Daily Star, Tue. September 16, 2003
http://www.thedailystar.net/2003/09/16/d30916070355.htm
Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari
Parbattya Chattagaram Jano Sanghati Shamity (PCJSS) chief Jotirindriya Bodhipriyo Larma alias Santu Larma has blamed Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB) Chairman and BNP lawmaker Wadood Bhuiyan for the August 26 Mahalchhari incidents and demanded his removal from the post.
Wadood Bhuiyan was present at the upazila headquarters when settler Bangalees attacked houses of tribesmen in Mahalcchhari on August 26, Shantu said at a protest rally at the district town.
"But he (Wadood) did not take any administrative measure (to stop those). Rather, he (Wadood) instigated the attackers", Santu alleged. Two persons were killed and at least 20 injured in the incidents.
Shantu Larma, also chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, put
forward a nine-point demand for redress of Mahalchhari victims and solution
to problems in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
A greater movement will be launched if the demands are not met, he said.
The nine-point demand include judicial probe into Mahalchhari incidents, punishment
of the persons responsible under the Speedy Trial Act, compensation to the affected
people, implementation of the CHT Peace Accord, withdrawal of army and Armed
Police Battalion camps of CHT, banning the anti-peace accord United Peoples
Democratic Front (UPDF), rehabilitation of internal and returnee tribal refugees
and honorble rehabilitation of settler Bangalees outside the CHT.
Peace will not be established in the CHT till the peace accord is fully implemented, he said.
The peace accord was signed between PCJSS and the them Awami League government
in 1997.
He expressed dissatisfaction at the role of army in the CHT. "It is shameful
that army checks us at hundreds of check posts in the entire CHT," he said.
"We want democracy and peace. This is not possible keeping army here,"
Santu Larma said.
There is a "reign of terror" in the CHT now he said and accused settler
Bangalees, army and Wadood Bhuiyan for "conspiring against the ethnic people
to oust them from their ancestral homeland".
He also blamed the present government for delaying implementation of the CHT
accord. "The present four party alliances government is not cordial to
us and our rights".
He urged the tribesmen to unite under the PCJSS to realise their rights.
He also cautioned them against "betrayer Proshit-Shanchay".
Presided over by Pronoti Bikash Chakma, PCJSS' Khagrachhari unit president,
the rally was addressed by, among others, by PCJSS Organising Secretary Shoktipad
Tripura, central member Shudhashindu Khisa, KS Mong, CHTRC member Rowshan Ara
and U Nu pru Marma.