The Daily Star, Vol. 5 Num 125
Mon. September 27, 2004
Our Correspondent, Rangamati
Singya Chakma, 34, reunited with his family at the Ghagra Community
Centre on Wednesday, narrated a horrifying tale while in UPDF captivity.
He was abducted by armed UPDF activists as he refused to pay the toll
demanded by them.
He was released on payment of Tk 15,000 and pledge to pay more Tk
35,000.
Singya Chakma suffering from acute pain from beating during nine days'
captivity.
"About 100 to 150 armed men cordoned me in the Jhum field at around 3:30
pm and fired blank shots. I tried to run away but they caught me",
Singya Chakma told this correspondent.
"They kicked me, tied my hands and abducted me blindfolded".
He said the abductors beat him during captivity as he did not pay them
Tk 50000 demanded earlier.
"At last I sold my two cattle for Tk 15, 000 and paid them. They release
me on a pledge that I would pay more Tk 35,000.
"But I do not know how I will pay them the amount", a terrified Singya
said.
He survives by selling firewood and bamboo collected from forest and
working on the Jhum land near his house.
"Most people in Dolupara and nearby villagers in Kawkhali upazila face
being kidnapped or killed for non-payment of toll demanded by UPDF men",
Singya Chakma said.
The area is a stronghold of UPDF for long, he said.
Former member of Fatikchhari Union Parishad in Kawkhali upazila Bono
Kumar Chakma said, "The (toll) amount doubles if the deadline expires
"If refused, they (gunrunners) take away the targeted man at gunpoint,
storm his house and later kill him to create fear among others", he
said.
The gunrunners demanded Tk three lakh from 80 families in Dolupara, Tk
one lakh from Bono Kumar Chakma and Tk two lakh from Buddhamoni Karbary
(village leader), the former UP member said.
The gunmen also threatened Buddhamoni that his son Sushil Chakma would
be kidnapped even after toll payment.
"They threatened that I have to hand over my son to them (gunmen) even
after payment of the amount they demands", sideway standing Buddhamoni
said with a vacant look.
"As a father can I do so?" Buddha said.
_____
150 more flee to Ghagra: No let up in UPDF terror
Monirul Alam, back from Ghagra (Kawkhali)
Rangamati: More 150 indigenous people, terrorised by UPDF, fled homes in
Kawkhali hill villages and have taken shelter at the Ghagra community
centre.
The number of people at the centre rose to 450 on Saturday.
Fleeing homes, most of them kept hiding in deep forests for days and
then reached the community centre, Bono Kumar Chakma, former member of
Fatikchhari Union Parishad in Kawkhali told this correspondent during a
visit to the community centre on Saturday.
They include families of Shanti Jibon Chakma, Sattya Kumar Chakma, Kobi
Dhan Chakma, Singya Chakma and Kolpan Chakma of Panchhari and Dolupara
villages in Ghagra union.
Most of the sheltered people are women and children, now facing crisis
of food, medicine and other essentials.
Several hundred others who fled homes have taken shelter at relatives'
houses in Ghagra and Rangamati town and many others are still hiding in
dense forests, the victims said. Many indigenous young men have also
moved to Chittagong in search of work, they said.
The UPDF (United Peoples Democratic Front) who oppose the CHT peace
agreement signed in 1997 during the rule of Awami League have created a
reign of terror in the remote Kawkhali hills, known as Kalapahar. But
the administration has taken no meaningful steps to contain them, they
alleged.
They collect toll at random and abduct people for defiance, the victims
said.
About 300 people of seven indigenous villages took refuge at the
community centre about two week ago.
The indigenous people are leading a sub-human life at the centre. The
administration gives one kilogram of rice and a small quantity of edible
oil only to each family daily, which is too meager, they said. A doctor
has been engaged there but there is lack of medicine.
Deputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Moniswapon
Dewan visited the centre on Tuesday and promised Tk 1000 grant for each
family.
But the pledged money did not reach them till Saturday, the victims
said.
"It will take time (to reach the money) because there are some official
formalities", an official in the district administration said.
<http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/09/27/d40927070176p.htm>
Singya Chakma reunited with his family at Ghagra Community Centre.
PHOTO: STAR