larma replied that he will decide after seeing
what type of proposal is placed on the table.
-end-
Translation: Japan CHT Committee