The Independent, Dhaka, Bangladesh Issue 1812 December 02 2003 Tuesday
http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/dec/02/02122003pl.htm#A3
STAFF REPORTER
"Six years have passed since the signing of the CHT Peace Treaty but the
present government like its predecessor is taking no initiative to
implement the accord" claimed the main tribal leader and chief of the
Jana Sanghati Samity Santu Larma at a function yesterday in Dhaka. The
tribal leader warned of grave consequence if the treaty was not
implemented.
Larma added they would start movement to put pressure on the government
to implement the peace treaty from today (Tuesday), the 6th anniversary
of the treaty. As part of their action programme they would observe road
blockade programme in three hill districts today (Tuesday). The Jana
Sanghati Samity has called hartal on December 6 in the region.
The CHT Peace Treaty was signed in 1997 with the aim of restoring peace
in the region. But tribal leaders particularly the Jana Sanghati Samity
supremo Santu Larma blamed the past Awami League government for not
implementing the treaty adding that the present BNP government was also
paying no heed to their request to implement the peace accord.
"The government has no political will to implement the peace accord. If
the government does have the political will the treaty can be
implemented in six months" claimed Santu Larma.
"We have made contracts at various levels of the present government. In
particular, I met the Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia on April 20 and
handed over a 30-point memorandum to her but still I have received no
answer from the Prime Minister in this regard," Larma observed.
"Now we have realised that the government will not implement the accord
due to lack of political will and movement is the only way through which
we can realise our demand that is implementation of the treaty," he
mentioned.
The open discussion styled "Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord:
Possibility on Verge of Destruction" was held in CIRDAP Auditorium.
Bangladesh Adibasi Forum (BAF) and Research and Development Collective
(RDC) jointly held the discussion.
CHT Regional Council (RC) Chairperson Santu Larma presided over the
discussion and former Chief Advisor of the Caretaker government Justice
Habibur Rahman was the chief guest. Rupayan Dewan, Vice President of
Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) presented the keynote paper. The discussion,
among others, was also addressed by Awami League General Secretary Abdul
Jalil, Workers' Party leader Rashed Khan Menon and Haider Akbar Khan
Rano, Buddhist monk Sumanalankar Mahathero, Santosita Chakma Bakul of
Jumma Refugee Rehabilitation and Welfare Association (JRRWA), DU Prof
H.K.M. Arefin, Sadeka Halim, Prof Ajay Roy, dramatist Mamunur Rashid and
Kazi Farooque of Proshika.
Awami League General Secretary who was present at the function said the
Awami League government had no lack of political will but the
implementation of the treaty was delayed following opposition by
political opponents and bureaucratic red-tapism.
When the treaty was signed in 1997, the then opposition BNP opposed the
treaty saying it was unconstitutional.
Former Chief Justice Habibur Rahman said, "The 1972 Constitution of
Bangladesh has no direct conflict with protection of interest of
indigenous people. Our constitution is in no way anti-peace accord and
even if any serious dispute occurs, constitutional amendment can be
looked for as a solution."
Justice Habibur Rahman also condemned killing of men in the name of
religion.
Monk Sumanalankar Mahathero protested appointment of non-tribal MP of
Khagrachhari Wadud Bhuyian as chairperson of Chittaggong Hill Tracts
Development Board (CHTDB) as the MP is resettling and rehabilitating
Bengalee families in new forest schemes of mango and orange.
The press conference widely called upon the government to withdraw
temporary army camps.