The Daily Star, Vol. 5 Num 73
Sun. August 08, 2004
Staff Correspondent
Indigenous people continue to face various forms of repression by the
majority Bangla-speaking people with direct or indirect support of the
government, said Joytirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Shantu Larma,
president of Bangladesh Indigenous People's Forum, yesterday.
The Bengali settlers have been grabbing the lands of ethnic people, but
the government is not taking any action against the persons responsible,
he said at a press conference.
Land and forest are the lifeline of indigenous people; to them losing
the land means losing everything, he added.
The ethnic people are also deprived of their rights as they do not have
constitutional recognition, he regretted.
Larma, also the chairman of the CHT Regional Council, alleged that the
government was also violating the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace treaty.
He said the forum has taken up elaborate programmes to mark the
International day of the World's Indigenous people on Monday. This year
the theme of the day is 'Our land our life'.
The Forum placed a nine-point demand to ensure human rights of the
ethnic population.
The demands include constitutional recognition of the indigenous people,
ensure their rights to land and forest, withdrawal of army camps,
immediate implementation of the CHT peace treaty, cancellation of
eco-park project in Modhupur forest and an end to repression.
It also demanded steps to ensure primary education in the mother
language of the indigenous people and their involvement in development
activities.
Sanjeeb Drong, secretary general of the Forum, Rupayan Dewan,
vice-president of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS),
Shaktipada Tripura, president of Khagrachhari Head Men Association, and
Chaitali Tripura, president of the Hill Women Federation, were present
at the press conference.
<http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/08/08/d40808060158p.htm>
Picture
Shantu Larma speaks at a press conference at the National Press Club
yesterday. PHOTO: STAR