Editorial
Date of publication: November 22, 2003
Link http://www.bhorerkagoj.net/archive/03_11_22/news_1_0.php
It has become utmost important to think about the direction of change in the political situation of CHT. The peace accord was signed in 1997 with a hope of peace, stability and development of the region. But on the eve of completion of six years of signing of the peace accord, it has raised many questions. It is true that after signing the peace accord there is no more armed rebellion and the situation improved comparatively but, it is now deteriorating gradually. The process of implementation of peace accord is stagnated hence there is agony, frustration and dissatisfaction in the mind of the hill people. The conflict between the tribal and non-tribal is now intensifying. Not only that the conflict between the pro and anti-peace accord groups is also turning violent. In the hill areas the incidents of crime like abduction and killing have also increased. Recently the violent incident at Mahalchari has made the conscious people of the country worried. All the events obviously make anybody to think in what direction the situation is turning in CHT?
The most worrisome thing is the stagnation of the peace process. The hill people are of course not satisfied with the level of implementation of the peace accord of the last six years. The Regional Council was not empowered adequately. After the general election of 2001 the speed of implementation of peace accord reduced further. There is no change in the situation even after the meeting of Santu Larma, the chairman of the Regional Council with the Prime Minister. Recently, the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) has completed its workers’ convention. In that convention many demands were raised including implementation of the peace accord within 31st December. It has been further declared that if their demands are not meet up, there will be mass movement in the whole CHT. There is also news in circulation that putting aside their previous confrontation the JSS and the UPDF will start joint movement in the CHT region. Among the demands made by them are the full implementation of the CHT Peace accord, withdrawal of military forces, Answers, and VDP camps from CHT and removals of all barriers in implementation of land rights and rehabilitation of the internal refuges etc.
It is a matter of regret that there is a lacking of sincerity from the part
of the government in implementation of peace accord. The administration must
understand that for a permanent solution of such kind there is a need to speed
up the process implementation of the peace accord. Proper steps should be taken
towards confidence building, removal suspicion and distrust among the tribal
and non tribal community and enhancing the development efforts including all
the communities. For this there is a need of attitudinal change and giving up
all the narrowness of previous kind. It should be understood by all that no
permanent solution can be achieved when there is conflict. Situation may turn
violent as the JSS has declared its call for mass movement after the month of
December. In a situation like this the government must be keen to take initiatives
to start dialogues between the hill peoples’ leaders and the Bengali leaders
towards implementation of the peace accord. The policy makers of the country
should be careful enough from now so that no untoward situation is created due
to wrong decision taken by them.