Breaking News: Bomb attack on Indigenous Students in Rangamati

Breaking News: Bomb attack on Indigenous Students in Rangamati 

injured student at the hospital. photo: Kiron Chakma

More than 15 activists of Pahari Chatra Parishad (PCP), including a girl, were severely injured in a bloody bomb attack in Rangamati Hill Districts today (Sunday), at around 4 pm local time.

blood at the scene. Photo: Bidhayak Chakma

The incident happened infront of a Petrol Station, located at Kallayanpur of Rangamati Town.

It has been learnt that, today was the 23rd council of PCP, student wing of Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS). Thousand of indigenous Jumma students from different parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) came to Rangamati to attend the council.

Photo: Bidhayak Chakma

After the council was over,  the students were board on different buses and were waiting to leave Rangamati town. At around 4 pm, some miscreants from a CNG-run auto-rickshaw threw grenades at one of the buses, which was about to leave for Kaptai (a sub-district of Rangamati). More than  15 students have been admitted to Rangamati Hospital. 6 severely injured students have been transferred to Chittagong Medical Hospital for better treatment.

Photo:Bidhayak Chakma

Strong trend of violation of indigenous peoples' rights, including violence against indigenous women in Bangladesh continues, speaker says at UNPFII

Strong trend of violation of indigenous peoples' rights, including violence against indigenous women in Bangladesh continues, speaker says at UNPFII

 The following part has been extracted from UN news:

ANMOY CHAKMA, speaking on behalf of Kapaeeng Foundation, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, Asian Indigenous Women’s Network, United Confederation of Taino People, and Jumchab Metta Foundation, said that even as the Permanent Forum met to discuss combating violence against women, in Bangladesh, women were passing their days in fear of having grave violence being perpetrated against them.  Indeed, many of those women in the Chittagong Hill Tracts were preyed upon by military personnel, even though Bangladesh was a party to major international human rights treaties.  Rapes and other violence against indigenous women in Bangladesh were pervasive due to impunity.  There was not a single case where women preyed upon received justice.  He called upon the Government of Bangladesh to comprehensively address the issue and to carry out all elements of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord.

courtesy: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2012/hr5091.doc.htm

Following is the full statement of Mr. Anmoy Kiron Chakma:

Bangladesh: Joint Statement On Combating Violence Against Indigenous Women And Girls - 11th Session Of UNPFII

United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Eleventh Session

7-18 May 2012, UN HQ, New York

Agenda Item 3: Report on the expert group meeting: combating violence against indigenous women and girls, article 22 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Study on the extent of violence against indigenous women and girls in terms of article 22 (2) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Joint Statement by:

Anmoy Kiron Chakma

Kapaeeng Foundation, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, United Confederation Of Taino Peoples, Asia Indigenous Women’s Network, Jaringan Orang Asal Se Malaysia (JOAS), Jumchab Metta Foundation

Thank you Mr. Chair,

My congratulations to the chair and newly appointed members of the Bureau.

Today when we are gathered here to discuss violence against indigenous women, my indigenous sisters in Bangladesh are passing their days in fear of rape and other forms of violence against them. As my indigenous sister Ellen from Asia Caucus mentioned yesterday, even on last Wednesday, we received the news of an eleven year old indigenous Jumma girl, who was allegedly raped, and then murdered, by a non indigenous Bengali settler, Ibrahim in Longudu subdistrict of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region (May 9th 2012), who has apparently been arrested. It is further alleged that he was earlier charged with the rape of another Jumma girl and was released on bail. [1] This clearly tells a story of impunity and absence of deterrence measures.

Though Bangladesh is a party to several international human rights treaties, including CEDAW, CERD, ICC Rome Statute, ILO Convention 107 and the two international human rights covenants, the strong trend of violation of indigenous peoples' rights, including violence against indigenous women in Bangladesh continues. This includes rape, murder, sexual assault, trafficking and abduction by non-indigenous Bengali settlers. The major concern is that very few of these violations are impartially and independently enquired into. Thus the perpetrators remain at large and un-punished; such example is the last rape case that happened last Wednesday. This culture of impunity gives the impression that such violations against indigenous women and children are normal and acceptable to state and society.

Violence against indigenous women in Bangladesh has been going on for decades, including during the internal conflict from the 1970s to the 1990s. Here are some statistics. The international CHT Commission, in its groundbreaking report of 1991, mentioned that the military systematically used rape as a weapon against women in CHT. [2] According to the Hill Women’s Federation, “security forces were responsible for over 94% of all the alleged rape cases in CHT between 1991 and 1993. Out of all these allegations of rape, over 40% of the victims were children”. [3]

Before the CHT Peace Accord was signed in 1997, from 1971 to 1994, approximately 2,500 indigenous women were allegedly raped by the military, and by non-indigenous Bengali settlers, as estimated by Ume Mong, an indigenous woman leader. [4]

These violations continue in the period after the signing of the CHT Accord. According to statistics provided by Jummanet, over 57% of the rape victims in CHT between 2003 and 2006 were children in their teens or below. According to a report from Kapaeeng Foundation (a human rights organization of indigenous peoples of Bangladesh), non-indigenous Bengali settlers carried out violence against 66 indigenous women, including a three and a half year old child, [5] between 2007 and February 2012, out of which six were murdered after rape. These statistics show how insecure indigenous women of CHT are today.

Despite the provisions of section 376 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, which mentions high punishment for the rapist, there is not a single case where the indigenous women were provided with justice, except for court martial of some military personnel more than ten years ago.

I call upon the Government of Bangladesh to punish the perpetrators by following its own Constitution, to stop all kind of violence and racial discrimination against indigenous women immediately, and to follow the UN Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which has provisions for security and protection of indigenous women.

I urge the Forum and member states of the UN to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to implement the recommendations made by the Forum on the implementation of the CHT Accord, following a study by Mr. Lars-Anders Baer in the last session of the Forum. (E/C.19/2011/6)

I also call upon all my fellow indigenous brothers and sisters to lend their hands to prevent all forms of violence against our indigenous women and children not only in Bangladesh, but also around the world.

Thank you Mr. Chair.

[1] Rape, murder of indigenous girl sparks protest Alleged criminal arrested http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=233621

[2] Life is not Ours", 95

[3] ‘Autonomy for Peace in the CHT’, Bangladesh, Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Women’s Federation, Bangladesh, 30 August – 10 September, 1995, UN World Conference on Women, NGO Forum on Women, Beijing. According to ICRC women under 18 are regarded as children.

[4] Ume Mong, “Bangladesher Adibasi narider nirapatta: Parbattya Chattagramer adibasi pahari nari (Security of Indigenous Women in Bangladesh: Hill Women of the Chittagong Hill Tracts)”, Bangladeshe adivasi narir nirapatta (Security of Indigenous Women in Bangladesh), (Dhaka: Forum on Women in Security and International Affairs, 2000).

[5] “Horrific”, The Daily Star, 10 March 2009. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=79164

UNPF11 Statement

Following is the news from Bangladeshi daily "The Daily Star" on 4 indigenous laborers, who were killed at Manda in Noagaon

Case panics Naogaon Adivasi clash victims

Bulbul Ahmed, Naogaon and Anwar Ali, Rajshahi

Having lost their bread-earners in the May 4 clash, families of four Adivasi labourers in Naogaon are passing their life in panic, as police recorded a case filed by the alleged killers against a number of unnamed Adivasi men.

The families expressed their fears on Friday when a group of social activists, including lawyers, journalists, and development activists led by columnist Syed Abul Maksud from Dhaka, visited them at Pungi Niboda village in Niamatpur.

Kristina Hembrom, wife of Ilias Mardi, one of the four murdered, alleged that police recorded a case of the killers, accusing 10-12 unnamed Adivasi people to counter their murder case.

“We are worried and fearing arrest any time for the case”, she said, in tears. Kristina said she was also anxious about her future with her two sons.

Ilias Mardi, Madan Hembrom, Moharam Marang and Koki Tudu were killed in a clash between the supporters of two rivalling land owners at Chalk Gopal village in Manda upazila, where they went to work after being hired by Abdul Alim, one of the owners.

Abdul Alim has been in feud with one Anwar Hossain over eight bighas of land.

Kristina said Alim hired five Adivasi labourers for harvesting paddy for a rate of Tk 2,500 per bigha a day before the clash. “Alim's offer was lucrative as labourers usually work at Tk 200 per day. Alim said he was having a shortage of labourers”.

The widows said they were not aware that their husbands had been hired.

“I felt like a bolt out of the blue when I heard of the murder", said Maina Hembrom, wife of Madan Hembrom. "And now police are also acting against us”.

The only surviving Adivasi man in the incident, Chandi Kisku, was now fleeing home following the case, they said.

Syed Abul Maksud told the families that they would pressure the government for ensuring justice.

Noted jurist Barrister Rafiq-ul Huq, who was also in the team of visitors, said recording a case against fellow men of the victims was like murdering the victims once more.

Asked why police took the case against the Adivasi men, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Naogaon YM Belalur Rahman said it was because Anwar Hossain claimed that Abdul Alim forcibly wanted to harvest crops of the land, of which he was the actual owner.

He said he would ask police not to harass or arrest the Adivasi men.

The visitors' team also included journalist Saleem Samad, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum organising secretary Saktipada Tripura, Dhaka University teacher Robaet Ferdous, and Kapaeeng Foundation's Dipayan Khisa.

11th session of the UNPFII Raja Devasish Roy suggests UNPFII to organize seminars, workshops and other meetings on the different aspects of shifting cultivation

Member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and Chakma circle chief Raja Devasish Roy suggested the UNPFII to organize seminars, workshops and other meetings on the different aspects of shifting cultivation related to the socio-cultural identity and integrity of indigenous peoples, including at its 12th session.

Mr. Roy also urged the UN Member States to (a) expressly acknowledge the rights of shifting cultivators to their lands; (b) recognize this mode of cultivation as a traditional occupation that requires protection; (c) delineate the lands concerned; (d) discontinue sedentarization programmes that coerce shifting cultivators to forsake this mode of cultivation without their free, prior and informed consent.

Mr. Roy made this statement while he was presenting his study report on “shifting cultivation and the socio-cultural integrity of indigenous peoples” on 14 May 2012 at 11th session of the UNPFII which is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York.

On 14 May 2012 on behalf of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus, Ms. Rukka Sombolinggi, in its statement on agenda item 6 “discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples to food and food sovereignty”, said that in Bangladesh, huge tracts of lands, which are used for traditional shifting cultivation and for sustainable use of forest resources, were leased out to non-indigenous outsiders in for rubber plantation and other commercial purposes and acquired for reserved forest, establishment for military installation and so-called eco-parks in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and land and homesteads for mining and national park in plain land. This generated food insecurity among indigenous peoples.

On 15 May 2012 on behalf of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus, Mr. Windel Bolinget, in its statement on agenda item 4 Human Rights, called upon Asian States to demilitarize indigenous territories and to take appropriate steps to review and reverse their counter-insurgency policies and strategies that are detrimental to indigenous peoples and violative of international humanitarian law. He also called upon Asian States for the review of their oppressive and militarist laws and policies to be consistent with UNDRIP and seriously implement their international human rights obligations and push for State recognition of indigenous peoples to ensure full protection of their human rights, especially in Asian countries.

Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus also demanded to withdraw the Oplan Bayanihan as the government’s counter-insurgency strategy in Philippines; Operation Uttoran in Bangladesh; Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 in India. Asia Caucus stated that in Bangladesh, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord stipulates to demilitarize the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region. Instead of implementing the CHT Accord, de facto military rule named “Operation Dabanal” (Operation Wild-fire) was imposed in the CHT during the period of insurgency and replaced with “Operation Uttoran (Operation Upliftment) in 2001. Military interference with and dominance over the civil administration, law and order, construction and repairing of roads, tribal affairs, forest resources etc. are still continuing on one hand, and on the other, they continue to actively support the outsider Bengali settlers in expanding and establishing newer cluster vil! lages in the CHT.

It is mentionable that the 11th session of the UNPFII is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York which started on 7 May 2012 and will end on 18 May 2012.

----------
courtesy:
Kapaeeng Foundation
(A Human Rights Organization for Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh)

4 indigenous laborers killed at Manda in Noagaon

4 indigenous laborers killed at Manda in Noagaon

On 4 May 2012 at around 11.00 am 4 indigenous laborers were killed and 10 more, including woman, seriously injured at Chakgopal field in Kashpur union of Manda upazila in Noagaon district in a clash over land dispute.

It is learnt that Mr. Maharama Mardi (48), Mr. Madan Mardi (45) and Mr. Iliyas Mardi (40) were killed in the spot  and seriously injured Mr. Krishna Mardi died in the following day morning in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. All the deceased were inhabitants of Pungi (Nibuda) village of Niyamatpur thana under Naogaon district.

Office-in-Charge (OC) of Manda police station Abdullahel Baki said that Mr. Anowar and Mr. Dalim, farmer of Chakgopal village, have a long dispute over 10 Bigha land. In this regard a trial has also been running in the Court.

 
He added, Mr. Anowar has implanted Boro paddy in the current season but on that morning Mr. Dalim hired some indigenous laborers for reaping the Boro paddy. At that time, Mr. Anowar brought some Bengali people with rod and sharp weapons. As a result a clash occurred between them. In that clash 3 indigenous laborers were killed on the spot. After hearing the news, police went to the spot immediately and recovered the dead bodies and sent to the Noagaon Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Witnesses said that a group of people led by Anowar came with sharp weapon (Hasuya, Ramda etc) and attacked on the indigenous laborers.

In this case Mr. Salam, brother of Mr. Dalim filed a case against Anowar and his gang. It is learnt that the police did not arrest anyone until now.

Sobin Chandra Munda, General Secretary of Jatiyo Adivasi Parishad (JAP) and the other indigenous leaders visited the place on 5 may 2012 in the morning. At the afternoon they also visited the victims and families and expressed condolences to the afflicted families. JAP leaders demanded the immediate action of this incident, and immediate arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.

On 4 May 2012 in the evening  Adivasi Chhatra Parishad (Indigenous Students’ Forum) at Rajshahi town  and on 5 May 2012 non-governmental organization (NGO) Broti at Manda upozila organized protest gathering and demanded arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.  

On 7 May 2012 JAP organized a protest gathering and human chain at Naogaon town. The leader of the organization demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.

Following the incident, police arrested Dalim, who hired the indigenous laborers and 6 persons of the Bengali attackers.

----------

source:
Kapaeeng Foundation
(A Human Rights Organization for Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh)

3 houses of indigenous people burnt down by settler Bengali in Panchari

3 houses of indigenous people have been burnt down by settler Bengali on May 10th at around 9 pm. 

The victims are 1. Mr. Kamal Sing Tripura (Father Name: Sikiram Tripura) from Payong Para, 

2. Chikon Moni Tripura (Father Name: Asacharan Tripura) and

3. Samiran Tripura (Father Name: Surendra Tripura) from Padmini Para under the Panchari Upazila. 

According to sources, the burners are 1. Md. Manik (Father Name: Rang Miya) from Ali Nagor, 2. Md. Fazlo (Father Name: Sahid Khan), 2. Anowar Asif (Father Name: Unknown) and Md. Karim (Father Name: Unknown). 

It has been learnt that, the main circumstance of the incident is land dispute. In fact, the Bengali settlers have been trying to occupy the land from the local inhabitants Tripura indigenous people. At present the para people from Payong Para, Padmini Para and Basa Kumar Para are living in fear of losing their land and attack from the Bengali settlers. They are asking to get cooperation from the respective authorities, organizations and individuals so that they can reservation their land and also ensure security of their life.

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source: Kapaeeng Foundation

Tension brews in CHT over land dispute resolution

Following is the news from Bangladeshi daily "The New Age"


http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2012-05-10&nid=9804

Tension brews in CHT over land dispute resolution

Abdullah Juberee

Tension brewed afresh among the hill people after the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission had announced that it might hear cases by way of ‘special measures’ in the face of repeated quorum crisis for its meetings. Regional political parties are reported to be preparing to resist the commission move.

Commission members from hill communities have been boycotting the commission proceedings since February 2011, demanding an amendment to the 2001 act that set up the commission.

The commission has since then failed to make any decision for a quorum crisis and the commission chair, retired Supreme Court judge Khademul Islam, spoke of an alternative move ‘in accordance with the existing act’ to hear the cases.

‘Law will take its own course. If there is a quorum crisis, the commission act has its resolution. We will be resolving the cases filed with the commission through special measures laid out in the act. We cannot sit idle. People have come here for justice,’ Khademul said.

The three political parties in the region, the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti, the United People’s Democratic Front and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (MN Larma) said they would not accept any such move and the commission’s continuing with such moves would result in dire consequences in the hills.

Commission member Devashish Roy, the Chakma circle chief and also member on UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, said, ‘What the commission chair is doing is unilateral. I am not aware of any “special measure” laid out in the commission act and the commission cannot make any decision without having a quorum. It will not be legal.’

He also questioned such an attitude of the commission chair when the government was working on amending the 2001 act regarding the commission.

The CHT regional council chairman, Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, also the PCJSS president, expressed his annoyance at the activities of the commission and declined comments.

Several members on the central committee of the PCJSS, the party that signed 1997 CHT accord ending decade-long insurgency, saw the commission’s activities as part of the government’s unwillingness to implement the accord. They said that hill people would not let the commission legitimise Bengali settlers in the hills in the name of hearing. 

The UPDF president, Prasit Bikash Khisha, saw the activities of the incumbent commission to be aimed at legalising the settlements to Bengali settlers awarded during the Ershad regime. He said that the controversial clauses of the 2001 act must be amended and traditional land rights of the hill people must be recognised before any hearing.

Prasit termed the land commission chair a ‘puppet’ of a certain quarter. ‘His biased, autocratic, unilateral, controversial acts are making the problems more complicated instead of reaching a resolution,’ he added.

Resolution of land disputes in hill districts remains a far cry as the government continues to buy time in amending the ‘controversial clauses’ of the 2001 act. And the commission chair is vowing to continue with the current act prompting its members from hill communities to ‘boycott’ its proceedings.

Although four commissions have been formed to settle the land disputes since the signing of the CHT accord in December 1997, the first three commissions served out their tenures doing nothing and the current commission invited strong opposition from hill communities as it initially favoured a cadastral survey and then moved for hearing cases not heeding the demand for the 2001 act amendment.

When the commission invited applications for resolving disputes and initiated moves for hearing in 2010, widespread protests brewed up among the people of the three hill districts as they feared that they would be denied of justice if the commission continued working under the 2001 act which, the hill people say, was contradictory to the 1997 accord in 13 points.

Around 5,000 applications were filed with the commission and the commission primarily sorted out 3,000 of them for hearing. It initially finalised 48 cases for hearing.

In the face of severe protests from people, the National Committee for the Implementation of CHT Accord on December 26, 2010 announced that the commission activities would be suspended till the 2001 act was amended and assured that a bill would be placed in the first parliament session of 2011 but remained unimplemented till date.

Although the committee announced suspension of the commission activities, the commission chair also said that no such decision had been taken by the committee and neither the committee nor the government had any authority to suspend activities of a commission.

A year after, on January 22, 2012, the committee accepted all the 13 proposals worked out by the CHT regional council and the CHT affairs ministry for amendment to the act and sent them to the land ministry.

Two months later, on March 28, an meeting between the land and the CHT affairs ministry reviewed the draft and agreed on 10 proposals and sent it back to the committee for ‘more clarification’ on the remaining three proposals.

Land ministry officials objected to the proposal for replacing Section 6(1)(a) with ‘In addition to quick settlement of the disputes of land of the rehabilitated tribal refugees, to settle all disputes related to land, which have been illegally given in settlement and occupied in accordance with the existing laws, customs and usages of Chittagong Hill Tracts.’ The text of the section in the current act reads: ‘To settle land-related dispute of the rehabilitated refugees in accordance with the existing laws and customs in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.’

They sought a clarification on the proposal to replace Section 6(1)(c) with ‘Any land that has been given in settlement in violation of the existing laws, custom and usages of the CHT shall be cancelled and if the land of 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 to the case of Reserved Forests, Kaptai Hydroelectricity Project area, Betbunia Earth Satellite Station, state-owned industries and land recorded with the government or local authorities.’ The current text reads: ‘Any land that has been given in settlement in violation of the existing laws of CHT shall be cancelled and if the land of any lawful owner has been illegally occupied on account of such settlement shall be restored.’

They also sought a clarification on proposal for adding a section called Section 21, stipulating: ‘Inclusion of functions of the Land Commission into the CHT Affairs Ministry and it will be enforced soon after enactment of this law.’

PCJSS representative demanded effective steps to implement the CHT Accord at UNPFII

PCJSS representative Mangal Kumar Chakma demanded effective steps to implement the CHT Accord in order to redress for past prejudice. He urge the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, member states of the United Nations and indigenous peoples, and international community to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to take effective steps to implement the CHT Accord as per recommendations of Mr. Lars-Anders Baer by declaring a roadmap with a time-frame without any further delay in order to redress for past prejudice.

Mr. Chakma raised this demand on 9 May 2012 during his intervention on “The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests”, the special theme of the 11^th session of the UNPFII which is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Following is the full statement of Mr. Chakma: 

MKC Intervention on Main Theme

Dysfunctionalities of CHT Land Commission will be addressed through legal amendments, hopes Raja Devasish Roy

Dysfunctionalities of CHT Land Commission will be addressed through legal amendments, hopes Raja Devasish Roy

With regard to "impartiality", "fairness" and "transparency" (also referred to in article 27 of the UNDRIP), there are challenges, on account of the dictatorial and discriminatory attitude of the non-indigenous chairperson of the CHT Land Commission, says Raja Devasish Roy, member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Issues. “These dysfunctionalities will be addressed through legal amendments and the appointment of a more competent and impartial person as chairperson, however, he hoped.

Mr. Roy, also circle chief of Chakma circle, expressed his opinion during the discussion Agenda Item 3 on “The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on indigenous peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” on 2nd Day of the 11th session of the UNPFII (on 8 May 2012) which was started 7 May 2012 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Mr. Roy also said that in theory, the lands, territories and natural resources of the states also belong "to the people". The challenge, however, is that, among the population of most states, indigenous peoples remain on the margins of power, law-making and policy-making. Even where indigenous peoples constitute a significant percentage of the population of the state or its different parts, their economic marginality and the dynamics of competing interest groups and money-oriented party-based electoral politics result in their exclusion from major policy-making processes.

He also said that the Land Commission in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, came about on the basis of an accord between the Government of Bangladesh and the indigenous people's party, JSS, in 1997. The CHT Accord was - if I may remind participants here - the subject of a study at this Forum's 10th session (E/C.19/2011/6). Although the law establishing the commission still awaits further amendment to make it conform more faithfully to the provisions of the 1997 Accord, it encompasses several of the principles mentioned in article 27 of the UN Declaration. The commission includes a majority of indigenous persons ("in conjunction with indigenous peoples"; "indigenous peoples have the right to participate in such process"); it is obliged to adjudicate in accordance with the "laws, customs and practices of the CHT"; ("giving due recognition to the indigenous peoples' laws, traditions, customs and land tenure systems"); and its rulings will have the statu! s of that of a civil court of law ("independent"). With regard to "impartiality", "fairness" and "transparency" (also referred to in article 27, UNDRIP), there are challenges, on account of the dictatorial and discriminatory attitude of the commission's non-indigenous chairperson, but it is hoped that these dysfunctionalities will be addressed through legal amendments and the appointment of a more competent and impartial person as chairperson. Bodies such as the CHT Commissions are crucial for restitution and other redress for violated land rights on account of the limitations of adversarial mainstream justice systems, which seldom provide efficacious remedies to indigenous peoples. The Chittagong Hill Tracts is also another example of a crisis of implementation of a modern-day treaty, as also the violation of a historical treaty of the Chakma king with the British East India Company, in 1785.

Following is the full statement of Raja Devasish Roy:

RDR-Dscvry

11th session of UNPFII opens: There will be no true development without participation of the indigenous peoples, says Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General

11th session of UNPFII opens

There will be no true development without participation of the indigenous peoples, says Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General

There will be no true development without participation of the indigenous peoples. In every aspect of development project, Free, Prior and Informed Consent of the IPs is very essential, says Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro reaffirmed this commitment of the UN during opening session of the 11th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) held at general assembly hall of the United Nations headquarters in New York on 7 May 2012.

She started her address by thanking all the indigenous peoples who have traveled from all over the world to make this happen. She reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to work for the recognition of the rights of the indigenous peoples.

She emphasized that the Secretary General wants solid participation of the indigenous peoples in Rio+20 and called upon the indigenous peoples to share their traditional knowledge there.

She further said, still now, we keep hearing stories of suffering of indigenous peoples, indigenous peoples facing injustice, women see violence, marginalization and even extinction. But, time has come now to change these stories.

Opening of the session was started by the amazing earthly sound of “didgeridoo”, an Australian aboriginal instrumental music, played by Mr. Cameron McCarthy. 

Mr. Thomas Stelzer, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, declared the opening of the 11^th session of the UNPFII.

Opening welcome was made by Todadaho Sid Hill, traditional Chief of the Onondaga Nation. He greeted all the participants with his traditional ceremonial welcome, acknowledging “mother earth” as our true mother, and acknowledging everything that the creator has given to us.

In the opening session, Grand Chief Edward John, a hereditary Chief of Tl’azt’en Nation located on the banks of the Nak’al Bun (Stuart Lake) in Northern part of Canada, was elected as the Chairperson for the eleventh session and Mr.  Megan Davis, Director of the Indigenous Law Centre of Australia’s University of New South Wales was appointed as a Special Rapporteur. 

The newly elected chairperson Mr. Edward John, with the consent from the respected members of the PFII, adopted the Agenda and Programme of work for the Eleventh Session.  “The enduring impact of the “Doctrine of Discovery” was set as special theme for this year’s session.  The other agenda items that were set for this session include the rights of indigenous peoples to food and food sovereignty; the situation of indigenous peoples in Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia; the upcoming World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (2014).

Talking about the main theme, “Doctrine of Discovery”, Chief Edward John said, importance should be given on enduring impact of historical wrongs as state reviews their relationship with the indigenous peoples.  He said this Forum is a wonderful opportunity for the indigenous peoples to share their stories and to discuss their collective future. He expects that the discussion that will take place at this Forum, will really make a difference to the indigenous peoples.

Mr. Thomas Stelzer, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Co-ordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, acknowledged the depth of knowledge of the forum members.  He stated PFII is one of the best session in UN calendar where Indigenous Peoples, different organization  and UN system all come together to advance IP’S rights. He called upon the IPs to take solid participation in next month Rio+20 conference, where they can share their knowledge for sustainable development and to fight against climate change and also it will be a prime opportunity for the indigenous peoples to reaffirm all section of humanity. He further added, attention is needed from the states to promote & protect IPs rights, equality & justice.

The opening session was ended with a ceremonial prayer offered by Mayan elders.

This year, a group of indigenous representatives from Bangladesh comprising Information and Publicity Secretary of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti Mangal Kumar Chakma, president of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad and chairperson of Kapaeeng Foundation Rabindranath Soren, member of Kapaeeng Foundation Anmoy Kiran Chakma, Kamalasen Chakma and Sudattapriya Chakma of Parbatya Pratibandhi Sangstha attended the 11th session of the UNPFII. Besides, member of the UNPFII and circle chief of Chakma Circle Raja Devasish also attended the session.

The 11th session of the UNPFII will continue to 18 May 2012.

------

source:

Kapaeeng Foundation

(A Human Rights Organization for Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh)

Rape, murder of indigenous girl sparks protest: Alleged criminal arrested

Following is the report from Bangladeshi newspaper,  "The daily Star"

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=233621

Rape, murder of indigenous girl sparks protest

Alleged criminal arrested

 

Longudu police yesterday arrested the alleged rapist and killer of indigenous girl Sujata Chakma from his house at Uttar Yarengchhari in Atharakchhara union under Longudu upazila of the district.
The arrested is Md Ibrahim, 30, (a converted Muslim, earlier name Kanchan Chandra Biswas), son of Santosh Kumar Biswas of Uttar Yarengchhari village in Atharakchhara union.

Santosh hails from Bolondi in Jessore district.

Sujata Chakma, 11, daughter of late Jyotish Chandra Chakma of Ultachhari village in Atharakchhara union under Longudu upazila, was forcibly taken to a nearby jungle when she along with her youngest brother Triratan Chakma went to graze their cattle at about 2:30pm on Wednesday, said police.

"The alleged criminal, Ibrahim raped her and then hacked her with a machete on the chest and back, leaving her dead on the spot, said Reazul Haque, officer in-charge (OC) of Longudu police station, quoting locals and the victim's family members.

"Situational evidences tell that arrested Ibrahim is the real culprit although he has not confessed it to us during primary interrogation. We are yet to receive the doctors' report in this regard," he said.

As the victim's brother Triratan Chakma hurriedly came back and told the incident to his family members, they started searching and found Sujata's body in a pool of blood in the jungle. Informed, police recovered the body on the night.

The body was handed over to her family members after autopsy at Rangamati General Hospital yesterday.

The victim's elder brother Biton Chakma, also a member of ward No 8 of Atharakchhara union parishad, filed a murder case with Longudu police station in this connection and Longudu police yesterday arrested the alleged killer.

"Ibrahim, also accused of raping another indigenous teenage girl on June 15 last year, was arrested by police after the incident and the court sent him to jail. He came out from jail last month after a higher court granted him bail," Longudu OC Reazul Haque added. 

Monkya Ching, resident medical officer of Rangamati Sadar Hospital, said, "We will provide the medical report by next four days. I can't tell you anything now as a three-member medical board will decide about it."

Demanding exemplary punishment to the culprit, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity yesterday brought out a procession in the town and held a rally at New Court Building. They sent a memorandum to the home minister through the deputy commissioner of Rangamati in this regard.
Our Khagrachhari Correspondent adds: At a protest rally held at Changee Square area of Khagrachhari district town yesterday, leaders of Hill Women's Federation demanded exemplary punishment to the rapist and killer of Sujata Chakma.

Rape and other kinds of sexual abuse against indigenous girls have continued in Chittagong Hill Tracts region as criminals often go unpunished, they said.

Our Staff Correspondent ads: Ayesha Khanom, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, has expressed her grave concern at rape and murder of adivasi schoolgirl Sujata, said a press release.
Demanding proper action against the criminal, she called upon all to form nationwide social movement against such brutalities on women and children.

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More details and pictures of the murdered girl could be found here: http://chtnewsupdate.blogspot.com/2012/05/minor-indigenous-jumma-girl-allegedly.html

Attempted rape of a school girl, one arrested

Attempted rape of a school girl, one arrested

May 10, 2012

THE police have arrested Zahirul Islam alias Zahir Driver, 23, on charges of attempting to rape a five grade Jumma student in Dighinala in Khagrachari district, report Prothom Alo and Suprobhat Bangladesh.

‘He was arrested from Comilla Tila area in the Upazila yesterday, Wednesday.’ the papers said in their today’s edition.

Zahir is the son of late Ula Mia of Comilla Tila.

According to the police and victim’s family, the incident occurred at 3pm on Tuesday (8 May) when Zahir entered the house of the victim in the village of Pomang Para in absence of her parents and attacked her.

But when the girl screamed, Zahir ran away.

The girl’s parents said that they had gone out to collect firewood leaving their three children back home, and that when they had returned in the afternoon, the girl told them about what had happened.

Later, they filed a complaint against Zahirul Islam under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.

Md. Anwar Hossain, assistant officer-in-charge of Dighinala police station, who is investigating the case, said, ‘The accused has been arrested and sent to jail. And the girl has been referred to the court for recording her testimony.’

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Courtesy: Chtnews.com

লংগদুতে আদিবাসী শিশুকে হত্যা

লংগদুতে আদিবাসী শিশুকে হত্যা

তারিখ: ১০-০৫-২০১২
রাঙামাটির লংগদু উপজেলায় সুজাতা চাকমা (১১) নামের এক আদিবাসী শিশুকে হত্যা করা হয়েছে।
সুজাতা উপজেলার আটরকছড়া ইউনিয়নের উল্টোছড়ি সরকারি প্রাথমিক বিদ্যালয়ের চতুর্থ শ্রেণীর ছাত্রী। তার বাড়ি উল্টোছড়ি গ্রামে।
সূত্র জানায়, গতকাল বুধবার দুপুরে সুজাতা ছয় বছর বয়সী একটি শিশুসহ গ্রাম থেকে প্রায় আধা কিলোমিটার দূরে গরু আনতে যায়। বেলা আড়াইটা থেকে তিনটার দিকে এক ব্যক্তি সুজাতাকে ধরে একটি পাহাড়ি ছড়ার ওপরের দিকে নিয়ে যায়। এ সময় তার সঙ্গে থাকা শিশুটি দৌড়ে গ্রামে এসে লোকজনকে খবর দেয়। পরে লোকজন ঘটনাস্থলে গিয়ে সুজাতার লাশ উদ্ধার করে।
আটরকছড়া ইউনিয়ন পরিষদের চেয়ারম্যান মঙ্গল কুমার চাকমা জানান, শিশুটির শরীরে কাটা চিহ্ন ও ধর্ষণের আলামত রয়েছে।
লংগদু থানার ভারপ্রাপ্ত কর্মকর্তা (ওসি) রেজাউল হক বলেন, শিশুটিকে ধর্ষণের পর হত্যা করা হয়েছে বলে স্থানীয় লোকজন অভিযোগ করেছে।


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Courtesy: Daily Prothom-Alo

A minor indigenous Jumma girl allegedly killed after rape in Longadu in CHT

On 9 May 2012 a minor indigenous Jumma girl named Ms Sujata Chakma (11 years), daughter of late Mr. Jyotish Chandra Chakma and Ms. Mongala Devi Chakma of Ultachari mouza area of Atarakchara union under Longadu upazila in Rangamati hill district was allegedly killed after rape by a Bengali settler. The victim was a student of class 4 of Ultachari Government Primary School. The girl was brutally killed by chopping on the neck with sharp weapon.

It is learnt that the incident happened around 2.30 pm on that day, when Sujata Chakma along with her nephew (5 year old) named Triratna Chakma was grazing cows half a kilometer from the village.

According to Triranta Chakma’s statement, a bearded Bengali man came and forcibly took Sujata away towards upward of Sadachara. She then ran to the village to give the news.

The villagers rushed to the spot, but by then the culprit had ran away after raping and killing her. After being informed, the police reached the spot and recovered the body of Sujata.

As per the statement of Sujata’s nephew, it is learnt that the Bengali settler was wearing a pant and red shirt.

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Courtesy: Kapaeeng Foundation
Photo Courtesy: PCJSS, Longadu