http://www.thedailystar.net/2003/12/05/d31205110372.htm
The Daily Star, Fri. December 05, 2003
The plan of unsettling the CHT unless the government implements its pledge by December 31, as pronounced by Santu Larma, has stirred the debate once again that the governmental indolence in the implementation of CHT peace pact could spark violence across the turbulent CHT and, as a result, the peaceful atmosphere that we have seen in the area for the last four years could revert to a gloomy forecast.
But this agony of tribal people has not built up overnight, rather it is a gradual negligence of the government that has turned a small point into a circle that is simmering to burst.
After the BNP-led coalition government assumed power, it has shown sheer apathy to this critical issue and never considered the problems and uneasiness of tribal people. Santu Larma said, "The peace pact had never been accomplished with any particular party like the Awami League or BNP or Jamaat-e-Islami, rather it was with the government, and so the government -- whoever in power -- has to act according to the pact to expedite the development projects in the CHT."
The CHT has always been a burning issue and that the government should have given additional priority to iron out the wrinkles over it is the simple truth. The present government has fogged the issue which eventually has grown to the present level of frustration in the minds of tribal people.
I do not know whether the government has taken the threat seriously, but we, common people, have every reason to feel scared due to this development.
The atrocity in Mohalchari (Chittagong Hill Tracts) that took place a few months ago stunned all the peace-loving people at home and abroad and we have really been stewing over what sort of a game of conspiracy is being played ever since with the CHT to make it volatile and stormy by a certain guild who have been trying their utmost for long to keep the rift alive.
The establishment of a local administration -- the decentralisation of power -- is one of main pillars of the peace agreement. The AL government which initiated the peace process with Shanti Bahini agreed to establish administrative offices and development projects through mutual discussion so that the interests of both the parties were taken care of. But, unfortunately, some administrative offerings in CHT have been made without having exchanged a single word with the local influential leaders. The government should not be ignorant of the fact that the whole CHT region is populated with tribal people and they are a majority out there. So, any administrative measure must be implemented with the consent of the tribal community.
Those who are indulging the idea of keeping up the unrest in the CHT to reap political benefits are living in a fool's paradise. They should not labour under the impression that a burning CHT means good business, smuggling and sabotaging. Rather, it means more carnage, fighting, shooting and the blood game.
The peace effort in CHT is a historic initiative in Bangladesh. It not only ensured the end of a bloodbath, but also helped people return to normal life. Moreover, through the termination of fighting, we have achieved the line to dig out the potential of the CHT which has given us a positive signal that we could get some natural resources like gas, coal and oil from this region. Bangladesh is a poor country ridden with foreign debts. So any possibility of getting natural resources means our economy will prosper.
When such a good prospect exists, why are some people creating problems in the area? Why cannot the government implement the peace pact? We can guess that the government has the muscle-power to quell the insurgency, but such an initiative could introduce a dangerous war within the country -- at least the threat from Santu Larma sounds really awesome. At the same time, we must ask Santu Larma and his people to understand that The CHT is part of Bangladesh.
Santu Larma is lucky enough that he is living in a democratic country which
is why he has got away with light criticism after he had issued such an audacious
threat to the country. We must request him to feel the matter with cognition
and prudence instead of excitement and anger while appealing to the government
to sit with the people of the CHT to implement the peace accord.