Brutal attack on Indigenous Students' rally: report from Kapaeeng

Brutal attack on Indigenous Students' rally: report from Kapaeeng Foundation

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Police attack on peaceful demonstration of indigenous students against UNDP’s cultural diversity festival in Dhaka

Police attacked on peaceful demonstration of indigenous students against UNDP’s cultural diversity festival. A total of 9 students were arrested and at least 9 student including 2 girls were injured in this attack.

It is learnt that on 6 December 2011 indigenous students organised a peaceful demonstration in front of national press club in Dhaka. Soon after the start of the demonstration, police suddenly jumped over the indigenous students. Police indiscriminately beat the indigenous students while they were leaving the place and arrested 9 indigenous students. 

Arrested students were identified as Mr. Jotisman Chakma, Utthai Mong Marma, Martim Chakma, Nishan Chakma, Mihir Chakma, Uking Marma, Using Marma, Mithel Chakma and Luk Chakma. Besides, Mr. Amlan Chakma, Ms. Happy Tripura, Mr. Jemson Amlai Bawm, Mr. Naba Shankar Chakma, Mr. Nutun Bikash Chakma, Mr. Trijinad Chakma, Mr. Shepard Bawm and Ms. Chandra Tripura were injured.

It is mentionable that United Nations Development Programme-Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility UNDP-CHTDF jointly with Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA) is organising Cultural Diversity Festival 2011 from 4 December 2011 till 9 December 2011 in Dhaka. Though UNDP-CHTDF used the word “indigenous peoples” in the previous cultural diversity festivals in the last four years, however, this year UNDP-CHTDF has used the word ‘ethnic minorities’, ‘small ethnic group’ and ‘tribal’ in its ‘Concept Note: Cultural Diversity Festival 2011’ and several documents excluding the term ‘indigenous peoples’. Indigenous leaders protested against the term ‘ethnic minorities’, ‘small ethnic group’ and ‘tribal’ saying that it has undermined indigenous peoples’ rights!

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courtesy: Kapaeeng Foundation.