The Independent, 4 October 2003
http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/oct/04/04102003mt.htm#A13
Numerous armed groups active in CHT
NAZIMUDDIN SHYAMOL, CHITTAGONG
Oct 3: Peace remains elusive in Chittagong Hill Tracts because of growing hostilities between the two main political organisations of the hill region Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) coupled with activities of several other armed outfits. Tension between tribal people and Bengali settlers has aggravated the situation.
Killings, abductions and other criminal activities in the CHT have been attributed to the volatile situation prevailing in the region. The situation has been getting worse after the August 26 incident in Mahalchhari.
Local people alleged that the political and law and order situation in the three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have deteriorated alarmingly and almost returned to pre-peace treaty era. The deputy minister on CHT affairs Moni Sawpan Dewan is also deeply concerned over the prevailing law and order situation there, sources said.
A new initiative was reportedly taken by the tribal leaders to cobble together a common platform for the autonomy of CHT. Armed wings of the political parties of CHT were reportedly preparing for a combined action plan and joint movement for establishing their supremacy there.
The said initiative was taken after arson attacks on nine hill villages in Mahalchhari upazila of the Khagrachhari district by Bengali settlers allegedly backed by the security forces.
Sources said, various armed organisations and armed wings of tribal political parties are raising special forces and training them in the remote areas of the CHT.
According to a competent source, more than one thousand political activists have already completed arms training in the three districts of CHT.
The trained-armed activists belong to various political parties of the hill regions and are armed with modern and sophisticated weapons.
Different sources said that the leaders of the underground armed wings are buying firearms from smugglers. The border areas of the CHT and sea routes are mainly used for smuggling firearms. They procure money to purchase firearms through abduction of rich people or businessmen, looting and other criminal activities in the area.
The two main political parties of CHT, Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) blame each other for the underground training activities.
Sources said, several top leaders of JSS had relinquished their organisational posts in the seventh congress of the party held in November last year. These leaders went underground and started reorganising the armed wing of the party, the sources added.
The major political party of the hill region JSS is organising its armed wing known as "Santi Bahini", local people alleged.
On the other hand, JSS and local people accused UPDF of providing arms training to its cadres in hill region. Several hundred activists have already completed training, they alleged.
The leaders of both the parties, however, denied they have any such armed wings or underground activities.
The UPDF has been demanding full autonomy of the CHT and engaged in violent clashes with JSS resulting in the killings of many people in the last four years. Prashit Bikas Khisha, a former leader of the JSS deserted the party and launched the UPDF on December 26, 1998. He accused the JSS chief Santu Larma of cheating the tribal people through signing of the peace agreement. The UPDF leaders also urged tribesmen to boycott the JSS and its leader Santu Larma for hatching "conspiracy" against hill people, sources added.
Reliable sources said, several other armed organisations are also engaged in clandestine activities in the CHT. One of them, Bengal Tiger Force (BTF) was formed in the region two years ago. BTF has allegedly trained its cadres deep inside CHT forests. Bangalees, retired Ansar, VDP personnel and quite a number of tribesmen were included in the BTF.
Two new organisations started their activities in the CHT, mainly in Bandarban a few months ago. The new organisations are known as Democratic Peoples of Arakan (DPA) and Arakan Army (AA). The DPA is reportedly engaged in training its cadres and smuggling of arms in CHT, sources said.
BTF is providing arms training to its workers in the interior of the CHT. One Bangali leader is reportedly patronising the BTF. This new organisation with several hundred armed workers want to "establish socialism and equal rights for tribal and Bangali people in the CHT," sources added.
According to sources, a total of 35 persons were killed, about 120 were abducted and more than 140 people were injured in the past few months this year.