Statement submitted to the special rapporteur on Indigenous Issues by UPDF representative at the UNPFII
To the special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples
New York, USA
16 May 2012
Issue: Human Rights Situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
We, on behalf of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), would like to draw kind attention of Special Raporteur on the Rights of indigenous people to the human rights situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh.
Political repression
In
December 1997, an accord was signed to bring peace in the CHT. But in
the last over 14 years it has failed to bring peace and improve the
human rights situation. Soon after the signing of the accord, repression
on the so-called ‘anti-accord elements’ [meaning members of the United
Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) and its front organizations, namely,
Hill Students’ Council, Hill Women’s Federation and Democratic Youth
Forum] began. In a report entitled “Life Is Not Ours: Land and Human
Rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh: Update 4” published in
2000, the Chittagong Hill Tracts International Commission stated:
Since
the signing of the peace agreement, a total of more than 120 Jumma
activists have been arrested, many on old (mostly fabricated) charges.
Apparently, the provision in the Peace Accord for an amnesty for all JSS
cadres does not apply to these activists. Immediately following the
surrender of the JSS and Shanti Bahini, in the months of February and
March 1998 alone, more than 30 leaders and activists of the HPC and HSC
were arrested. On 17 February 1998, one week after the surrender
ceremony, the police raided a hostel room at Dhaka University, which was
also being used as an office for the HPC, HSC and HWF. The Police
entered without a warrant, claiming they were looking for illegal arms
although they found nothing incriminating.
Since
then, the situation has deteriorated even further. Repression on the
UPDF and its front organizations have become commonplace. Since the
signing of the accord at least 240 members and supporters of the UPDF
have been killed by the Bangladesh Military personnel and armed groups
patronized by them. Its peaceful rallies and demonstrations are
regularly attacked while its members and supporters, including members
of the Hill Women’s Federation, are arrested, tortured and jailed. On
the other hand, four of its offices have been forced to shut down
without due process of law.
Most recent incidents of repression:
-11th
May 2012: Mr. Choton Kanti Tangchangya(40), UPDF leader of Bandarban
district unit, unsuccessful candidate of last general election, and his
follower Mr. Jolomoni Tangchangya were arrested by police on a
fabricated charge.
-14th
May 2012: Bikash Tangchangya (40), a sympathizer of UPDF at Rajastali
in Rangamati district was allegedly attacked and injured.
Rape and Large scale attacks
In
addition to political repression, there have been at least 11 large
scale attacks on Jumma habitations which were carried out by members of
Bangladesh Army and illegal Bengali settlers in order to grab land,
while rapes of Jumma women and minor girls have become a serious
problem. Between January and May 10 this year, at least six Jumma girls
and women were raped; one case of attempted rape was reported while
another girl in her teens was abducted. In the most recent incident, an
11-year old Jumma girl, Sujata Chakma, was murdered after rape in
Langudu on 9 May 2012.
Land grabbing
While
land grabbing by illegal Bengali settlers is a perennial problem, it
took a serious turn during the rule of emergency from 2007 – 2008.
Hundreds of acres of land belonging to Jumma people were captured. On
many occasions land grabbing or attempt at land grabbing were
accompanied by communal attacks on Jumma villages, resulting in deaths
and destruction of houses and other properties.
On May 10 the
settlers set fire to a house belonging to Kamal Singh Tripura in Paiong
Para village under Ugudochari (Ultachari) Union in Panchari Upazila of
Khagrachari district . Kamal Singh had built the house on his land a few days ago.
Two settlers namely Md. Manik and Md. Fazlul who set file have been trying to capture his land for a long time.
Military control
Despite
the CHT accord which ended the armed insurrection led by the
now-defunct Shanti Bahini guerrillas, the CHT continues to remain under
military occupation. The government has replaced “Operation Dabanol”
with “Operation Ottoron” to impose virtual military rule in the CHT. The
overwhelming presence of the military, together with the illegal
Bengali settlers, poses a serious threat to the existence of the Jumma
people.
Denial of the right to identity
On 30 June 2011, the Bangladesh national parliament passed the fifteenth amendment to the constitution which, inter alia, provides that “The
people of Bangladesh shall be known as Bangalees as a nation and the
citizens of Bangladesh shall be known as Bangladeshis”. [Article 6(2)]
The
imposition of Bengali nationality on the indigenous Jumma people and
other non-Bengali national minorities has serious implications. While it
is a violation of fundamental human rights, it reflects the policy of
the Bangladesh state to ethnic-cleanse the indigenous peoples of the
country. Bangladesh continues to deny the existence of indigenous people
in the country.
There
were many on ground investigation conducted by CHT commission and other
international agencies into the violation of human rights in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts(CHT). But, most investigation
reports could not properly focus on the political repression on the UPDF
supporters-activists and other human rights defenders. More inquiry
into the CHT with a follow up measure is urgent.
Sincerely,
Ronel Chakma
Spokesperson (South Korea)
United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF)
Parish Chakma
Representative of the United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) in New York, USA
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