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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Jumma woman raped in Guimara

Jumma woman raped in Guimara

23 May 2013
A JUMMA woman was raped by a Bengali settler in Guimara under Khagrachari district.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, 21 May. A Bengali settler, Fazur Rahman alias Babul, went to the victim’s house in the village of Dewan Para and committed rape on the 30-year old woman. She was alone in the home at the time.

When she screamed, the people nearby rushed there and caught the rapist. The mob gave him a sound thrashing before handing him over to the police.

At 10pm police made their appearance at the scene and arrested Babul. A case was filed against him with Guimara Thana.

A trader by profession, Babul is a resident of Bortoli Hajipara. His father’s name is Md. Sirajul Haq.

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Courtesy: chtnews.com

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

রামগড়ে সেনাবাহিনী কর্তৃক একটি বৌদ্ধ বিহারের জিনিসপত্র তছনছ, বুদ্ধ মূর্তি চুরি!

রামগড়ে সেনাবাহিনী কর্তৃক একটি বৌদ্ধ বিহারের জিনিসপত্র তছনছ, বুদ্ধ মূর্তি চুরি!

 
২২ মে ২০১৩
খাগড়াছড়ির রামগড় উপজেলার পাতাছড়া ইউনিয়নের ম্রাইলা কার্বারী পাড়ায় সেনাবাহিনী কর্তৃক নবনির্মিত একটি বৌদ্ধ বিহারের জিনিসপত্র তছনছ ও বুদ্ধ মূর্তি চুরির খবর পাওয়া গেছে। পাগলা পাড়া বৌদ্ধ বিহারের উগ্য ভান্তে এ বিহারটি তত্ত্বাবধানের দায়িত্বে রয়েছেন।

সূত্র জানায়, আজ ২২ মে বুধবার বিকেল ৩টার সময় সিন্দুকছড়ি জোন থেকে একদল সেনা সদস্য ম্রাইলা কার্বারী পাড়ায় যায়। সেখানে গিয়ে সেনারা নবনির্মিত বেলুবন বৌদ্ধ বিহারে ঢুকে ভান্তের ব্যবহৃত কাপড়-চোপড় সহ সকল জিনিসপত্র তছনছ করে বিহারের বাইরে ফেলে দেয়। এ সময় বিহারে থাকা ছোট্ট একটি বুদ্ধমূর্তিও চুরি করে নিয়ে যায়।

এরপর সেনারা ম্রাইলা কার্বারীর বাড়ির দিকে যেতে চাইলে পাড়ার নারীরা পথ আগলিয়ে তাদের বাধা দেয়। সেনারা এ সময় তাদের কাছ থেকে জিজ্ঞেস করে ‘কার নির্দেশে তোমরা এখানে বাড়ি নির্মাণ করছো? এ জায়গাতো তোমাদের নয়। এই জায়গা হচ্ছে আনোয়ার ইঞ্জিনিয়ারের।’ সেনাদের এ কথার জবাবে নারীরা সাফ জানিয়ে দেয়, এই জায়গা আমাদের। আমাদের পূর্বপুরুষরা এই জায়গায় বসবাস করেছিল। বিরাজমান পরিস্থিতির কারণে এক সময় আমরা এখান থেকে চলে যেতে বাধ্য হয়েছি। এখন পরিস্থিতি স্বাভাবিক থাকায় আমরা আমাদের নিজেদের জায়গায় আবার বাড়িঘর নির্মাণ করে বসবাস করছি। নারীদের কাছ থেকে সঠিক জবাব পেয়ে সেনারা পরে ক্যাম্পে ফিরে যায়। যাবার সময় উক্ত জায়গার উপর বাড়ি নির্মাণ না করার জন্য নির্দেশ দিয়ে যায় এবং মামলা দেয়া হবে বলেও হুমকি দেয়। সেনাদের সাথে পাগলা পাড়া থেকে কালাম ও সাদ্দাম নামে দু'জন সেটলারও ছিল বলে স্থানীয়রা জানিয়েছেন।
 
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Indigenous leaders urge govt to take effective measures to implement the CHT Accord and to fulfill its commitment to the UPR

Indigenous leaders urge govt to take effective measures to implement the CHT Accord and to protect human rights of IPs as per its commitment to the UPR



Indigenous leaders of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF) and Kapaeeng Foundation (KF) urged the government to take effective measures to implement CHT Accord and to protect human rights of indigenous peoples as per its commitment in the second cycle of Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council on Bangladesh held on 29 April 2013 in Geneva.

The BIPF and KF also alleged that the government provided incomplete and inaccurate information on implementation of CHT and constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples to the UPR session. However, leaders of these rights organisations were welcoming government of Bangladesh for its commitment for full implementation of CHT Accord and for expressing positive responses to implement the ILO Convention No. 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Populations including effective participation in the consultations process for the promotion of the ILO Convention No. 169. They also expressed their concerns saying that despites committed to implement the CHT Accord in the first cycle of the UPR in 2009, the government did not take any significant step to do so.

Indigenous leaders expressed their opinions at a press conference on UPR organised on 17 May 2013 at 11.00 am at the Liberation War Museum, Dhaka. General Secretary of BIPF Mr. Sanjeeb Drong read out a written statement of BIPF and KF while advisor of KF and Vice Chancellor of ASA University Dr. Dalem Chandra Barman, indigenous rights activist Mr. Mangal Kumar Chakma, Vice Chairperson of KF Ms. Chaitali Tripura and Moordinator Mong Sing Neo, human rights defender Mr. Noor Khan Liton and eminent journalist Saleem Samad were present at the press conference.

Dr. Dalem Chandra Barman said that the government continues to express its commitment for implementation of the CHT Accord. He urged government to take effective measures for real implementation of the Accord. He also urged international community to play positive roles in implementing the commitment of the government during the UPR session.

The human rights situation of Bangladesh was reviewed at the Human Rights Council of United Nations under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism on 29 April 2013. Along with the state report from Bangladesh, 27 alternative reports from various NGOs have been submitted. Coalition of Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations, a coalition of 17 indigenous peoples’ organisations working for promotion and protection of human rights of indigenous peoples in Bangladesh, was one of these organisations submitted alternative report to the UN Human Rights Council. Among others, general secretary of BIPF Mr. Sanjeeb Drong, assistant general secretary of BIPF Mr. Binota Moy Dhamai, former convenor of KF Advocate Bidhayak Chakma and representative of indigenous women Ms. Uchacha A Chak attended the review session.

In the written statement, Sanjeeb Drong thanked those member-states who delivered strong statement for implementation of CHT Accord and the promotion of the human rights situation of indigenous peoples. Mr. Drong said that though member-states welcomed government of Bangladesh for commitment to implement the CHT Accord and to protect human rights of indigenous peoples, however, side by side, expressed their concern for failing to fulfill its commitment made at first cycle of UPR in 2009.

In the written statement, Sanjeeb Dring also opined that the government’s statement “the 15th amendment of the Constitution has granted for the first time Constitutional recognition to our 48 ethnic groups and tribal communities” is not fully true. There was no single name of the 48 ethnic groups in the 15th amendment of the Constitution. There were names of 27 ethnic groups in the Small Ethnic Group Cultural Institutions Act 2010. Despite popular demand to include rest of the ethnic groups, the government ignored this demand. Hence, those ethnic groups who were excluded from the list of Small Ethnic Group Cultural Institutions Act 2010 have been suffering in all aspects. Indigenous leaders also rejected the terms “tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities” mentioned in the 15th amendment of the Constitution. Sanjeeb Drong also opined that the 15th amendment of the constitution, instead of guaranteeing the aforesaid demands, termed indigenous peoples as ‘Bangalees’ which undermines rights to self-identification of indigenous peoples. Government of Bangladesh fully concealed this human rights violation in its report submitted at the UPR session, Drong said.

Indigenous leaders added that though government reiterated its statement that “strong commitment to implementing the provision of the CHT Peace Accord concluded in 1997 during our previous term in office”, however, government fully failed to do so during the period of last four and half years of their tenure. The government’s commitment in this regard was nothing but leap service, indigenous leaders opined. They alleged that the government provided incomplete information on implementation of the CHT Accord in one hand and on the other hand concealed many unimplemented issues.

The government statement “transfer of two thirds of the departments out of the mandated 33 to the three Hill District Councils” was not also fully true. On the other hand, government stated that “the amendment to certain provisions of the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act, 2001 has reached the final stage in consultation with the CHT Regional Council and is expected to be placed before the Cabinet soon”. However, indigenous leaders alleged that the minutes (resolution) of the inter-ministerial meeting held on 30 July 2012, where 13-point proposals for amendment of the CHT Land Commission Act were finally adopted, is yet to be prepared, though 9 months after convening the meeting have passed. As it has always been, this government also let the three Hill District Councils (HDCs) and the CHT Regional Council (CHTRC) remains dysfunctional. No measures leading to holding of elections in the HDCs and CHTRC have so far been initiated and to that end the Election Rules and Electoral Rolls Rules also have not yet been formulated as per the terms of the Accord and the subsequent laws, the HDC Acts. These issues were fully concealed by the government in the UPR session, said indigenous leaders.

Indigenous leaders, however, expressed their hopes that the government would come forward to promote and protect human rights of indigenous peoples, to implement the CHT Accord and to continue the support of promotional activities of the ILO Convention No. 107 and to ratify the ILO Convention No. 169.

Following is the press statement in Bangla



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courtesy: Kapaeeng Foundation.


Applications for Basic Human Rights, Gender and Women Rights training in Dhaka

Kapaeeng Foundation, a leading human rights organization for the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh is calling for applications for Basic Human Rights, Gender and Women Rights training including the UN Mechanisms and Procedures relating to Indigenous Peoples. This training will take place at Hope centre, Savar in Dhaka on 4-6 June, 2013


Training will focus more on theoretical and practical knowledge on basic concept on human rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), ILO Convention 107 &169, CHT Accord, National Women Development Policy,  International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR),  Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), CSW, human rights documentation and advocacy.

An Application with letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages, highlighting your interest in this particular issue and how you plan to use the learning from the workshop in everyday life) and curriculum vitae with a referee’s name and contact detail should be submitted to Coordinator, Kapaeeng Foundation, kapaeeng.foundation@gmail.com by the 25 May 2013.

On behalf of,

Mong Sing Neo
Coordinator of Kapaeeng Foundation

Following is the application notice:

10 Political Parties demand to remove all impediments in amending the CHT Land Commission Act

Photo: PCJSS press section


On 18 May 2013 the ten parties, namely, Workers’ Party of Bangladesh, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), Gonotantri Party, Gono Oikya, Samyabadi Dal, Gono Azadi League, BASAD, Communist Kendra, Gonotantrik Mujdur Party and National Awami League (NAP) organised a roundtable discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity demanding to remove all impediments in order to amend the contradictory provisions of the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per decisions of inter-ministerial meeting held on 30 July 2012 and 4th and 5th meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee.
The meeting was presided over by president of Workers’ Party of Bangladesh Rashed Khan Menon MP and conducted by leader of the PCJSS Dipayon Khisa. Dr. Asit Baran Roy, joint convenor of Communist Kendra presented a discussion paper. Among others, convenor of Gono Oikya Pankaj Bhattacharya, general secretary of Gonotantri Pary Nurul Rahman Selim, president of Gono Azadi League Alhaz Abdus Samad, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum Sanjeeb Drong, teacher of Anthropology Department of Dhaka University Dr. H K S Arefin, leader of BASAD Rezaur Rashid Khan, leader of NAP Ismail Hossain, executive director of Institute of Environment and Development (IED) Numan Ahmad Khan were present as discussant.
It is worth mentioning that on 12 July 2001, just the day before the handing over charge to the Caretaker government, the then Awami League government hurriedly passed the “CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001” in the parliament without taking advice and recommendations from the CHT Regional Council. As a result, the provisions of the Act, which are conflicting to the CHT Accord and appear to be detrimental to the interest of the Jumma people, remained undiscussed and unsolved.
With the grand alliance forming a new government in January 2009, the CHTRC once again sent the recommendations to the government on 7 May 2009 for consideration. After that, a dozen of meetings over the amendment of contradictory provisions of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act of 2001 were held at different levels. But as of today, the contravening sections of the Act remain as they were.
On 20 June 2011 Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA), with the consultation with CHTRC, finalised 13-point amendment proposals of the Act and sent them to Land Ministry for taking necessary initiative to place Cabinet and Parliament for final adoption. Later on, Land Ministry sent these the 13-point amendment proposals twice to the CHT Accord Implementation Committee seeking its opinions and accordingly the CHT Accord Implementation Committee adopted the 13-point proposal for amendment of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act in its 4th and 5th meetings held on 22 January 2012 and 28 May 2012. Finally, the 13-point amendment proposals were also adopted by the Inter-ministerial Meeting held on 30 July 2012 with the Law Minister in the chair. However, as per the said decisions, the Act is yet to be tabled before Parliament and amended. Even, the minutes/resolution of the Inter-ministerial Meeting held on 30 July 2012 is yet to be prepared.
On the other hand, the Land Ministry officials particularly the Land Secretary Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman and other officials continued opposing the most vulnerable recommendations of 13-point amendment proposals, such as, the Functions of Powers of the Commission [section 6(1)(c)], Quorum of the Commission meeting [section 7(3)], Procedure of resolving land disputes and adoption of decision [7(5)] etc.
Amendable Sections of the Act
Recommendations of CHTRC & MoCHTA
Section 6(1)(c): Any land has been given in settlement in violation of the existing laws of CHT, shall be cancelled and if any lawful owner has been illegally occupied on account of such settlement shall be restored:
Provided that, this sub-section shall not be applicable in case of Reserved Forests, Kaptai Hydroelectricity Project area, Betbunia Earth Satellite Station, state-owned industries and land recorded with the Government or local authorities.
To replace Section 6(1)(c) with: “Any land has been given in settlement in violation of the existing laws, custom and usages of CHT, shall be cancelled and if any lawful owner has been illegally occupied on account of such settlement shall be restored:”
and
to omit “Provided that, this sub-section shall not be applicable in case of Reserved Forests, Kaptai Hydroelectricity Project area, Betbunia Earth Satellite Station, state-owned industries and land recorded with the Government or local authorities.”
Section 7(3): Attendance of the Chairman and another two members on the meeting shall be necessary for maintaining quorum and the Chairman of the commission shall preside over all meetings.
Section 7(3): Attendance of the Chairman and another three members on the meeting shall be necessary for maintaining quorum and the Chairman of the commission shall preside over all meetings.
Section 7(5): Chairman shall take decision on the basis of discussion with other members present on the areas of  its activities along with the matter stated in section 6(1) unanimously and in case decision is not unanimous his decision shall be treated as the decision of the Commission.
Section 7(5): Chairman shall take decision on the basis of discussion with other members present on the areas of its activities along with the matter stated in section 6(1) unanimously and in case decision is not unanimous decision of majority including the chairman shall be treated as the decision of the Commission.

On the face of the opposition of the Land Ministry officials and Armed Forces Division of the Prime Minister’s office, the Law Ministry did not make the minutes of inter-ministerial meeting held on 30 July 2012.  Alternatively, it is learnt that, on 9 April 2013, the Law Ministry chaired by Law Minister organised another meeting with the Land Minister Barrister Rezaul Karim Hira and the Land Secretary Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman in which the State Minister of MoCHTA Mr. Dipankar Talukdar and one Joint Secretary Mr. Basudev Acharya, Dr. Gowher Rizvi (Advisor to the PM on International Affairs) and his personal secretary Mr. Debabrata Chakraborty were present. The Home Minister Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, who was involved in the process of signing the CHT Accord of 1997, also was present. In the said meeting, amendment proposals of CHTRC were reviewed again. The Land Secretary Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman placed opinion for modification on few most vulnerable proposals and the said meeting decided to prepare minutes as per opinions of Land Secretary which are against the final decision of the inter-ministerial meeting held on 30 July 2012. It is also learnt that based on this minutes, presently Land Ministry is drafting the Bill for amendment of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001.
If the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 were amended modifying the most vulnerable issues, such as, the Functions of Powers of the Commission, Quorum of the Commission Meeting, Procedure of resolving land disputes and adoption of decision, it would be more defective and it would create more complication in resolving CHT land disputes.
With this backdrop, the ten parties organised roundtable discussion demanding followings-
(1)   to stop such unilateral and controversial initiatives for amendment of the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per opinion of officials of Land Ministry including its Secretary and
(2)   to amend the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per decision of the 4th and 5th meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee and inter-ministerial meeting headed by Law Minister held on 30-07-2012.

Following is the 13 point amendment proposal

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source: PCJSS

Sunday, May 12, 2013

বান্দরবানের লামায় ২৫০ ম্রো পরিবার উচ্ছেদ আতঙ্কে

বান্দরবানের লামায় ২৫০ ম্রো পরিবার উচ্ছেদ আতঙ্কে


১২-০৫-২০১৩

বান্দরবানের লামা উপজেলার লুলাইন মৌজায় বহিরাগত ভূমি দখলদার ও কাঠ পাচারকারীদের অত্যাচার-নির্যাতনে প্রায় আড়াই শ ম্রো আদিবাসী পরিবার উচ্ছেদ আতঙ্কে আছে বলে অভিযোগ পাওয়া গেছে।
জুমবন দখল ও ধ্বংস করে হাতি দিয়ে গাছ টানার সময় নিরীহ ম্রোদের হয়রানি, নারীদের ধর্ষণ-শ্লীলতাহানিসহ বিভিন্ন নির্যাতন থেকে রক্ষা পাওয়ার জন্য গত বৃহস্পতিবার ম্রোরা সাংসদ ও পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রাম উন্নয়ন বোর্ডের চেয়ারম্যানের কাছে আবেদন জানিয়েছেন।
লামা উপজেলা চেয়ারম্যান মো. ইসমাইল বলেছেন, লুলাইন এলাকায় সহজ-সরল ম্রোদের ওপর যা করা হচ্ছে, তা অত্যন্ত অমানবিক। আজ রোববার অনুষ্ঠেয় জেলা আইনশৃঙ্খলা কমিটির সভায় তিনি বিষয়টি আবারও জোরালোভাবে তুলে ধরবেন বলে জানিয়েছেন।
গতকাল শনিবার লুলাইন বাজারের চৌধুরী সিংপাত ম্রো বলেন, তাঁদের জুমের জমি দখল ও জুমবন ধ্বংস করে হাতি দিয়ে গাছ টেনে সড়কে নিয়ে যাওয়া হচ্ছে। বর্তমানে লুলাইন ও পোপা এলাকায় ২৬টি হাতি দিয়ে গাছ টানা হচ্ছে এবং কুইছড়ায় বাচ্চা হাতিদের প্রশিক্ষণকেন্দ্র খোলা হয়েছে। নারীরা বাড়ি থেকে কোথাও বের হলে কাঠ ব্যবসায়ী ও শ্রমিক কর্তৃক ধর্ষণের শিকার হচ্ছেন। এ পর্যন্ত জেলা-উপজেলা প্রশাসন, পুলিশ, বন বিভাগ, জনপ্রতিনিধিসহ বিভিন্ন জায়গায় অভিযোগ দিয়েও কোনো কাজ হয়নি বলে সিংপাত ম্রো হতাশা প্রকাশ করেছেন। 
ম্রোরা বলেছেন, চট্টগ্রামের লোহাগাড়ার নওশেদ আলম, হেলাল উদ্দিনসহ কয়েকজন বহিরাগত জুমের জমি, গাছের বাগান দখল করছেন। তাঁরা হাতি দিয়ে গাছ টেনে ঝিড়ি (ছোট ছড়া), ঝরণা, খালসহ সব পানির উৎসও ধ্বংস করে দিয়েছে।
নওশাদ আলম ও হেলাল উদ্দিন লুলাইন এলাকায় তাঁদেরসহ আরও অনেকের গাছের ব্যবসা ও জায়গাজমি রয়েছে স্বীকার করলেও ম্রোদের ওপর অত্যাচার-নির্যাতনের কথা অস্বীকার করে বলেছেন, ম্রোদের তাঁরা রক্ষা করছেন। তাঁদের বিরুদ্ধে কেউ ম্রোদের উসকে দিয়ে থাকতে পারে। সেখানে হাতি রয়েছে বলে তাঁরা শুনেছেন, কিন্তু কখনো তাঁরা হাতি দিয়ে গাছ টানেননি বলে জানান। 
এ ব্যাপারে লামা উপজেলা চেয়ারম্যান মোহামঞ্চদ ইসমাইল বলেন, বীর বাহাদুর দখলদার ও পাচারকারীদের বিরুদ্ধে দ্রুত ব্যবস্থা নেওয়ার নির্দেশ দিয়েছেন। লুলাইনে সেনাবাহিনী পাঠিয়ে কিছু কাঠ আটক করা হয়েছে। সেনাবাহিনী ফিরে আসার পর পর অত্যাচার আবার শুরু হয়ে যায়।

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Courtesy: Daily Prothom Alo

Bengali settlers attack on indigenous villagers in connection to land grabbing in Lama & Seven Jumma villagers tortured by army of Sindukchari camp in Ramgarh

Bengali settlers attack on indigenous villagers in connection to land grabbing in Lama
 
12 May 2013

On 13 April 2013, a communal attack was made by Bengali settlers on Marma indigenous community in Choto Nonar Bill area of Lama upazila in Bandarban district. Total 14 people have been injured, and 2 indigenous villagers were arrested by military from that area. It is known that Thuinumong Marma wanted to make a boundary wall on his father’s land. But a group of miscreants of Md Abdul Ohab and Abul Khayer forbade to Thuinumong not to build a boundary wall.
 
In this connection, Thuinumong filed a case against perpetrators on that day.  The case file number is 501, dated 13/04/2013. After filing a case when he went to his land, he saw the miscreants already broke the wall. When he went to protest along with community people, the Bengali settlers attacked on them. At least 14 people of both groups including Thuimong Marma (29) s/o Tujathoi Marma and Nepa Marma (27) s/o Kejsing Marma were injured. The settlers again complaint at the Champatoli army camp under Lama zone, and then on that day at 3:30 pm, a group of army led by Major Kamrul of 30 Bengal came to Nonar bill area, and arrested to  Thuimong Marma and Nepa Marma. The solders took them at the camp, and released after a night to local representatives of that area.
 
It is known that, Abdul Ohab was originally from plain district Noakhali. He came to Bandarban with his job of WAPDA. He bought land illegally breaking the provisions of Hill District Council Act of 1989. According to the buying land and real property Thuinumong’s father is the land owner, but Abdul Ohab has been demanding illegally that land. A case was filed in connection with this incident.

Seven Jumma villagers tortured by army of Sindukchari camp in Ramgarh
 
On 26 April 2013 at around 10:00 pm, seven indigenous Tripura villagers were beaten brutally by a group of army led by Major Raqib of  Sindukchari camp at Boishnob Para of Boro Pilak area of Halfchari union under Rangarh upazila in Khagrachari district. They were released on that night with serious injuries of beating. It is learnt that, the settlers grabbed indigenous lands, and planted a mango garden together with some settler families in that area. On 20 April 2013, UPDF activists damaged the mango garden by cutting 218 mango tress of owner Md. Abdur Rob (45). After few days, on 26 April 2013 at around 10 pm, some unknown group of miscreants set a fire in a small hut of Siddiqur Rahaman. The settlers began shouting and screaming when they saw the fire. After few minutes, a group of army personnel from Sindukchari camp rushed at the indigenous village Boishnob Para at the spot. The soldiers tortured brutally to the following indigenous guys.

The army soldiers wanted to prove that the villagers were involved in setting fire at settler village. But the army failed to establish their involvement with the fire incident, and released them on the same night after beating. The Army ordered to the victims to keep silence against their such tortures. The torture victims are Kanti Kishor Tripura (30) son of Binoy Kishor Tripura, Keton Kishor Tripura (28) son of Binoy Kishor Tripura, Ratan Das Tripura (35) son of  Dhananjoy Tripura, Ripon Tripura (18) son of Shanti Tripura, Ranjan Tripura (15) son of Kamalanda Tripura, Chitta Das Tripura( 17) son of late Nitananda Das Tripura and Shashi Das Tripura (35).

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Source: Kapaeeing Foundation
 

An 8 year old indigenous Chakma girl killed after rape in Dighinala & An indigenous Marma woman injured and beaten by Bengali settlers at Bangalhalia

An 8 year old indigenous Chakma girl killed after rape in Dighinala



12 May  2013

On 9 April 2013, an 8 year old indigenous girl named Champa Chakma, daughter of Rokkeya Chakma has been killed allegedly after rape at Rangapanichora village of  Merung union of Dighinala upazila in Khagrachari district. She was a class three student of Dokkhin Rangapanichora Government Primary School. 

It is reported that on 9 April 2013, Champa and her younger brother with speech disabilities went to jungle to collect wild vegetables in Rangapani Chara. Champa’s parent and villagers were worried when Champa’s younger brother came back home alone in the evening. But he could not express his speech properly due to his speech disabilities. He tried to make community people understand that Champa was forcibly taken away from there by three Bengali settlers, and was able to escape from the scene. On the next day, Champa Chakma’s dead body was found in Rangapanichora jungle with two chopping marks around her neck.  The police rushed to the spot to rescue the dead body and took it under their custody. Police investigation report is yet to be delivered by police department.   


An indigenous Marma woman injured and beaten by Bengali settlers at Bangalhalia

On 25 April 2013, two Bengali settlers named Alauddhin Kosai (45) and his son Russel Kosai (16) beat an indigenous Marma girl named Thuima Ching Marma (35) wife of Chathowai Prue Marma at Bangalhalia Bazar area  of Rajsthali upazila in Rangamati. 

It is learnt that around 4.30 pm Alauddhin and his son went to cut bamboo at  Chathowai Prue’s bamboo garden without any permission from owner at Dak Banglo area, the adjacent area of Chathowai Prue’s house. Thuima Ching came forward and protested against cutting of bamboos from their garden. The miscreants started beating and hitting her inhumanly by their sticks while she tried to oppose them from cutting their bamboos. The perpetrators fled away when local people gathered at the incident’s place. The victim was seriously wounded and received treatment from adjacent Union Parishad Clinic. The community people were getting ready to go to police station to file a case against culprits on behalf of victim.

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Courtesy: Kapaeeing Foundation

Friday, May 10, 2013

UNPO Press Release on Bangladesh UPR

Press Statement by UNPO on the Universal Periodic Review of Bangladesh
Geneva, Switzerland
8 May 2013

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is deeply disappointed with the report of the Government of Bangladesh, including their responses to the questions and recommendations by States at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session in Geneva. In particular, Bangladesh had made a clear commitment at the first UPR cycle in 2009 to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord and to respect the rights of indigenous peoples as part of their Election Manifesto. Nevertheless, we appreciate the positive response from Bangladesh of accepting the recommendations on the implementation of the CHT Accord.
The indigenous peoples of CHT have been subjected to widespread human rights violations for decades of military-style rule in their homeland. These massive human rights violations include among others widespread displacement, forced assimilation, unlawful arrest and detention based on false charges, and political killings, causing instability and conflicts.  Because of this situation, the indigenous peoples engaged in the peace process that started with the signing of the CHT Peace Accord in 1997 by the Bangladesh government remain in a problematic situation, due to the militarization of CHT.
UNPO believes that the complete implementation of the CHT Peace Accord is very critical in the survival and development as well as the exercise of the individual and collective rights of the indigenous peoples of CHT. It is also necessary for the achievement of a lasting peace in CHT, and the resolution of numerous land disputes. Over the years, there have been repeated demands that the Bangladesh government honor their commitment to the full and effective implementation of the CHT Peace Accord. The UPR session on Bangladesh at the UN Human Rights Council would have been a good opportunity for the new government of Bangladesh to  demonstrate its political will to implement the Peace Accord, yet Bangaldesh failed to do so in spite of the verbal commitment it made during the national stakeholders consultations prior to the UPR.
UNPO welcomes the States who have raised the concerns of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh and recommended the full and effective implementation of the CHT Accord as a matter of priority for the Bangladesh government, such as the government of Australia, Denmark, Ecuador, and Norway among others. These recommendations are very encouraging to continue demanding for the accountability and obligation of the government of Bangladesh to the CHT Peace Accord.
UNPO calls on the government of Bangladesh to commit itself to the implementation of these recommendations during the 24th session of the Human Rights Council later this year.  It will be a great setback to indigenous peoples if Bangladesh continues to ignore the CHT Peace Accord implementation and to fail upholding the rights of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh, which is contrary to their election Manifesto.

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
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courtesy: UNPO

Press Statement | The UPR Review of Bangladesh | CHTC urges the Government to immediately implement the 1997 CHT Accord in full

Following is the press statement from CHTC on the UPR Review of Bangladesh:





For immediate release


PRESS STATEMENT

The UPR Review of Bangladesh: state parties show concern for human rights issues of indigenous peoples and religious minorities of Bangladesh
The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission urges the Government to immediately implement the 1997 CHT Accord in full

(2 May 2013, Dhaka) The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) appreciates the statements made by several States which placed great emphasis on the importance of implementing the 1997 CHT Accord in full, at the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva on 29 April, 2013.

A number of participating countries commended the Government for the progress made to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord but observed with concern that many important provisions of the Accord have yet to be implemented. They recommended that the Government fully implement the Accord and create a roadmap with a timeframe for its implementation. They also called for immediate action to amend the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001 to reflect the CHT Accord. A number of countries called on the Government to ratify ILO Convention No 169 and to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and religious minorities, including ensuring the safety and security of places of their worship.

The Government of Bangladesh, in the national report that it submitted to the UPR process, stated that most of the clauses of the Accord have been fully or partially implemented and a modest number is under implementation.

It is however the view of the CHTC that some of the main factors responsible for unrest and human rights violations in the CHT, especially ongoing land disputes and militarization, remain far from properly addressed:
·         Although the Government points out that 283 military camps have been dismantled from the CHT, the area still remains heavily militarized.  The PCJSS (Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity) party estimates that the number of military camps withdrawn to date is around 74, out of more than 500 (temporary) military camps.
·         Whilst the Land Commission was set up and a chairperson appointed during this term of the Grand Alliance, necessary amendments to the Land Commission Act to make it conform to the CHT Accord have still not been adopted. 
·         During his three-year tenure, the Chairperson of the Land Commission failed to settle any land dispute in the CHT and was perceived to have worked against the interests of the indigenous people.
·         Disappointingly, the Government has yet to appoint his successor, which raises doubts about the willingness of the Government’s stated commitment to make progress on the key issue of the land rights of indigenous people. The Land Commission chairman's post has been vacant since 20 July 2012.
·         The Government has placed restrictions on NGOs seeking to monitor human rights violations in the area, including restrictions on the movement of the CHTC. Protests over these restrictions have had no effect.
·         The CHTC was particularly distressed by the Foreign Minister’s apparent denial of the identity of the indigenous people living in the CHT and elsewhere in the country, referring to them officially as ‘ethnic minorities’, along with her lack of sensitivity, which was evidenced by her response to a question in which she stated that “all Bangladeshis” were indigenous people, thus undermining the right of indigenous people in the CHT to explicit recognition of their separate identity.

Continuing harassment of civil society in the CHT is common. For example, the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s office asked local non-government organizations (NGOs) in November 2011 to submit a report regarding, among others, information about the percentage of Bangali and Pahari beneficiaries, and the percentage of Bangali and ‘Upajati’ [tribal] employees. In no other part of Bangladesh are NGOs asked to give the ethnic make-up of their beneficiaries or employees in this manner to the district administration. We are not aware of any laws in the country which direct NGOs to maintain such ethnicity percentages and under which such a report could be deemed necessary.

The CHTC has also observed with concern the increasing restrictions on civil society in the name of security in the CHT. We are aware that foreigners in the CHT have been handed instructions to give a complete schedule of every place they plan to visit and every person they expect to talk to. Hotels in the CHT have also received directions to not take any bookings in foreigners’ names unless they have clearance from the district administration. In a democratic country, the singling out of the CHT with such instructions not only breaches the rights to liberty and freedom of association and expression but also raises serious concerns about the intentions of the Government of Bangladesh regarding implementation of the CHT Accord as promised in their Election Manifesto.

In August 2011, the Bandarban district administration reportedly ordered British national Jeremy Paul Allen to leave the district because he had participated in a solidarity program of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum calling for constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples at the Bandarban Press Club. CHTC adviser Thomas Eskildsen, a US national, was summarily asked to leave Bandarban Hill District in January 2012, and later barred from entering Bangladesh. Swedish journalist, Per Liljas, who reported about human rights violations of indigenous people in international media, was also deported from Bandarban in July 2012. In our view, these acts constitute serious violations of human rights, including the fundamental right not to be discriminated against, which is enshrined in all human rights instruments. We deplore such acts by the Government and recommend that the Government of Bangladesh immediately withdraw directives to the local administration in the CHT and allow free movement of persons in and out of the three hill districts, like the rest of the country, as should be the practice in any democratic country.

Restrictions have also been placed on the work of the CHTC itself. The CHTC has been carrying out periodic missions to the CHT since August 2008. Our missions have always focused on engaging all stakeholders in the process of facilitating the Government to implement the 1997 CHT Accord. The work of the CHTC is to support the Government and especially the Ministry for CHT Affairs (the establishment of which was an outcome of the CHT Accord itself) in identifying obstacles to such implementation. Despite this, we have faced constant physical surveillance from members of the intelligence agencies. In September 2010 the Government gave written instructions to CHTC placing restrictions on the work of the CHTC. In November 2011 CHTC members had to return from CHT without completing their mission as a result of restrictions placed during their work. This is a violation of basic rights, including the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty, as well as freedom of expression and CHTC protested these instructions and asked the Government to withdraw these restrictions but did not receive any response. All these acts are contrary to the Government’s pledge to implement the CHT Accord and bring peace to the CHT.

In light of the upcoming national elections, the CHTC would like to remind the Government of its election pledge to implement the 1997 CHT Accord in full, a pledge that was reiterated in the 2009 UPR session, when the Government of Bangladesh stated that it would fully implement the Accord “in the shortest possible time within the framework of the constitution of Bangladesh”. With very little time left before the end of its tenure, the CHTC, consonant with the statements of a number of state parties at the recently concluded UPR, calls upon the Government to fulfill this pledge as a matter of priority.

On behalf of the CHT Commission,
              
Eric Avebury                            Sultana Kamal                                     Elsa Stamatopoulou
Co-chair of the                        Co-chair of the                        Co-chair of the
CHT Commission                     CHT Commission                     CHT Commission



Note to editors: On 29 April, Bangladesh underwent a review as part of the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN member States once every four years under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council. During the three-hour session, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh presented the national report and responded to the questions and concerns that were raised by other states and heard the recommendations by them. The issue of the implementation of the 1997 CHT Accord and rights of ethnic and religious minorities were also brought up by several states during the session.

Media contact:
Hana Shams Ahmed, Coordinator, International CHT Commission;
Phone: 01819289622; email: chtcomm@gmail.com

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International CHT Commission
http://chtcommission.org/
Bangladesh Secretariat
1/3, Block F, Lalmatia
Dhaka 1207
Tel: +88-02-9146048
Cell: +01819289622

 

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Following is the original statement:

PCJSS demands immediate amendment of CHT Land Commission Act 2001 as per decision of CHT Accord Implementation Committee

PCJSS demands immediate amendment of CHT Land Commission Act 2001 as per decision of CHT Accord Implementation Committee


Photo: Benoy Tripura

On 29 April 2013 the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) organised public meeting in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office of Rangamati district and submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh demanding immediate amendment of contradictory provisions of the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per decision of the 4th and 5th meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee and inter-ministerial meeting held on 30-07-2012 with Law Minister in the chair.
Presided over by vice president of PCJSS Mr. Ushatan Talukdar, the gathering was addressed by assistant information and publicity secretary of PCJSS Mr. Sajib Chakma, general secretary of Rangamati district branch of PCJSS Mr. Nilotpal Khisa and general secretary of Hill Student Council Mr. Jyotisman Chakma Bulbul. The meeting was conducted by staff member of central office of PCJSS Mr. Udayan Tripura.
It is mentionable that after assuming the state power by the Awami Laegue-led grand alliance, on 7 May 2009 the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council (CHTRC) once again sent the 19 point recommendations for amendment of contradictory provisions of the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 to the government. After that, a dozen of meetings over the amendment of contradictory provisions of the Act were held at different levels. At a stage, on 20 June 2011 Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA), having consultation with CHTRC, finalised 13-point amendment proposals of the Act and sent them to Land Ministry for taking necessary initiative to place before the Cabinet as well as Parliament for final adoption. Later on, the 13-point proposals for amendment of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act was adopted in the 4th and 5th meeting of CHT Accord Implementation Committee held on 22 January 2012 and 28 May 2012 respectively and also Inter-ministerial Meeting held on 30 July 2012 with the Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed in the chair.
But the Land Ministry officials particularly the Land Secretary Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman and other officials continued opposing the most vulnerable recommendations of 13-point amendment proposals, such as, the Functions of Powers of the Commission [section 6(1)(c)], Quorum of the Commission meeting [section 7(3)], Procedure of resolving land disputes and adoption of decision [7(5)] etc.
On the face of the opposition of the Land Ministry officials and Armed Forces Division of the Prime Minister’s office, the Law Ministry did not make the minutes of inter-ministerial meeting held on 30 July 2012.  Alternatively, it is learnt that, on 9 April 2013, the Law Ministry chaired by Law Minister organised another meeting with the Land Minister Barrister Rezaul Karim Hira and the Land Secretary Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman in which the State Minister of MoCHTA Mr. Dipankar Talukdar and one Joint Secretary Mr. Basudev Acharya, Dr. Gowher Rizvi (Advisor to the PM on International Affairs) and his personal secretary Mr. Debabrata Chakraborty were present. The Home Minister Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, who was involved in the process of signing the CHT Accord of 1997, also was present. In the said meeting, amendment proposals of CHTRC were reviewed again. The Land Secretary Mr. Mokhlesur Rahman placed opinion for modification on few most vulnerable proposals and the said meeting decided to prepare minutes as per opinions of Land Secretary which are against the final decision of the inter-ministerial meeting held on 30 July 2012. It is also learnt that based on this minutes, presently Land Ministry is drafting the Bill for amendment of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001.
If the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 were amended modifying the most vulnerable issues, such as, the Functions of Powers of the Commission, Quorum of the Commission Meeting, Procedure of resolving land disputes and adoption of decision, it would be more defective and it would create more complication in resolving CHT land disputes. With this backdrop, PCJSS organised procession and submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding-
(1)   to stop such unilateral and controversial initiatives for amendment of the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per opinion of officials of Land Ministry including its Secretary and
(2)   to amend the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per decision of the 4th and 5th meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee and inter-ministerial meeting headed by Law Minister held on 30-07-2012.
Following is the memorandum of PCJSS submitted to the Prime Minister:



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source: PCJSS

Old man arrested, released later by army in Matiranga

On 25th April (Thursday), A 60-YEAR old Jumma villager was arrested by Border Guards Bangladesh during an overnight raid in Gomti Union under Matiranga Upazila of Khagrachari district, local sources said adding he was released after interrogation in the morning today.

On 25th night, a group of BGB personnel from Khedachara camp raided the village of Takar Moni Para in Gomti Union and surrounded the house of Motin Kumar Tripura with the intention of arresting him.

However, he was not at home at that time. The BGB men then asked his wife and his father Japan Kumar Tripura whether there was any illegal weapons in their home and whether UPDF activists had visited them.

Later the BGB took Japan Kumar Tripura to their camp and detained him there until his release in the morning.

He was subjected to intense interrogation about his and his son’s relationship with the UPDF.

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source: chtnews.com