News source: Prothom-alo, dated Sept 2, 2003.
It has been reported that normalcy is yet to be restored in the affected
areas of ethnic clash. Yesterday, in a meeting with the Deputy
Commissioner, the chief administrator of the UPDF representative
explained that the burnt villages are still surrounded by the military
and the Jummas will not come back to their burnt villages if the
military forces are not withdrawn from these areas hence, peace cannot
be restored. In that meeting the tribal leaders demanded for a judiciary
inquiry of the incident of Mahalchari.
It has been reported the Buddhist leaders of the country also protested
as the settlers burnt the Buddhist temples, looted the money and
property of the temples and disgraced the images of Buddha. The tribal
leaders stressed that people are still in a state of shock and the
villagers are guarding their villages at night without sleep. From
police forces it has been reported that more thirteen people are
arrested in connection to Mahalchari incident. The first day of 72 hours
long strike called by UPDF ended peacefully yesterday.
More than fifty Buddhist monks of Parbttya Buddha Sangha yesterday
participated in protest demonstration and handed over a memorandum to
the Deputy Commissioner to be forwarded to the Prime Minister. Ven.
Sumanalankar Bhukkhu led the demonstration and made his speech in this
protest demonstration relay. The JSS also organized a protest
demonstration in which about one thousand male and female Jumma
participated. In this demonstration meeting the organizing secretary of
the JSS, Mr. Shaktipada Tripura, Central Committee member Mr. Tatindra
Lal Chakma, Hill Women Federation leader (JSS Supported) Chailtali
Tripura also made speech on this occasion.
At the end of the meeting the leaders handed over a memorandum to Deputy
Commissioner to be forwarded to the Prime Minister.
(Translated from Bengali by Japan CHT Committee)