Daily Star, Political News
Volume 3 Number 1153 Tue. December 03, 2002


5 years of CHT peace accord


PCJSS threatens to go back to armed struggle

UNB, Rangamati

Three parties in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in separate rallies marking the fifth anniversary of CHT peace accord yesterday expressed determination to advance their conflicting programmes that may jeopardise peace in the region.


PCJSS (Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity) leaders said they were engaged in an armed struggle for a long 24 years and are ready to return to the bush war for securing total implementation of the peace accord.


They threatened to paralyse CHT, if needed, for securing every provision of the peace accord.


PCJSS rally at the Gymnasium ground was addressed by its president Gunendu Bikash Chakma, Goutam Chakma, Chandra Shekhar Chakma, Luxmi Prosad Chakma, Shaktiman Chakma, Arumita Chakma, Nirmulendu Tripura and Sunity Bikash Chakma.


The tribal leaders referred to the recent statement of BNP leader Salahuddin Qader Chowhury and said a section of the leadership was seeking to turn CHT into a Muslim dominated region.


They expressed suspicion at the government attitude and viewed implementation of the accord in toto would not be possible without launching a fresh struggle.


Holding a separate rally followed by procession and demonstration, Parbattya Gano Parishad accused PCJSS of killing 30,000 non-tribal in the Hill Tracts and set on fire the effigy of Santu Larma.


Parishad leaders threatened to retaliate if the government failed to take action against the tribal crimi nals for repression and killing of non-tribal.


They demanded that CHT Regional Council chairman Santu Larma should be put in the dock for the killings.


Awami League that signed the peace accord with PCJSS five years ago in a separate rally said the government by stopping implementation of the remaining provisions of the peace accord is trying to return the region to turmoil.


Local leaders of the party said criminal activities increased manifold since the BNP came to power. They demanded arrest of the criminal and recovery of illegal arms.


The Awami League leaders urged for forging unity of the parties supporting the peace accord.