29 September 2003
http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/sep/29/29092003pd.htm#A2
Factional fights are hindering progress
SAN FEATURE
Politics started anew in over two-decade long strife-torn three hill districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) just after the beginning of Tk. 300 crore development activities by the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) in early July. Bloody gunfights between the two regional political parties in the CHT----Parbatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity (PCJSS) and United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) have been continuing unabated reportedly to establish supremacy over each other. Concerned observers say, efforts to improve law and order and protection of human rights have been badly affected mainly due to the armed rivalries between the two warring groups. Also the current armed skirmishes have largely reversed the implementation of historic peace accord signed between the previous government and former guerrilla outfit Shanti Bahini, the military wing of the PCJSS over five years ago.
They also fear that UNDP which had suspended its uplift activities for two years following abduction of three foreigners might face suspension again due to the volatile atmosphere. Sources in the Hills said, the four incidents of political violence that took place in Rangamati recently might worsen the situation. Allegation goes that about 50 armed cadres belonging to pro-peace accord PCJSS abducted Moni Chakma and Udaylal Chakma, two activists of UPDF from inaccessible Kaukhali area of the district on July 8. UPDF is opposing the peace accord and fighting for 'full autonomy' of the hills. Later Moni Chakma was brutally killed while whereabouts of Udaylal still remain untraced. Besides, the armed gang allegedly burnt down dwelling houses of four UPDF supporters in the area. On the other hand, it was alleged that the armed activists of the UPDF abducted eight persons, believed to be pro-PCJSS and wood cutters by profession in remote Bagaichhari area demanding ransom money of Tk.2 lakh. Both the groups, however, denied their involvements in such terrorist activities claiming themselves as 'democratic'. Incidentally, both the groups call each other as 'terrorist organization'.
While talking to the SAN-Feature Service, Santo Larma, the main leader of the PCJSS and the chief the CHT Regional Council refused to accept the "reported gun fights" between the workers of UPDF and Janasanghati Samity. " In fact, it is the common people of the hills who raised their arms to face the terrorist UPDF", he remarked .
Refuting the allegation, Prasit Bikash Khisa, central leader of UPDF, levelled a counter accusation saying that his group does never believe in politics of terrorism. Rather, PCJSS, he alleged, has the record of such 'heinous politics'. He further said "the government and Janasanghati Samity jointly unleashed repression on the UPDF only for opposing the peace accord".
In the midst of growing lawlessness, UNDP began its uplift programmes. Prior to the beginning of the programme, consent of the two warring groups were taken to keep the region's development activities free from any obstruction. Besides, the "Joint Risk Assessment Mission" of the government and the UNDP assessed the amount of risk involved regarding development activities in the CHT.
Due to the existing atmosphere, the ongoing uplift activities of the UNDP have been again in trouble. It is also under questioning of the PCJSS. The organization in a lengthy statement in the form of a booklet issued from its central committee in Rangamati called upon the UNDP to execute uplift activities taking 'permanent residents of the hill into confidence' and in the light of their six-point charter of demands.
The statement further said the UNDP should come forward in the implementation of the peace accord safeguarding rights of the hill population in accordance with the expectation of Bangalees and Hill people. It said ethnic people in the hills remain neglected and deprived of their rights and privileges for ages. The hill residents have been deprived of their participation in the economic uplift in the area which witnessed political unrest and violent armed hostilities over two decades.
It may be noted that former Shanti Bahini leader Santu Larma, who was signatory to the historic peace accord, has bitterly criticized the report of the 'Joint Risk Assessment Mission' at the formal inaugural ceremony of the UNDP development activities in June last. The first phase of development activities began from July 1, 2003 covering five areas of Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban excepting Bangalee settler-dominated Matiranga against the alleged objection of the PCJSS. Settler leaders vainly tried to make development work suspension in Matiranga of Khagrachhari an issue. As mark of their protest they observed road blockade twice in the area recently.
Moni Swapan Dewan, Deputy minister for Hill Tracts Affairs, while addressing a function in Rangamati in early July made an oblique reference to the local leadership deploring that," although everybody is in favour of development but nobody is sincere about it." Expressing concern, he fears that if the situation continues like this the UNDP might scrap its development activities. It may be pointed out that Santu Larma-led PCJSS and local ruling alliance MP Wadud Bhuiyan-led Development Board remain unrepresented at UNDP meetings held at the concerned ministry.