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New
Delhi based Peace Campaign Group (PCG) has in a letter to the
Chief Advisor to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh Dr.
Fakhruddin Ahmed expressed deep concern over gross human rights
violations by the “joint forces” against indigenous
political and student leaders in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
under the state of emergency.
PCG feels that human rights must be respected in all
circumstances -- no matter whatever situation arises in a
country. The state of emergency has been imposed in
Bangladesh
in the mid-January 2007 under Article 141A (1), (2), (3), 141B,
141C (1), (2) and (3) of the Constitution.
The “joint forces” consisting of military, Rapid Action
Battalion (RAB), Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), police and
intelligence servicemen have been given special power to control
“corruption” and “crimes” in the country.
Several top level political leaders including former ministers
allegedly involved in “corruption” and “crimes” have
been arrested and put into the bar. Dozen of deaths under RAB
custody have been reported.
The Jumma indigenous people resisting Bengali (Muslim)
domination in their traditional homeland, the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, and demanding autonomy for protection of their
distinct identity and culture since 1972 have been the worst
victim of the heat. The “joint forces” are using the state
of emergency as a political tool to suppress their democratic
voice for proper implementation of the CHT Accord, a
prerequisite for democracy, peace and development in the region.
The Accord signed between the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati
Samiti (PCJSS), the political organization representing the
indigenous people, and the Awami League Government of Bangladesh
on
December 2, 1997
provides limited autonomy to the indigenous people and
addresses, among others, the demilitarization of the Chittagong
Hill Tracts.
Indigenous political leaders are being specially targeted. They
are being arrested, tortured and jailed indiscriminately. They
are now even afraid of talking openly to international human
rights groups and media about the situation for the fear of
being exposed and punished. They have no freedom of association
and speech. They cannot freely move from one place to another
place. There are military check posts everywhere in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts. Telecommunications system has been under
the control of the military. Mobile phone services have been
banned. Internet services are being monitored and checked.
Indigenous organizations cannot freely communicate with
international human rights groups and media on the situation
through e-mails. Common people are living in great fear and
insecurity.
Dozen of indigenous political and student leaders including the
General Secretary of PCJSS Mr. Satyabir Dewan have been under
the detention of the “joint forces”. Mr Dewan was arrested
on February 18 on the ground of keeping “illegal arms” with
him. A source unwilling to be identified for security reasons
said that the military deliberately kept arms in his house at
Rangamati town and made it a pretext to arrest him. It is
reminiscent of a usual practice resorted to by Bangladeshi
military during the active phase of the conflict to suppress
indigenous political movement.
In a press release issued on 21 February, many intellectuals
like Dhaka University Associate Professor Mezbha Kamal,
Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb
Drong and Director of Ain O Salish Kendra (Law and Justice
Centre) Mohammad Noor Khan stated that Mr. Dewan was
“innocent” and he could not be arrested under any provisions
of the emergency law. Mr. Dewan is an “ideal and clean
political leader” and no cases are pending against him in
court, the statement added. They demanded his immediate and
unconditional release. He was sent to police custody on 20
February.
Some of the other innocent indigenous political and student
leaders arrested are:
1) Mr. Bimal Kanti Chakma, Central Member of PCJSS from
Jurachari on 18 February
2) Mr. Ranjit Kumar Dewan, President of Jurachari branch of
PCJSS from Juranchari on
18 February
3) Mr. Udayjoy Chakma, General Secretary of Jurachari branch of
PCJSS from Jurachari
on 18 February
4) Mr. Mayachan Chakma, Organising Secretary of Jurachari branch
of PCJSS from
Jurachari on 18 February
5) Mr. Railai Mro, Chairman of Sualok mouza and Headman of
Sualok mouza from
Badanban on 23 February
6) Mr. Bikram Marma, President of Kaptai branch of PCJSS from
Kaptai on 4 February
7) Mr. Saimong Marma, Organising Secretary of Kaptai branch of
PCJSS on 11 February
8) Mr. Sumit Chakma, Assistance General Secretary of Rangamati
district branch of Hill
Students Council from
Dhaka
on 6 February
PCG urged the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh to ensure
unconditional and immediate release of the indigenous political
and student leaders arrested and restoration of people’s
fundamental rights and freedoms and protection of human rights
in the country including in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
PCG also urged the Government to hold general elections as early
as possible for restoration of democracy in the country and
proper and early implementation of the CHT Accord.
March 2007 |
