http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/01/27/d4012701033.htm
Vol. 4 Num 240
Daily Star, Tue. January 27, 2004
Star Report
Bangladesh Adibashi Forum President Shantu Larma vowed resistance to
controversial eco-parks, prompting a counterpoint from Environment and
Forest Minister Shajahan Siraj yesterday that the Modhupur forest
conservation project would go ahead without harming indigenous people.
Larma, also chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, at a
protest rally on Sunday afternoon at Modhupur, 50 kilometres north of
Tangail town, blamed the minister for the killing of Piren Snal in
police and forest guard fire during an anti-conservation plan
demonstration on January 3.
Piren joined the demonstration of Modhupur Garos who feared the project
the forest department took up in 2000 would threaten their traditional
lifestyle.
"The minister promised steps to protect the rights of indigenous people,
but he did not keep it," Larma told the rally at Jainagachha Missionary
Primary School as chief guest.
"Indigenous people have been exploited and deprived of their rights not
only in Modhupur, but in Patuakhali and Dinajpur as well," Larma
alleged.
He called for unity among the 25 lakh indigenous people in Bangladesh to
establish their rights and underscored a mass movement against what he
said was the misrule of the government.
"Fundamentalism, crime and corruption have taken centre stage in
politics. All governments stoked communalism," Larma alleged.
Professor Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University, Pankaj Bhatta-charya, leader
of Gono Forum, and Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh
Adibashi Forum, addressed the rally, also attended by Piren's widow and
two children.
Sanjeeb accused officials of bribing higher authorities for transfer to
the forest department and exacting the money through illegal logging of
trees in the 21,000-acre Modhupur National Park.
He also accused the officials of shifting the blame onto the indigenous
people and filing false cases against them, adding the Garos were
implicated in up to 30 cases of illegal logging.
In Dhaka yesterday, the forest minister at a press conference defended
his position on the eco-parks and said: "No locals will be evicted
because of the Modhupur project. Traditional farming will not be
hindered and no toll will be slapped on people's movement in the project
area."
He promised that the project would not harm traditional lifestyle and
heritage -- a concern that wrecked the Garos over the years.
The minister claimed the government complied with most demands of the
indigenous people and both parties reached a consensus.
"But a set of people is trying to mislead the indigenous people and
create anarchy in the project area," Shajahan said referring to Larma's
visit to Modhupur.
"The project is intended to protect biodiversity and open a sanctuary
for birds and animals," he said, adding a plan was laid out to protect
about-to-be-extinct plant species and wildlife, constructing a 61,000ft
long wall around 3,000 acres of forestland.
On the installation of recreational infrastructure like cottages and
picnic spots, State Minister for Environment and Forest Zafrul Islam
Chowdhury said: "We are only developing some facilities outside the
boundary wall, where thousands of people usually go for recreation."
<http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/01/27/d4012701033p.htm> Picture
Demonstrators demand scrapping of Modhupur eco-park project in Tangail
at a rally in the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday,
organised by Bangladesh Adibashi Forum. PHOTO: STAR