The difference in opinion is widen between the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) and the government of Bangladesh. Amidst frustration and uncertainty in implementation of the peace accord the JSS is observing the day of completing five years of the CHT peace accord.
From the part of the JSS preparation has been taken to observe the day at Dhaka and also at the head quarters of the three hill districts. On this particular aspect of the day, the opposition leader of the country, Sheik Hasian has delivered her speech.
The peace accord was signed on 2nd December 1997, between the government of Bangladesh and the JSS to end more than two decades old armed conflict in Chittagong Hill Tracts. After signing the accord the JSS has surrendered all its arms and ammunitions and its members returned to normal life. But just after signing the accord hostility between the Awami-league government and the JSS developed on implementation of various provisions of the accord. At one stage the implementation process turns out to be stagnant.
In a situation like this the BNP lead government came into power after winning in the national election but even after completing one year in power no steps were taken to implement the accord. Due to power conflict and lack of coordination between the general administration and the Regional Council, employment in the services of different department of the government remained postpone so far. Due to complexity in resolving the issue of land rights, rehabilitation of the returnee refugees from India and also the internally displaced people resulting from more than two decades long conflict fell into uncertainty. The incidence of kidnapping of three foreigners also caused to halt the development activities and added frustration in the mind of the common people of Chittagng Hill Tracts.
On the other hand, just after signing the accord under the leadership the erstwhile student leaders like Prosit Bikash Khisa and Sanjoy Chakma a new organization called United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) was formed. The leader of this organization opposed the peace accord and the JSS before the formation of this organization. As a result of this a fratricidal conflict within the hill people started. So far more than five hundred persons from the both sides have been killed and a few thousands injured due to this internal conflict.
From the source of the JSS it has been informed that this year in April the Chairman of JSS and the Regional Council, Mr. J.B. Larma met the Prime Minister of the newly formed government of BNP to discuss about the implementation of the CHT Peace accord and handed over a 30 points demand letter to resolve the problems in CHT. But the JSS alleged that there is no indication of implementation of the accord so far from the part of the government.
Today on the occasion of completing the five years of the peace accord discussion meetings and gatherings have been organized by JSS to demand implementation of the accord. For this purpose the JSS has organized a discussion meeting at the Engineers' Institute of Dhaka.
At the same time the JSS has also taken up similar program in front of the Gymnasium at Rangamati, at press club in Bandarban districts and in front of the statue of Mr. M.N. Larma at Khagrachari.
In another development the convener of UPDF Mr. Prosit Bikash Khisa in a press release declared the accord as non-functional and faulty. To mark the occasion the UPDF has taken a program to form a human chain, a protest meeting and a demonstration against the peace accord.
On this occasion the Tribal Social Forum appealed to Prime Minister for her direct intervention to implement the peace accord and also mentioned about the stagnation in the development activities in CHT.
In their statement the Tribal Social Forum also mentioned about the wide gap in aspiration of the tribal people and the reality of what they had received so far. It also further mentioned that "We know implementation of accord is not process to be completed in a day or night. We have to make progress through discussion and good will." The forum also expressed its frustration over the issue of non functioning of the much expected land commission formed with the objective of resolving the issues of land disputes as per the accord.
(Translated by Japan CHT Committee)