Withdraw military from CHT zone, form judicial probe body, punish the culprits
by Anisur Rahman
Since the formation of the Awami League led grand alliance government in January 2009, for past one year, the ethnic minority community people of Bangladesh have been free from tension as it is expected Chittagong Hill Tracts--CHT Peace deal to be implemented fully and no violence will take place over them. They do not know this relief is not freedom at all for them as they have shrugged off the terror of living their lives in the gun-sights of heavily armed soldiers, in the densely militarised zone in the south east hilly part of Bangladesh.
After long years of military occupation has contradicted to democracy and freedom in their land. Observing the beginning of military withdrawal last year, it was expected, it was then faced with peaceful process to ensure a violence free own way of free living in free zone but not the kind it knew how to see. Soon time witnessed tragic plots over the life of indigenous people in CHT.
This one is nourished by indigenous people's memory of years of repression in which many have been killed, many have been ‘disappeared’, many tortured, injured, and humiliated by military as well as settlers. Settlers in ethnic minority community regions seem to us as if they were colonial powers in their dynamism. For the greater protection of the culture and lives of ethnic minorities, separate land commission was much expected that would prohibit the mainstream Bengali settlers wiling to settle in ethnic zones. It did not happen. Rather, militarisation happened in ethnic zones as well as in civil administration.
It is condemned! It is unaccepted! It is unexpected! But, it is the outcome of real frustration under the cover of democracy. Ethnic minority community people are alien citizens in their own land. State behaves enemy with them. Military is occupation forces to them. Civil administration carries the legacy of Robert Clive spirit. Military epitomizes the Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad forces.
Quoting from the link: http://www.bodytree.org/articles1.html it can be said as in 1971, after the Bangladesh Liberation War resulted in Bangladesh's independence, the they hoped for political recognition and some form of autonomy within the state of Bangladesh.
During the 1970s and 80s, the government brought 400,000 Muslim Bengali settlers & on the plains into CHT an area with little cultivatable land remaining after the construction of the Kaptai Dam alongside major military stationing over there. This military occupation has obstructed political and economic development and resulted in gross human rights abuses. Many indigenous people had refuge in India.
It is reported as the 1997 Peace Accord between the Bangladeshi government and CHT tribal leaders promised tba.1 refugees could return to their original land in Bangladesh. However, very few of the agreements that were set down in the Peace Accord have been kept. Only a small number of refugee families were able to move back onto their land, since in many cases it was now inhabited by Bengali settlers from the plains.
Not surprisingly, the voice that the government of Bangladesh has tried so silence in CHT region has massed into a deafening roar and military as well as settlers violence over their lives, their homes on February 20, 2010. The following day February 21, 2010, the government would vow to protect and help survival of the ethnic minority languages and cultures! What a farce it is! Military will fire on them, get their houses burns, they will kill them. On the other hand, so bogus commitment from the administration!
At least two indigenous persons were claimed by the authorities to have been killed as the military opened fire on agitated indigenous people feuding with settlers in remote Gangaram Mukh area of Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati district on February 20, 2010. Indigenous people claimed the number of killed to be at least six.
The settlers had allegedly set fire to 40 houses of indigenous families on February 19 night. They burnt 160 more houses in 11 villages on February 20 morning in the presence of the army. They also burnt down a church and a Buddhist temple, alleged members of the indigenous community.
Does it mean during the long hours there was a functional democratic administration in Bangladesh? It is due for military as they will save the lives of minorities and their properties. On the contrary to it, military victimized the endangered communities! What a disgrace it is! Does it mean democracy? Does it indicate the functionality of parliament? It means still cantonment is more powerful than parliament. It means regress is dominating progress in the name of democracy.
It must be investigated and made accountable who command military to fire on the ethnic minority people and their homes. Judicial Probe Committee is a must! Full withdrawal of military, separate land commission, withdrawal of settlers and prohibited the Bengalis in other regions. Militarisation under the guardianship of an elected parliament must not be allowed. It is not democracy.
The unimaginable sums of public money that are needed to keep the military occupation of CHT region is money that ought by right to be spent on schools and hospitals and food for an impoverished, malnutritioned population in CHT region.
What kind of government can possibly allow that it has the right to military can fire on the ethnic minority communities? This question can carry a message to the existing elements in the Bangladesh administration today.
The Bangladesh military occupation of CHT regions makes monsters of us all. It allows Muslim Bengali chauvinists to target and victimise ethnic people in Chittagong by holding them hostage to the freedom struggle being waged by indeginous people in that zone.
Bangladesh needs autonomous from CHT zone just as much as - if not more than – CHT zone needs autonomy from Bangladesh. It can easily be possible through the full implementation of 1997 CHT Peace Deal. #
Photo caption: Massacre on houses belonging to ethnic minority people in CHT on February 20, 2010
Photo source: http://www.samakal.com.bd/admin/news_images/256/image_256_48434.jpg
External link: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=127234
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