http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/02/14/d40214070355.htm
The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 255
Sat. February 14, 2004
Our Correspondent, Rangamati
Clashes between supporters of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace
agreement backed by PCJSS and opponents led by UPDF left 6 people killed
and 20 abducted since the beginning of the year, according to police and
army sources.
Five of the abducted people were released on ransom payment and the rest
are yet to be traced.
The clashes centred establishment of supremacy in respective areas of
PCJSS (Parbattya Chattagram Jono Sanghaty Samity) and UPDF (United
Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF).
Both are organisations of tribesmen. PCJSS signed the peace deal with
the then Awami League government in 1997, ending decades of insurgency
in the hills. UPDF, formed in December 1998, is opposing the deal and
demanding full autonomy in the CHT.
Their rivalry is spreading in the entire hilly region with inaccessible
forest areas bordering India and armed clashes between them are frequent
now.
The deterioration in law and order drastically reduced flow of tourists
in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari hill districts.
The February 2 abduction for ransom of a manager of a Bandarban hotel
frequented by foreigners raised an alarm in the government, prompting
steps to beef up security for foreigners.
Acting on an order from higher authorities, the Rangamati Deputy
Commissioner on Wednesday held a meting with senior officials from all
the 10 upazilas and issued directives to take steps "whatever necessary"
to ensure security of foreigners.
On January 3, an armed indigenous gang abduct a businessman-- Bancharam
Borua, 50 --- from Kotchukhali in Rangamati. He was released on payment
of Tk 50,000 ransom.
Fide days latter, a pro-PCJSS gang attack a UPDF stronghold at Shapmara
village, gunned down three people, abducted 10 others and torched four
houses. Four of them were released later and the fate of the rest is
still unknown.
On January 25, a shootout between supporters of UPDF and PCJSS left one
person dead and three bullet-hit.
On Monday last, PCJSS activists abducted seven supporters of UPDF from a
wedding party in Shabekhyong in Rangamati.
On January 3, police recovered the body of an indigenous young man,
allegedly killed after abduction, from Shilchhori in Borkol upazila.