MAY 29-31, 1998
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
ORGANIZED BY JUMMA PEOPLES ALLIANCE
$Be`(B€
Contents
Introduction
Background
Objectives
Justification
Participants
Agenda
Meeting Sessions & Discussions
The up-date situation on CHT
Synopsis on Post-Agreement Situation
Implementation of the Treaty
Needs Assessment & Recommendations
Plan of Action
Reorient the role and redefine responsibility
Annex
Published by Jumma Peoples Alliance, Montreal, Canada July 1998
The problems of the Jumma peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are not new but rather have continued to evolve over the years. Likewise, the reasons given as the causes of these problems and their likely solutions, though diverging depending on which party or organization you talk to, continue to build and being identified as we head towards the future. However, in every important stage of the struggle, it is important to look and help direct it into a meaningful end in the interest of the Jumma peoples and the parties involved. In the post agreement period, it is of great importance to follow, monitor and help whenever is necessary the implementation of the treaty and also help shape the direction of the struggle accordingly.
Taking the above points into accounts, the Jumma Peoples Alliance (JPA) working together with the international community, JSS and other Jumma Peoples organizations, is working for the achievement of peace and development in the CHT. The most recent important event organized by the JPA is the round table meeting of key involved parties and organizations in the struggle of the Jumma peoples to re-evaluate the situation in the CHT, in particular the post agreement period and also shape the direction of the struggle.
This very needed meeting ended up with much needed representation and a united Jumma peoples voice. It came up with some resolutions, recommendations, appeal to the Bangladesh government and international community and a future plan of action.
Jumma Peoples Alliance (JPA) is thankful to parties that participated in the round table meeting and also to the international community for all forms of support they contribute through out the struggle. It is the desire of all the Jumma Peoples that peace and development become a reality in the CHT though until now all indications are that the struggle is not yet near the end. In fact it has acquired only a new dimension.
It has already been over one year since the convention of international Peace Conference on the Chittagong Hill Tracts on February 23-26, 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand. The successful convention of the conference and its contribution of Bangkok Declaration are being considered as a historic event. The Bangkok Declaration is an expressed commitment and a collective voice of the global community for working towards peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts(CHT).
It was a hope for the indigenous Jumma Peoples when the Awami league came over power after a free and fair election held on June 12, 1996. Awami league continued to express its concern and stated explicitly in their election manifesto to address the CHT issues for peaceful political resolution of over two decades of crisis. Subsequently resumption of peace talks between the Awami League government and the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS), opened up a renewal scope for the peace process. It was concluded two rounds of peace talks between two parties while the Bangkok Conference was taking place.
However, the peace negotiations have progressed over the recent months and finally a landmark Peace Treaty was signed between the Bangladesh government and the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) on 2nd December 1997 in the 7th rounds of dialogue.
In accordance with the treaty, ail the members of the JSS have already returned home in search of normal life and with a hope of peace and prosperity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The members of the Shanti Bahini (armed wing of JSS) have raid down their arms respectively on February 10, 16, 22 and March 5, 1998. The Jumma Refugees who were living in Tripura, India repatriated into Chittagong Hill Tracts on the basis of an agreement of 20 points economic package offered by the Awami League government.
The Peace Accord is undoubtedly one step victory of over the last two decades of struggle of the Jumma peoples. Although fundamental issues such as (i) recognition of the rights of the Jumma peoples in the constitution (ii) withdrawal of the settlers, (iii) reaffirmation of inalienable rights to lands etc. have left unresolved.
But the Jumma peoples hope that they would be able to begin their return journey in the milieu of post agreement situation and would have breathing space to continue struggle for survival.
It is worthwhile to mention that Chittagong Hill Tracts had been left as a neglected, under-developed and backward region over the centuries. It has been fatally devastated and plundered due to policy of ethnic cleansing by the successive regimes over the last few decades. The Jumma Peoples have been experiencing a dozen of massacres, gross violations of human rights, rape, gang rape, arbitrary arrest, torture, extra-judicial execution, imprisonment without trial, forced relocation, political repression and physical oppression, They have been so marginalized due to systematic campaign of militarization, policy of population transfer. land grabbing, development aggression, assimilation, indirectly or some cases directly forced religious conversion and forcible relocation to cluster village (known as concentration camp) uprooting them from their hearth and homes. It has seriously affected the social, political, cultural and economical structure of the Jumma Peoples and even their existence in their abode. There are a few of such instances of human sufferings in the history of mankind that the Jumma Peoples have endured so far.
The Jumma peoples are longing for peace and prosperity following the signing of the treaty. But most difficult part of the treaty is the proper implementation that is still lying ahead. It has been possible for a negotiated political settlement of the crisis because of mounting pressure from the global community. The post agreement situation is more crucial which demands not only attention but also intervention by the peace loving people, international community, humanitarian organizations, donor governments and institutions for properly implementation of the treaty as weir as to address the urgent issues.
The Bangladesh government has planned to undertake massive development programs and in the major sectors inclusive; under the development programs are: road communications, healthcare, education, agriculture, Supply of safe drinking water, electrification and tourism with an estimated cost of Taka 2,400 crore. The government is also encouraging private sector for setting up of cold storage, fruit processing and other industries including exploration and exploitation of natural resources such as timber, agro-based products, fisheries, oil, gas etc. The government is emphasizing the needs for development of modern tourism infrastructure and the private entrepreneurs are being encouraged to invest. On the other hand the non-governmental development organizations have also been rushing to work in Chittagong Hill Tracts.
As a matter of fact that it is crucially needed to undertake both short and long term massive development programs on priority basis in order to reconstruct and to reform the devastated Chittagong Hill Tracts. On the other hand, it is also an emergent demand of the time to evaluate the situation, assess the needs and design a perspective plan for sustainable development through participatory approach for the betterment of the Jumma Peoples. It must be also taken into serious consideration of their distinct indigenous culture, language, livelihood as well as their social, political and economical system before undertaking any development program in the region. More over, thousands of Jumma peoples were killed in the last two decades. There is no family left without traumatized experiences particularly the victims of atrocities, rape & gang rape, internally displaced and forcible relocated peoples, the refugees, the women and the children and these should be taken into consideration too.
Jumma peoples have also been experienced with the so-called development programs from the construction of Kaptai dam and policies of successive Bangladeshi regimes. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Board (CHTDB) was established in 1976 in the name of economic emancipation of the Jumma Peoples. The CHTDB rather deeply strengthened the militarization and military occupation through development of military infrastructure in the Chittagong Hill Tracts instead of addressing the needs of the Jumma peoples. The upland settlement projects funded by Asian Development Bank and other development programs of the CHTDB have appropriated their lands and also uprooted them from ancestral home and hearth. Few national and international NGOs who were working in the CHT either served the interest of the military or engaged for religious conversion of the local peoples. Furthermore, the issue of destruction of rain forest and degradation of environment in the CHT should also be taken into consideration that may result natural disaster and collapse of eco-system.
The western donor governments, institutions and non-governmental funding organizations have also been taking interest to mobilize financial aid for the development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, that also is an encouraging indication indeed.
Nevertheless, the Jumma Peoples are looking forward to work in partnership for sustainable development in perspective to their need that would ameliorate their social, cultural, political and economical system and preserve indigenous culture, tradition, language and values.
Since it is a reality that the peace treaty was signed by the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) on behalf of the inhabitants of Chittagong hill Tracts. Therefore, it has become an emergent needs to discuss and share the pre and post agreement situation among the representatives of the Jumma Peoples organizations in home and abroad including JSS as a main actor in order to develop a common understanding for the betterment of the situation in the CHT. Due to continued political unrest and the demand for the annulment of the treaty by some opposition political parties including Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) and their allies, it was not wise to organize such a meeting in Bangladesh at present. Moreover, Jumma peoples leaders are still living in exile for fear of persecution in Bangladesh. Because of the cost effectiveness in financial terms and accessibility including visa facilities, the venue has been chosen to be at Katmandu, Nepal.
Twelve Jumma peoples representatives from 8 different organizations participated in the meeting. Mr. Kulottam Chakma, President of Jumma Peoples Network Asia & Pacific did not attend because of other engagements, but he was in contact with the meeting.
The schedule of the meeting was prepared and approved by the participants through participatory approach in an informal meeting on the evening of 28th May before it commenced officially on May 29, 1998. The meeting started at 9:30 a.m. sharp and the participants observed one minute of silence as a mark of remembrance and honor to the martyrs and victims of the struggle who sacrificed their lives and also for those who victimized for the cause of the Jumma peoples. The meeting continued for 3 days at a stretch followed by a schedule of events.
The participants were given opportunities to share their ideas, experience, knowledge and the information they had on certain topic(s) through individual presentation and discussion in the group and/or plenary sessions in a congenial atmosphere. The methods of such presentation were lecture, question-answer, brainstorming; groups exercise, report writing and so on.
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Published by Jumma Peoples Alliance, July 1998