JUMMA organisations have observed 62th international human rights day
with a call for the government to withdraw restrictions on rallies and
public meetings. (photograph attached)
The Hill Students Council, Hill Women’s Federation and Democratic
Youth Forum organised rallies and processions in Khagrachari to mark
the day today.
They took out a procession at 11am from Swanirbhor bazaar which
paraded different roads in Khagrachari town.
Later they held a rally at Swanirbhor with Kyola Ching Marma, vice
president of Hill Students Council (PCP), in the chair.
The rally was also addressed by Thuiko Ching Marma, organising
secretary of PCP, Konika Dewan, general secretary of HWF, Remin
Chakma, president of DYF Khagrachari unit and Mishuk Chakma, cultural
affairs secretary of HWF Khagrachari unit.
Terming the human rights situation in the CHT alarming, the speakers
said, “the army continues to incite the settlers to grab Jumma
people’s land while the government is planning to lease out thousands
of acres of land to various companies and private individuals.”
Opposing the construction of a Science and Technology University and a
medical college in Rangamati, PCP leader Thuiko Ching Marma said, “The
real aim of constructing these higher educational institutions is to
displace Jumma villagers from their hearts and homes and then flood
the area with outsiders.”
“How many minority students are there to study in these institutions?”
the speakers asked, adding, “The Jummas will hardly benefit from these
institutions.”
Konika Dewan said the CHT was under virtual military rule with
“Operation Uttorom” still in force.
“There are restrictions on rallies and public meetings, and flagrant
infringements on our democratic rights. The Jumma women continue to
face sexual abuses by army and settlers.” she said.
The speakers urged the government to stop human rights violations in
the CHT, terminate Operation Uttoron and withdraw the military from
the area, put an end to grabbing of Jumma’s lands, stop repression on
women, try all human rights offences including abduction of Kalpana
Chakma and declare the CHT as a special autonomous region.
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