24 January 2003, The Independent

Editorial

CHT turmoil

The situation in Chittagong Hill Tracts is becoming chaotic as well as explosive. For signing the peace agreement the state had to make extremely generous concessions to the insurgents but that was deemed appropriate as the price for durable peace can sometimes be high. The agreement also received great commendation from foreign leaders. Unfortunately with the passing years it became clear that peace was not only illusory but the region was growing into a welter of conflicts and chaos. The CHT leader Santu Larma had alleged that the government of the day had no intention to implement the accord. The succeeding government did nothing to disprove his charge.

The lead report in yesterday’s The Independent would give some idea of how things are getting out of hand. If commitments made under an agreement are not fulfilled in a sensitive region, unforeseeable troubles are only too likely to arise. The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Shanghati Samity (PCJSS) has adopted a 33-point "political proposal". At least some of their demands appear valid. The demands which appear to us legitimate include implementation of the peace agreement and election of the Hill District Council. But the question is how far the PCJSS, in the present circumstances, can exercise any control over the situation. To make things murkier, armed cadres of United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and of PCJSS, as well as those of some other parties, are engaged in an open confrontation. The PCJSS has termed UPDF a terrorist organisation and pledged its destruction.

As The Independent report says, all this is leading to a serious deterioration of law and order. To put the lid on the boiling cauldron, some quarters have made outlandish proposals, like the one that Raja Tridib Roy who was opposed to Bangladesh’s liberation, fled to Pakistan and became a minister in ZA Bhutto’s government, should be invited to hammer out a reconciliation among the rival factions. (It is another matter that the Raja is himself not interested to return). As is natural, when turmoil persists for a long period, fringe groups manifest themselves and ideologies come into play. This may sound innocent but the problem is that these new groups are all armed and militant. One such new group is Bengal Tiger Force (BTF) which has recruited both Bangalees and tribals and is fighting, as they say, for establishment of socialism.

Development work

As the peace agreement was not implemented, no massive development work could be undertaken in the area. The CHT is a large area with untapped resources. If political settlement followed by economic development were earnestly undertaken, the area could be a model of progress and prosperity in the country. The settlers and tribals of CHT and the government will have to give peace a chance.