14 years of CHT accord: Indigenous people want full implementation

 

14 years of CHT accord

Indigenous people want full implementation

 

Indigenous leader Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, also popular as Santu Larma, yesterday warned of a stronger movement from January if their demands, especially the implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord 1997, are not met.

The government has breached its promise to the indigenous people by not taking any initiative to implement the treaty, he said in a press conference organised by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) at Sundarban Hotel in the capital to mark the 14th anniversary of the accord signing.

Larma, president of PCJSS, put forward a 19-point demand to protect the rights of indigenous people, establish good governance and peace in the hills. 

He threatened of an even tougher movement by the end of March if the demands are not fulfilled by then.

Echoing Larma, General Secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum Sanjeeb Drong said unrest may again flare in the hills if the accord is not implemented immediately. Claiming that the hill people have been deceived, he stressed a dialogue between the government and indigenous leaders to devise a plan for the accord implementation.

Asked whether the hill people will go for another armed revolution if the demands are not met instantly, Larma said it would depend on the future.

In response to another query, he claimed that the United People's Democratic Front was formed under the patronisation of the then government, when the peace accord was signed. The organisation has been opposing the peace treaty from the very beginning, since its inception in 1998.

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said it is obvious that the government which split the Dhaka City Corporation into two zones ignoring the opinion of 1.5 crore people will overlook the demands of 25-30 lakh people belonging to indigenous communities.

Veteran leftists Pankaj Bhattacharjee and other indigenous leaders were also present at yesterday's press conference.

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courtesy: The daily star