News Headline:
News source: Prothom-alo, Dated: January 26, 2004
News link:
http://www.prothom-alo.net/newhtmlnews1/index.php?Date=2004-01-26
News text: Tangail representative: Mr. Santu Larma, the Chairman of the
CHT Regional Council has said that 25 lakhs of adibasis (indigenous
people) of the country are in solidarity in the movement for a demand of
cancellation of the Eco-park project at Madupur. He reiterated that the
government must bear the responsibility for killing Piren Slan and added
that not only at Madupur such type of eco-park will not be allowed for
implementation in the indigenous people populated areas of the country.
He said all these in presence of a large gathering while making his
deliberation at Jaingacha Missionary Primary School, Madupur. The
indigenous people of Madupur have organized this protest meeting
demanding cancellation of the Madupur Eco-park and also protesting the
killing of Piren Slan. The meeting was presided by Indigenous leader
Ajoy Mri. Among the imminent persons present in the meeting was Pankoj
Bhattyachariya, General Secretary of Gana Forum, Dr. Meshbah Kamal,
Professor of Dhaka University, Mr. Sanjib Dharang, General Secretary,
Indigenous Peoples' Forum of Bangladesh, Mr. Chandra Shekher Chakma,
General Secretary, JSS, Father Gomez, Shahajahan Kabir etc.
Mr. Larma mentioned that the fundamentalists and terrorists who
possess black money are now in control of this country. They have
taken the control of the economy of the country. The way
exploitation and repression is going on in the whole country, the existence
of not only the indigenous people, but of people of all walks of life is now
in
danger. He stressed the need of strengthening the indigenous peoples'
movement for their existence, livelihood, language and cultural rights.
He further said that those who are running this country are not the
friends of the people. Though Sheikh Hassina has signed the CHT Peace
Accord, she did not implement it. Now Khaleda is in power but she is
also not implementing the accord, instead grabbing the land of the
indigenous people of CHT using the religious fundamentalists. They are
playing foul play with life of indigenous people.
Mr. Pankoj Bhattayachariya, General Secretary of Gana Forum mentioned
that whoever may try will not be able to resist the demand for cancellation
of the eco-park at Madhupur. If they try to construct the wall for the
Eco-park again, there will be a road blockade on Tangail-Mymensingh high
way by people all of walks of live in the area.
Professor Meshba Kamal mentioned that in 1962, Monaiem Khan had taken the
step of constructing a national garden in Madhupur area. After coming
into power again the Awame League started working on the same project in
the name of an Eco-park. Now BNP is busy in implementing the same project.
This conspiracy somehow should be prevented from implementation.
Sanjib Dharang commented that there is news in circulation that the
government will again start the construction of the wall after the ID
festival. He asserted that in this forest land bathed with the blood of
our fellow brother Piren, we will resist the eco-park project at any
cost.
Before the starting of the meeting Mr. Larma met with family members of
Piren and expressed his sympathy with them and offered his floral
bouquet at the grave of Piren. Piren was killed by a forest guard
on 3rd January while participating in a peaceful protest demonstration
against the construction of the eco-park.