'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
"Book Review"
Tuesday October 02 2007 14:19:57 PM BDT
A K Zaman
Mohammad Zainal Abedin in his informative and research-based book has reflected the problem of insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT s) of Bangladesh from multi-dimensional points of view. A number of books on CHTs issue are available in the realm of publication, but this book makes a distinctive and analytical approach to rethink about the long-term desire and interest of some vested quarters at home and abroad.
The writer has highlighted all the issues relating to CHTs, its geo-political importance and economic potentials in this region, the origin of migrated tribals who settled in CHT s. The premise narrated in the book is:
*. CHT s is a part and parcel of Bangladesh from time immemorial and the tribal people who have settled there are migrants from adjoining areas of Myanmar and India.
* The Bengalis have been the original inhabitants in CHT s even before British rule in this region.
* India plotted conspiracy to destabilize and hinder economic growth of Bangladesh by floating a proxy guerrilla war in CHTs instigati ng the tribal secessionists.
* Only a section of Chakma tribals is involved with the ins urgency and majority of tribals are again st these secessionists .
* During Pakistani rule the tribal community never claim ed regional autonomy of CHTs.
* The peace treaty is suicidal and detrimental to t he interest of the country.
* The withdrawal of army from CHTs area will only strengthen the secessionists.
The writer has elaborately ventilated root causes of the crisis of CHT s, but he exerted little on the measures to resolve the problem. However, this book is undoubtedly a research document which contains valuable information on CHTs. It may be mentioned that even the educated section of our country is quite ignorant of prolonged crisis of CHT s and sinister design of India behind it. This book will be a great help to create awareness of the people in home and abroad about the deep conspiracy of India and its stooges against Bangladesh .
The writer has categorically illustrated that the tribals of different communities living in CHTs area are neither original dwellers nor aborigines as they try to claim. From historical and anthropological perspective he proved that they migrated from adjoining areas of China, Myanmar and India, particularly from her North-Eastern region. Their physical stature, dialect, life-style and cultural identity indicate that they are outsiders who settled in CHT s. History also reflects that the Chakma headmen were under the control of the Muslim rulers.
But the tribals particularly the Chakmas intentionally try to misinterpret the concept 'aborigines' to draw sympathetic attention from native and overseas communities to achieve their ill interest. It may be mentioned here that a section of electronic and print media, intellectuals, journalists and politicians also echo the same sentiment and express solidarity with the tribal leaders to gain their narrow political advantage.
The writer has rightly pointed out the common interest and malicious anti-army propaganda made by Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and India. Both the parties are also in favour of total implementation of so-called peace accord.
They demand of withdrawal of army from CHT region will ensure their hidden agenda. Besides, Indian newsmen, media and intellectuals also share identical views in this regard. But it is very mysterious that India herself has not yet signed similar agreements with the insurgent groups of North-East region or Kashmir. India is unabatedly committing large-scale atrocities and violence and enacted various draconian laws like TADA, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, POTA etc to validate their heinous activities in insurgency-ridden areas for a long time. Besides, India has not withdrawn its troops and other security agencies from these troubled areas. But India prescribes totally opposite formula for Bangladesh.
The writer has indicated that Indian North-East region bordering CHT s is geo-politically and strategically very important and volatile. Besides, this region is also rich in natural and mineral resources. In fact, CHT s is also considered as sensitive and strategically significant from Indian defence and security point of view. The writer truly reflected the intervention and involvement of India in order to destabilize the region and to control the insurgency in one hand and to get direct access to North-East region. On the other hand this will also enable her to contain China.
The writer has pin-pointed that India uses the Chakma insurgents to keep constant pressure on Bangladesh and weaken it slowly. He has precisely asserted that by doing so India will be able to intrude its own citizens through 'push-in' in CHT s from its North-East region. The writer has cautioned about the pernicious tendency of India. He showed arguments that where India herself has been ruthlessly suppressing and torturing the innocent tribal people of North-East and Kashmir with a view to occupying their lands. The writer has also proved that the implicit presence of India trained insurgents in CHTs will simultaneously jeopardize the interest of the Bengalis as well as the tribals of CHT. Thus India will be able to project Bangladesh as a violator of human rights and international pressure will increase which will help India to dominate over Bangladesh.
The writer in his book projected India's presence of army in different insurgency-prone areas where human rights violation is rampant and atrocities committed by India go beyond description. India makes tall talks and shed crocodiles' tears about human rights, democracy of other countries but such norms are not followed by herself. It may be mentioned that military crackdown on unarmed minority and civilians in North-East India and Kashmir is not properly reflected in Indian media.
The writer has also clearly reflected the impracticability, non-transparency, and duplicity of various clauses of the peace treaty which needs to be reviewed and amended for greater national interest. Some clauses incorporated in the treaties are directly against the majority people of the land and contradicts the basic premise of the constitution.
******************************************************************* 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention' By Mohammad Zainal Abedin Eastern Publications
Discussion subject changed to "Bangladesh Colonialists Grabbing Land Of Chittagong Hill Tracts' Indegenous People ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'" by nkdatta2...@bigmailbox.net
Subject: Bangladesh Colonialists Grabbing Land Of Chittagong Hill Tracts' Indegenous People ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
Bangladesh Observer, Dhaka, Bangladesh Tuesday, September 9, 2003
EDITORIAL The Restless Hills
The hill districts of south-eastern Bangladesh is restless again. A military order was slamped in the area, apparently to improve the situation. But it seems to have backfired. It was withdrawn a few days later amidst severe criticism from the tribal leaders.
What prompted the government to impose a virtual military rule in the area? Apparently, a book by the 'King' of the Chakmas' Raja Tridib Roy published recently had prompted the government to take stern measures in the region. The King, who is now in Pakistan and has been a resident of that country since Bangladesh's independence in 1971. He has also served that country loyally since 1971. His current book, reportedly, challenges the integration of what was the Chittagong Hill Tracts into Bangladesh.
No doubt the Raja's remark disturbs many in Bangladesh, particularly as his son Debashish Roy has become the unofficial spokesman for the Chakmas. Debashish should make his position clear regarding his father's book otherwise there will be many who will think that he tends to agree with it.
The government should also refrain from making sweeping generalisations. Although it is true that the Chakma king had joined the Pakistanis there were many of his tribe who joined the Liberation War. The Chakma freedom fighters ought to have as much voice in Bangladesh as Tridib Roy has in Pakistan. The wholesale branding of an ethnic group as anti-national will only help the cause of people like Tridib Roy.
Ethnic discontent has been a feature of South Asian politics for quite sometime. The eastern part of the sub-continent has been more prone to it. Neighboring India has had to face many ethnic insurgencies some dating back to the days of the partition and independence of the sub-continent from Britain in 1947. Some of these disputes have been settled, while others fester. The most successful resolution has been that of Darjeeling, where Gurkhas, themselves immigrants from Nepal, were demanding a separate state. A regional council with adequate powers was organised that defused the tension.
Bangladesh, too, had signed a peace accord with its tribal insurgents but apparently it is not working. This is unfortunate. Governments must understand that keeping a people in tow, by force, is not a desirable thing. At the least, it is an expensive exercise. For a poor, land-starved country like Bangladesh, one can easily imagine the disillusionment of its minorities, particularly those who have a geographically defined territory.
In a sense the problems of the Hill districts is a common third world problem. Minorities failing to identify with the post-colonial state. Many of the countries of East Asia like Malaysia and to a lesser extent Myanmar have solved this problem by providing economic largesse. For Bangladesh that seems a difficult proposition. The only way Bangladesh can solve this problem is by taking the pro-Bangladesh elements into confidence.
One has to remember that country's like China have allowed Specialized Economic Zones (SEZs) that are totally free not only to run their local affairs but also to conduct foreign trade. This has not had a negative impact on Chinese integrity but has contributed positively to nation-building. Policy-makers in Bangladesh should remember the experience of handling such ethnic issues throughout Asia to find a solution that works. Otherwise, the Hill districts will remain no-man's-land for a long time to come.
This week's program presented a rare interview with Raja Tridib Roy, the King of Chakma people living in the district of Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. Speaking to Bangla Radio while visiting Australia recently, Raja Tridib Roy gave a detailed description of the Chakma people - their origin, issues and solutions to their discontent. This informative discussion also covered history, politics and people from British rule to Bangladesh's Independence and how these shaped the life and culture of Chakma people today. The interview - a treasure for Bangla Radio - will be continued in next week's program. The two beautiful Chakma songs played in the program was sung by Alpana Chakma. This week's program was produced and presented by Sadequr Rahman.
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Withdraw Bangalees from hill districts - PCJSS memo to PM
The Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghity Samity (PCJSS) submitted a memorandum to the prime minister to press their three-point demand including 'withdrawal of Bangalee outsiders from lands of indigenous people.
The two other demands are an end to 'harassment and filing of cases' against indigenous people and steps to activate the land commission as early as possible.
The memorandum was handed over to Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir.
It contained signatures of at least 413 indigenous leaders, headman and local elite.
The memorandum alleged that existence of indigenous communities are threatened as Bangalees have grabbed their lands in different areas of the district. It also specified the areas.
"We submitted the memorandum to the prime minister to protect indigenous communities", said PCJSS Information and Publisher Secretary Buddah Kingkor Chakma.
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Sunday, August 27, 2006
Hill students demand end to land grabbing Staff Correspondent
Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council yesterday demanded an immediate end to grabbing of lands of indigenous people, shifting of settlers to plain lands and withdrawal of army camps from the CHT.
The ethnic people are living in fear as the government is patronising the settlers who are out to grab thousands of acres of lands, they said at a rally on Dhaka University campus, marking the 'Mahalchhari Devastation Day'.
On August 26 in 2003, the settlers killed two indigenous people, raped ten women and burned four hundred houses in Mahalchhari, the speakers said, adding that the settlers again launched a raid on Maischhari on April 3 in 2006 to grab more lands.
Whenever the victims try to raise voice against such repression, they face torture by law enforcers, said the student leaders.
Later, they took out a protest procession that paraded through the campus.
> 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
> "Book Review"
> Tuesday October 02 2007 14:19:57 PM BDT
> A K Zaman
> Mohammad Zainal Abedin in his informative and research-based book has > reflected the problem of insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT s) of > Bangladesh from multi-dimensional points of view. A number of books on CHTs > issue are available in the realm of publication, but this book makes a > distinctive and analytical approach to rethink about the long-term desire > and interest of some vested quarters at home and abroad.
> The writer has highlighted all the issues relating to CHTs, its > geo-political importance and economic potentials in this region, the origin > of migrated tribals who settled in CHT s. The premise narrated in the book > is:
> *. CHT s is a part and parcel of Bangladesh from time immemorial and the > tribal people who have settled there are migrants from adjoining areas of > Myanmar and India.
> * The Bengalis have been the original inhabitants in CHT s even before > British rule in this region.
> * India plotted conspiracy to destabilize and hinder economic growth of > Bangladesh by floating a proxy guerrilla war in CHTs instigati ng the tribal > secessionists.
> * Only a section of Chakma tribals is involved with the ins urgency and > majority of tribals are again st these secessionists .
> * During Pakistani rule the tribal community never claim ed regional > autonomy of CHTs.
> * The peace treaty is suicidal and detrimental to t he interest of the > country.
> * The withdrawal of army from CHTs area will only strengthen the > secessionists.
> The writer has elaborately ventilated root causes of the crisis of CHT s, > but he exerted little on the measures to resolve the problem. However, this > book is undoubtedly a research document which contains valuable information > on CHTs. It may be mentioned that even the educated section of our country > is quite ignorant of prolonged crisis of CHT s and sinister design of India > behind it. This book will be a great help to create awareness of the people > in home and abroad about the deep conspiracy of India and its stooges > against Bangladesh .
> The writer has categorically illustrated that the tribals of different > communities living in CHTs area are neither original dwellers nor aborigines > as they try to claim. From historical and anthropological perspective he > proved that they migrated from adjoining areas of China, Myanmar and India, > particularly from her North-Eastern region. Their physical stature, dialect, > life-style and cultural identity indicate that they are outsiders who > settled in CHT s. History also reflects that the Chakma headmen were under > the control of the Muslim rulers.
> But the tribals particularly the Chakmas intentionally try to misinterpret > the concept 'aborigines' to draw sympathetic attention from native and > overseas communities to achieve their ill interest. It may be mentioned here > that a section of electronic and print media, intellectuals, journalists and > politicians also echo the same sentiment and express solidarity with the > tribal leaders to gain their narrow political advantage.
> The writer has rightly pointed out the common interest and malicious > anti-army propaganda made by Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and India. Both the > parties are also in favour of total implementation of so-called peace > accord.
> They demand of withdrawal of army from CHT region will ensure their hidden > agenda. Besides, Indian newsmen, media and intellectuals also share > identical views in this regard. But it is very mysterious that India herself > has not yet signed similar agreements with the insurgent groups of > North-East region or Kashmir. India is unabatedly committing large-scale > atrocities and violence and enacted various draconian laws like TADA, Armed > Forces Special Powers Act, POTA etc to validate their heinous activities in > insurgency-ridden areas for a long time. Besides, India has not withdrawn > its troops and other security agencies from these troubled areas. But India > prescribes totally opposite formula for Bangladesh.
> The writer has indicated that Indian North-East region bordering CHT s is > geo-politically and strategically very important and volatile. Besides, this > region is also rich in natural and mineral resources. In fact, CHT s is also > considered as sensitive and strategically significant from Indian defence > and security point of view. The writer truly reflected the intervention and > involvement of India in order to destabilize the region and to control the > insurgency in one hand and to get direct access to North-East region. On the > other hand this will also enable her to contain China.
> The writer has pin-pointed that India uses the Chakma insurgents to keep > constant pressure on Bangladesh and weaken it slowly. He has precisely > asserted that by doing so India will be able to intrude its own citizens > through 'push-in' in CHT s from its North-East region. The writer has > cautioned about the pernicious tendency of India. He showed arguments that > where India herself has been ruthlessly suppressing and torturing the > innocent tribal people of North-East and Kashmir with a view to occupying > their lands. The writer has also proved that the implicit presence of India > trained insurgents in CHTs will simultaneously jeopardize the interest of > the Bengalis as well as the tribals of CHT. Thus India will be able to > project Bangladesh as a violator of human rights and international pressure > will increase which will help India to dominate over Bangladesh.
> The writer in his book projected India's presence of army in different > insurgency-prone areas where human rights violation is rampant and > atrocities committed by India go beyond description. India makes tall talks > and shed crocodiles' tears about human rights, democracy of other countries > but such norms are not followed by herself. It may be mentioned that > military crackdown on unarmed minority and civilians in North-East India and > Kashmir is not properly reflected in Indian media.
> The writer has also clearly reflected the impracticability, > non-transparency, and duplicity of various clauses of the peace treaty which > needs to be reviewed and amended for greater national interest. Some clauses > incorporated in the treaties are directly against the majority people of the > land and contradicts the basic premise of the constitution.
> ******************************************************************* > 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention' > By Mohammad Zainal Abedin > Eastern Publications
Discussion subject changed to "Amnesty International Calls or Justice In Chittagong Hill Tracts Against Bangladeshi Oppressors ..... ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'" by nkdatta8...@my-deja.com
Subject: Amnesty International Calls or Justice In Chittagong Hill Tracts Against Bangladeshi Oppressors ..... ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
Bangladesh Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Call for Justice
Introduction
More than six years after the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, the tribal inhabitants of the area continue to live in fear of attacks from Bengali settlers often carried out with the apparent connivance of army personnel. This paper highlights one of these attacks which took place in August 2003 in the Mahalchari area of the Khagrachari District. According to testimonies given to Amnesty International by eyewitnesses, nine women were sexually assaulted, one of whom was subjected to gang rape; a man was killed in front of his family, a nine month old baby was strangled to death and several people sustained serious injuries; hundreds of houses were burnt down and dozens were looted.
According to witnesses, police initially refused to accept complaints from the tribal people but filed complaints on behalf of the Bengali settlers against thousands of tribal inhabitants of the area, highlighting long standing discriminatory practices in the administration of justice.
The Government of Bangladesh must take urgent and decisive measures to provide justice to the victims and survivors of the Mahalchari attack, and to ensure the protection of the tribal inhabitants of the Chittagong Hill Tracts against future attacks.
Background
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a hilly, forested area in southeastern Bangladesh which for many hundreds of years has been home to people from 13 indigenous tribes. These tribal people differ significantly from the rest of the population of Bangladesh in terms of their appearance, language, religion and social organisation.
Pressure for land to cultivate and encouragement from successive governments have led to the migration of large numbers of non-tribal Bengali people to the CHT. Tribal people have viewed the movement of Bengali settlers to the CHT as a threat to their way of life and their customs and traditions.
Armed rebellion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts began in mid-1970s. A peace accord signed in 1997 ended the armed conflict, but human rights violations against the tribal people which began during the armed conflict have continued on a smaller scale.
In Amnesty International's view, the failure of the peace accord to make binding provisions to ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses would be brought to justice, has reinforced the climate of impunity within which attacks by Bengali settlers against tribal people with reported army connivance continue to occur.
For more information, please see Amnesty International Bangladesh: Human Rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (AI Index: ASA 13/001/2000) available at www.amnesty.org/library
A Chronology of the incident at Mahalchari
On 24 August 2003, Rupan Mahajan, a Bengali Hindu businessman living in the area was allegedly kidnapped by individuals believed to be tribal inhabitants of the CHT. The identity or background of the group or exact circumstances of his kidnapping are not known to Amnesty International.
On 25 August 2003, a large group of Bengali people reportedly held a gathering in the area and issued an ultimatum that they would take retaliatory action against the tribal people if the businessman was not returned. The tribal people reportedly offered to conduct a search to find the businessman's whereabouts. A search for this purpose was reportedly conducted on the same day by a tribal leader, but his search party was unable to locate the kidnapped businessman. Meanwhile, the Bengali settlers had reportedly begun a public agitation against the tribal inhabitants. They called for a general strike the next day.
On 26 August 2003, at about 9am, Bengali settlers reportedly went to the Mahalchari Bazaar and demanded the closure of all shops in observance of the strike. Some of the tribal people refused to abide by these demands and several of them chased the settlers off.
Shortly after that, a group of Bengali settlers returned in the company of men in plain clothes, known to the tribal people as soldiers. The settlers again demanded that the tribals close their shops. They went to a tea stall which was still open and asked its owner, Binud Bihari Khisha, to close it. He refused and was attacked. This attack reportedly happened in the presence of the soldiers. According to witnesses, he appealed to the soldiers for help, but they did not intervene. In a desperate attempt to rescue him, his son ran to his father but could not reach him as he was himself attacked with a sharp knife known as a dao. The settlers continued to beat Binud Bihari Khisha who died as a result of the injuries he sustained.
The attackers set fire to the tea stall and the office of the Chairman of Mahalchari Sadar Union Parishad which was next to the tea stall. They then rampaged through village localities reportedly setting houses on fire, looting, killing and torturing tribal people on their way.
The village of Mahalchari Bazaar was looted and according to a survivor, some 70% of the houses there were burnt and six women were reportedly sexually assaulted; their clothes were ripped off their bodies and they were verbally abused, pushed and ill-treated.
A neighbouring village called Ramesu Karbari Para, was reportedly completely burnt.
In the village of Kerenganala similar lootings occurred and houses were burnt indiscriminately. Kala Sona Chakma, a forty-year-old woman, intervened to save her daughter and grandson who were being beaten by settlers. The woman took her grandson from her daughter and ran, allowing her daughter to also escape. Down the road she was reportedly surrounded by settlers among whom were some soldiers in civilian clothes. Her nine-month-old grandson, Kiriton, was taken from her arms and strangled to death. She was then gang raped by five settlers in the presence of soldiers. Her daughter hiding a few meters away reportedly saw both the killing of her son and the rape of her mother.
Amongst other villages that came under attack were: Basamtapura, Samilpura, Durparjyanala and Lemonchari.
In total, on that day it was reported that, one man was killed, one baby was strangled to death, one woman was raped, eight women were molested and many other tribal people were injured and humiliated; 312 houses are alleged to have been burnt; 68 houses to have been looted but not burnt and four temples to have been ransacked.
When the tribal people went to register cases against the Bengali settlers at the Mahalchari police station, police refused to register them. Ultimately, after the Khagrachari court gave a court order, police filed two cases against the Bengali settlers. The Officer in Charge of Mahalchari Thana himself filed a case on behalf of the settlers accusing some 4,000 tribal people of attacking the settlers.
A legacy of impunity
During the armed conflict that began in the mid-1970s, the tribal residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts were the targets of massacres, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial executions. The main perpetrators were law enforcement personnel and groups close to the army within the Bengali settlers' community. The armed opposition was also responsible for human rights abuses during this period. On occasions the government announced that criminal investigation had started against some security personnel but none is known to have resulted in conviction in a court of law. Consequently an environment of impunity has prevailed.
There have been several reports since the Mahalchari incident pointing to the continued connivance of army personnel with Bengali settlers in attacks against the tribal people. Amnesty International is currently investigating these reports. They include allegations of detention and torture of several tribal men at an army cantonment on 26 February 2004 after these tribal men had intervened to rescue two other tribal men who were being attacked by Bengali settlers in Ruma Thana area in Bandardan District.
These incidents illustrate continued human rights violations against tribal people and a prevailing climate of impunity after the end of the armed conflict and the signing of the peace accord in 1997.
The attack against the tribal inhabitants of Mahalchari in August 2003 is another example of the failure of consecutive governments over the years to ensure the protection and promotion of the human rights of the tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Amnesty International's Concerns and Recommendations
Amnesty International does not condone incidents of criminal activity such as the alleged kidnapping of Rupan Mahajan. It is the responsibility of the government to investigate such offences and take legal action against those responsible. It is, however, a matter of concern when authorities allow people to take the law into their own hands and subject individuals to acts of human rights abuse. In the case of the Mahalchari incident an entire locality became the target of retaliatory measures. The local administration not only failed to protect the tribal communities, but also there are serious allegations that soldiers in plain clothes were in fact involved in acts of looting and rape.
Amnesty International continues to be concerned about the climate of impunity surrounding human rights violations by security personnel in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Human rights violations are perpetuated by the lack of legal measures taken against those acting in an official capacity. As long as perpetrators are not brought to justice and do not face punishment for their actions, human rights violations are likely to continue.
> 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
> "Book Review"
> Tuesday October 02 2007 14:19:57 PM BDT
> A K Zaman
> Mohammad Zainal Abedin in his informative and research-based book has > reflected the problem of insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT s) of > Bangladesh from multi-dimensional points of view. A number of books on CHTs > issue are available in the realm of publication, but this book makes a > distinctive and analytical approach to rethink about the long-term desire > and interest of some vested quarters at home and abroad.
> The writer has highlighted all the issues relating to CHTs, its > geo-political importance and economic potentials in this region, the origin > of migrated tribals who settled in CHT s. The premise narrated in the book > is:
> *. CHT s is a part and parcel of Bangladesh from time immemorial and the > tribal people who have settled there are migrants from adjoining areas of > Myanmar and India.
> * The Bengalis have been the original inhabitants in CHT s even before > British rule in this region.
> * India plotted conspiracy to destabilize and hinder economic growth of > Bangladesh by floating a proxy guerrilla war in CHTs instigati ng the tribal > secessionists.
> * Only a section of Chakma tribals is involved with the ins urgency and > majority of tribals are again st these secessionists .
> * During Pakistani rule the tribal community never claim ed regional > autonomy of CHTs.
> * The peace treaty is suicidal and detrimental to t he interest of the > country.
> * The withdrawal of army from CHTs area will only strengthen the > secessionists.
> The writer has elaborately ventilated root causes of the crisis of CHT s, > but he exerted little on the measures to resolve the problem. However, this > book is undoubtedly a research document which contains valuable information > on CHTs. It may be mentioned that even the educated section of our country > is quite ignorant of prolonged crisis of CHT s and sinister design of India > behind it. This book will be a great help to create awareness of the people > in home and abroad about the deep conspiracy of India and its stooges > against Bangladesh .
> The writer has categorically illustrated that the tribals of different > communities living in CHTs area are neither original dwellers nor aborigines > as they try to claim. From historical and anthropological perspective he > proved that they migrated from adjoining areas of China, Myanmar and India, > particularly from her North-Eastern region. Their physical stature, dialect, > life-style and cultural identity indicate that they are outsiders who > settled in CHT s. History also reflects that the Chakma headmen were under > the control of the Muslim rulers.
> But the tribals particularly the Chakmas intentionally try to misinterpret > the concept 'aborigines' to draw sympathetic attention from native and > overseas communities to achieve their ill interest. It may be mentioned here > that a section of electronic and print media, intellectuals, journalists and > politicians also echo the same sentiment and express solidarity with the > tribal leaders to gain their narrow political advantage.
> The writer has rightly pointed out the common interest and malicious > anti-army propaganda made by Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and India. Both the > parties are also in favour of total implementation of so-called peace > accord.
> They demand of withdrawal of army from CHT region will ensure their hidden > agenda. Besides, Indian newsmen, media and intellectuals also share > identical views in this regard. But it is very mysterious that India herself > has not yet signed similar agreements with the insurgent groups of > North-East region or Kashmir. India is unabatedly committing large-scale > atrocities and violence and enacted various draconian laws like TADA, Armed > Forces Special Powers Act, POTA etc to validate their heinous activities in > insurgency-ridden areas for a long time. Besides, India has not withdrawn > its troops and other security agencies from these troubled areas. But India > prescribes totally opposite formula for Bangladesh.
> The writer has indicated that Indian North-East region bordering CHT s is > geo-politically and strategically very important and volatile. Besides, this > region is also rich in natural and mineral resources. In fact, CHT s is also > considered as sensitive and strategically significant from Indian defence > and security point of view. The writer truly reflected the intervention and > involvement of India in order to destabilize the region and to control the > insurgency in one hand and to get direct access to North-East region. On the > other hand this will also enable her to contain China.
> The writer has pin-pointed that India uses the Chakma insurgents to keep > constant pressure on Bangladesh and weaken it slowly. He has precisely > asserted that by doing so India will be able to intrude its own citizens > through 'push-in' in CHT s from its North-East region. The writer has > cautioned about the pernicious tendency of India. He showed arguments that > where India herself has been ruthlessly suppressing and torturing the > innocent tribal people of North-East and Kashmir with a view to occupying > their lands. The writer has also proved that the implicit presence of India > trained insurgents in CHTs will simultaneously jeopardize the interest of > the Bengalis as well as the tribals of CHT. Thus India will be able to > project Bangladesh as a violator of human rights and international pressure > will increase which will help India to dominate over Bangladesh.
> The writer in his book projected India's presence of army in different > insurgency-prone areas where human rights violation is rampant and > atrocities committed by India go beyond description. India makes tall talks > and shed crocodiles' tears about human rights, democracy of other countries > but such norms are not followed by herself. It may be mentioned that > military crackdown on unarmed minority and civilians in North-East India and > Kashmir is not properly reflected in Indian media.
> The writer has also clearly reflected the impracticability, > non-transparency, and duplicity of various clauses of the peace treaty which > needs to be reviewed and amended for greater national interest. Some clauses > incorporated in the treaties are directly against the majority people of the > land and contradicts the basic premise of the constitution.
> ******************************************************************* > 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention' > By Mohammad Zainal Abedin > Eastern Publications
Discussion subject changed to "Friendly Buddhist Chakmas Want Bangladesh Land Grabbers Out Of Chittagong Hill Tracts ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'" by nkdatta8...@my-deja.com
Subject: Friendly Buddhist Chakmas Want Bangladesh Land Grabbers Out Of Chittagong Hill Tracts ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Withdraw Bangalees from hill districts - PCJSS memo to PM
The Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghity Samity (PCJSS) submitted a memorandum to the prime minister to press their three-point demand including 'withdrawal of Bangalee outsiders from lands of indigenous people. The two other demands are an end to 'harassment and filing of cases' against indigenous people and steps to activate the land commission as early as possible.
The memorandum was handed over to Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir.
It contained signatures of at least 413 indigenous leaders, headman and local elite.
The memorandum alleged that existence of indigenous communities are threatened as Bangalees have grabbed their lands in different areas of the district. It also specified the areas.
"We submitted the memorandum to the prime minister to protect indigenous communities", said PCJSS Information and Publisher Secretary Buddah Kingkor Chakma.
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Sunday, August 27, 2006
Hill students demand end to land grabbing Staff Correspondent
Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council yesterday demanded an immediate end to grabbing of lands of indigenous people, shifting of settlers to plain lands and withdrawal of army camps from the CHT.
The ethnic people are living in fear as the government is patronising the settlers who are out to grab thousands of acres of lands, they said at a rally on Dhaka University campus, marking the 'Mahalchhari Devastation Day'.
On August 26 in 2003, the settlers killed two indigenous people, raped ten women and burned four hundred houses in Mahalchhari, the speakers said, adding that the settlers again launched a raid on Maischhari on April 3 in 2006 to grab more lands.
Whenever the victims try to raise voice against such repression, they face torture by law enforcers, said the student leaders.
Later, they took out a protest procession that paraded through the campus.
> 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
> "Book Review"
> Tuesday October 02 2007 14:19:57 PM BDT
> A K Zaman
> Mohammad Zainal Abedin in his informative and research-based book has > reflected the problem of insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT s) of > Bangladesh from multi-dimensional points of view. A number of books on CHTs > issue are available in the realm of publication, but this book makes a > distinctive and analytical approach to rethink about the long-term desire > and interest of some vested quarters at home and abroad.
> The writer has highlighted all the issues relating to CHTs, its > geo-political importance and economic potentials in this region, the origin > of migrated tribals who settled in CHT s. The premise narrated in the book > is:
> *. CHT s is a part and parcel of Bangladesh from time immemorial and the > tribal people who have settled there are migrants from adjoining areas of > Myanmar and India.
> * The Bengalis have been the original inhabitants in CHT s even before > British rule in this region.
> * India plotted conspiracy to destabilize and hinder economic growth of > Bangladesh by floating a proxy guerrilla war in CHTs instigati ng the tribal > secessionists.
> * Only a section of Chakma tribals is involved with the ins urgency and > majority of tribals are again st these secessionists .
> * During Pakistani rule the tribal community never claim ed regional > autonomy of CHTs.
> * The peace treaty is suicidal and detrimental to t he interest of the > country.
> * The withdrawal of army from CHTs area will only strengthen the > secessionists.
> The writer has elaborately ventilated root causes of the crisis of CHT s, > but he exerted little on the measures to resolve the problem. However, this > book is undoubtedly a research document which contains valuable information > on CHTs. It may be mentioned that even the educated section of our country > is quite ignorant of prolonged crisis of CHT s and sinister design of India > behind it. This book will be a great help to create awareness of the people > in home and abroad about the deep conspiracy of India and its stooges > against Bangladesh .
> The writer has categorically illustrated that the tribals of different > communities living in CHTs area are neither original dwellers nor aborigines > as they try to claim. From historical and anthropological perspective he > proved that they migrated from adjoining areas of China, Myanmar and India, > particularly from her North-Eastern region. Their physical stature, dialect, > life-style and cultural identity indicate that they are outsiders who > settled in CHT s. History also reflects that the Chakma headmen were under > the control of the Muslim rulers.
> But the tribals particularly the Chakmas intentionally try to misinterpret > the concept 'aborigines' to draw sympathetic attention from native and > overseas communities to achieve their ill interest. It may be mentioned here > that a section of electronic and print media, intellectuals, journalists and > politicians also echo the same sentiment and express solidarity with the > tribal leaders to gain their narrow political advantage.
> The writer has rightly pointed out the common interest and malicious > anti-army propaganda made by Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) and India. Both the > parties are also in favour of total implementation of so-called peace > accord.
> They demand of withdrawal of army from CHT region will ensure their hidden > agenda. Besides, Indian newsmen, media and intellectuals also share > identical views in this regard. But it is very mysterious that India herself > has not yet signed similar agreements with the insurgent groups of > North-East region or Kashmir. India is unabatedly committing large-scale > atrocities and violence and enacted various draconian laws like TADA, Armed > Forces Special Powers Act, POTA etc to validate their heinous activities in > insurgency-ridden areas for a long time. Besides, India has not withdrawn > its troops and other security agencies from these troubled areas. But India > prescribes totally opposite formula for Bangladesh.
> The writer has indicated that Indian North-East region bordering CHT s is > geo-politically and strategically very important and volatile. Besides, this > region is also rich in natural and mineral resources. In fact, CHT s is also > considered as sensitive and strategically significant from Indian defence > and security point of view. The writer truly reflected the intervention and > involvement of India in order to destabilize the region and to control the > insurgency in one hand and to get direct access to North-East region. On the > other hand this will also enable her to contain China.
> The writer has pin-pointed that India uses the Chakma insurgents to keep > constant pressure on Bangladesh and weaken it slowly. He has precisely > asserted that by doing so India will be able to intrude its own citizens > through 'push-in' in CHT s from its North-East region. The writer has > cautioned about the pernicious tendency of India. He showed arguments that > where India herself has been ruthlessly suppressing and torturing the > innocent tribal people of North-East and Kashmir with a view to occupying > their lands. The writer has also proved that the implicit presence of India > trained insurgents in CHTs will simultaneously jeopardize the interest of > the Bengalis as well as the tribals of CHT. Thus India will be able to > project Bangladesh as a violator of human rights and international pressure > will increase which will help India to dominate over Bangladesh.
> The writer in his book projected India's presence of army in different > insurgency-prone areas where human rights violation is rampant and > atrocities committed by India go beyond description. India makes tall talks > and shed crocodiles' tears about human rights, democracy of other countries > but such norms are not followed by herself. It may be mentioned that > military crackdown on unarmed minority and civilians in North-East India and > Kashmir is not properly reflected in Indian media.
> The writer has also clearly reflected the impracticability, > non-transparency, and duplicity of various clauses of the peace treaty which > needs to be reviewed and amended for greater national interest. Some clauses > incorporated in the treaties are directly against the majority people of the > land and contradicts the basic premise of the constitution.
> ******************************************************************* > 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention' > By Mohammad Zainal Abedin > Eastern Publications
Discussion subject changed to "Buddhist Chakmas Want Bangladeshi Land Grabbers Out Of CHT ..... ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'" by nkdatta2466@bigmailbox.ne t
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Withdraw Bangalees from hill districts - PCJSS memo to PM
The Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghity Samity (PCJSS) submitted a memorandum to the prime minister to press their three-point demand including 'withdrawal of Bangalee outsiders from lands of indigenous people. The two other demands are an end to 'harassment and filing of cases' against indigenous people and steps to activate the land commission as early as possible.
The memorandum was handed over to Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir.
It contained signatures of at least 413 indigenous leaders, headman and local elite.
The memorandum alleged that existence of indigenous communities are threatened as Bangalees have grabbed their lands in different areas of the district. It also specified the areas.
"We submitted the memorandum to the prime minister to protect indigenous communities", said PCJSS Information and Publisher Secretary Buddah Kingkor Chakma.
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Sunday, August 27, 2006
Hill students demand end to land grabbing Staff Correspondent
Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council yesterday demanded an immediate end to grabbing of lands of indigenous people, shifting of settlers to plain lands and withdrawal of army camps from the CHT.
The ethnic people are living in fear as the government is patronising the settlers who are out to grab thousands of acres of lands, they said at a rally on Dhaka University campus, marking the 'Mahalchhari Devastation Day'.
On August 26 in 2003, the settlers killed two indigenous people, raped ten women and burned four hundred houses in Mahalchhari, the speakers said, adding that the settlers again launched a raid on Maischhari on April 3 in 2006 to grab more lands.
Whenever the victims try to raise voice against such repression, they face torture by law enforcers, said the student leaders.
Later, they took out a protest procession that paraded through the campus.
Discussion subject changed to "Friendly Buddhist Chakmas Want Bangladesh Land Grabbers Out Of Chittagong Hill Tracts ..... Re: Amnesty International Calls or Justice In Chittagong Hill Tracts Against Bangladeshi Oppressors ..... ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'" by nkdatta2...@bigmailbox.net
Subject: Friendly Buddhist Chakmas Want Bangladesh Land Grabbers Out Of Chittagong Hill Tracts ..... Re: Amnesty International Calls or Justice In Chittagong Hill Tracts Against Bangladeshi Oppressors ..... ..... Re: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Withdraw Bangalees from hill districts - PCJSS memo to PM
The Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghity Samity (PCJSS) submitted a memorandum to the prime minister to press their three-point demand including 'withdrawal of Bangalee outsiders from lands of indigenous people. The two other demands are an end to 'harassment and filing of cases' against indigenous people and steps to activate the land commission as early as possible.
The memorandum was handed over to Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Humayun Kabir.
It contained signatures of at least 413 indigenous leaders, headman and local elite.
The memorandum alleged that existence of indigenous communities are threatened as Bangalees have grabbed their lands in different areas of the district. It also specified the areas.
"We submitted the memorandum to the prime minister to protect indigenous communities", said PCJSS Information and Publisher Secretary Buddah Kingkor Chakma.
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh Sunday, August 27, 2006
Hill students demand end to land grabbing Staff Correspondent
Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students' Council yesterday demanded an immediate end to grabbing of lands of indigenous people, shifting of settlers to plain lands and withdrawal of army camps from the CHT.
The ethnic people are living in fear as the government is patronising the settlers who are out to grab thousands of acres of lands, they said at a rally on Dhaka University campus, marking the 'Mahalchhari Devastation Day'.
On August 26 in 2003, the settlers killed two indigenous people, raped ten women and burned four hundred houses in Mahalchhari, the speakers said, adding that the settlers again launched a raid on Maischhari on April 3 in 2006 to grab more lands.
Whenever the victims try to raise voice against such repression, they face torture by law enforcers, said the student leaders.
Later, they took out a protest procession that paraded through the campus.
> Bangladesh > Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Call for Justice
> Introduction
> More than six years after the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts > Peace Accord, the tribal inhabitants of the area continue to live in > fear of attacks from Bengali settlers often carried out with the > apparent connivance of army personnel. This paper highlights one of > these attacks which took place in August 2003 in the Mahalchari area > of the Khagrachari District. According to testimonies given to Amnesty > International by eyewitnesses, nine women were sexually assaulted, one > of whom was subjected to gang rape; a man was killed in front of his > family, a nine month old baby was strangled to death and several > people sustained serious injuries; hundreds of houses were burnt down > and dozens were looted.
> According to witnesses, police initially refused to accept complaints > from the tribal people but filed complaints on behalf of the Bengali > settlers against thousands of tribal inhabitants of the area, > highlighting long standing discriminatory practices in the > administration of justice.
> The Government of Bangladesh must take urgent and decisive measures to > provide justice to the victims and survivors of the Mahalchari attack, > and to ensure the protection of the tribal inhabitants of the > Chittagong Hill Tracts against future attacks.
> Background
> The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is a hilly, forested area in > southeastern Bangladesh which for many hundreds of years has been home > to people from 13 indigenous tribes. These tribal people differ > significantly from the rest of the population of Bangladesh in terms > of their appearance, language, religion and social organisation.
> Pressure for land to cultivate and encouragement from successive > governments have led to the migration of large numbers of non-tribal > Bengali people to the CHT. Tribal people have viewed the movement of > Bengali settlers to the CHT as a threat to their way of life and their > customs and traditions.
> Armed rebellion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts began in mid-1970s. A > peace accord signed in 1997 ended the armed conflict, but human rights > violations against the tribal people which began during the armed > conflict have continued on a smaller scale.
> In Amnesty International's view, the failure of the peace accord to > make binding provisions to ensure that those responsible for human > rights abuses would be brought to justice, has reinforced the climate > of impunity within which attacks by Bengali settlers against tribal > people with reported army connivance continue to occur.
> For more information, please see Amnesty International Bangladesh: > Human Rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (AI Index: ASA 13/001/2000) > available atwww.amnesty.org/library
> A Chronology of the incident at Mahalchari
> On 24 August 2003, Rupan Mahajan, a Bengali Hindu businessman living > in the area was allegedly kidnapped by individuals believed to be > tribal inhabitants of the CHT. The identity or background of the group > or exact circumstances of his kidnapping are not known to Amnesty > International.
> On 25 August 2003, a large group of Bengali people reportedly held a > gathering in the area and issued an ultimatum that they would take > retaliatory action against the tribal people if the businessman was > not returned. The tribal people reportedly offered to conduct a search > to find the businessman's whereabouts. A search for this purpose was > reportedly conducted on the same day by a tribal leader, but his > search party was unable to locate the kidnapped businessman. > Meanwhile, the Bengali settlers had reportedly begun a public > agitation against the tribal inhabitants. They called for a general > strike the next day.
> On 26 August 2003, at about 9am, Bengali settlers reportedly went to > the Mahalchari Bazaar and demanded the closure of all shops in > observance of the strike. Some of the tribal people refused to abide > by these demands and several of them chased the settlers off.
> Shortly after that, a group of Bengali settlers returned in the > company of men in plain clothes, known to the tribal people as > soldiers. The settlers again demanded that the tribals close their > shops. They went to a tea stall which was still open and asked its > owner, Binud Bihari Khisha, to close it. He refused and was attacked. > This attack reportedly happened in the presence of the soldiers. > According to witnesses, he appealed to the soldiers for help, but they > did not intervene. In a desperate attempt to rescue him, his son ran > to his father but could not reach him as he was himself attacked with > a sharp knife known as a dao. The settlers continued to beat Binud > Bihari Khisha who died as a result of the injuries he sustained.
> The attackers set fire to the tea stall and the office of the Chairman > of Mahalchari Sadar Union Parishad which was next to the tea stall. > They then rampaged through village localities reportedly setting > houses on fire, looting, killing and torturing tribal people on their > way.
> The village of Mahalchari Bazaar was looted and according to a > survivor, some 70% of the houses there were burnt and six women were > reportedly sexually assaulted; their clothes were ripped off their > bodies and they were verbally abused, pushed and ill-treated.
> A neighbouring village called Ramesu Karbari Para, was reportedly > completely burnt.
> In the village of Kerenganala similar lootings occurred and houses > were burnt indiscriminately. Kala Sona Chakma, a forty-year-old woman, > intervened to save her daughter and grandson who were being beaten by > settlers. The woman took her grandson from her daughter and ran, > allowing her daughter to also escape. Down the road she was reportedly > surrounded by settlers among whom were some soldiers in civilian > clothes. Her nine-month-old grandson, Kiriton, was taken from her arms > and strangled to death. She was then gang raped by five settlers in > the presence of soldiers. Her daughter hiding a few meters away > reportedly saw both the killing of her son and the rape of her mother.
> Amongst other villages that came under attack were: Basamtapura, > Samilpura, Durparjyanala and Lemonchari.
> In total, on that day it was reported that, one man was killed, one > baby was strangled to death, one woman was raped, eight women were > molested and many other tribal people were injured and humiliated; 312 > houses are alleged to have been burnt; 68 houses to have been looted > but not burnt and four temples to have been ransacked.
> When the tribal people went to register cases against the Bengali > settlers at the Mahalchari police station, police refused to register > them. Ultimately, after the Khagrachari court gave a court order, > police filed two cases against the Bengali settlers. The Officer in > Charge of Mahalchari Thana himself filed a case on behalf of the > settlers accusing some 4,000 tribal people of attacking the settlers.
> A legacy of impunity
> During the armed conflict that began in the mid-1970s, the tribal > residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts were the targets of massacres, > arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial executions. The main > perpetrators were law enforcement personnel and groups close to the > army within the Bengali settlers'
