The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission issued an press
statement on alleged rape of Tripura girl child in Dighinala signed by
co-chair of the Commission namely Eric Avebury, Sultana Kamal and Elsa
Stamatopoulou.
CHTC demands justice re alleged rape of Tripura girl child
The International CHT Commission (CHTC) is
alarmed at the recent reports of violence against indigenous women and
girls in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and appeals to the Government
of Bangladesh to provide effective protection and justice to the victims
and survivors. The Commission has noted that the alleged rape of an
eleven-year old Tripura girl child on 21 August by a Police Constable in
Dighinala Upazila of Khagrachhri district is even more alarming as it
involves a member of the law enforcement agencies, whose duty it is to
protect individuals from such an attack.
The CHTC strongly condemns this gross violation of basic human rights
of the child, and demand that the perpetrator be awarded exemplary
punishment to prevent recurrence of such crimes in the future. The
Commission calls upon the Government to take specific measures to ensure
that members of law‐enforcement agencies refrain from such systematic
and indiscriminate violation of rights of indigenous communities.
The CHTC is deeply concerned about the recent reports of sexual
violence especially rape on very young indigenous girls in the CHT this
year. According to credible reports the indigenous Tripura girl was
raped allegedly by a Police Constable at Ataltila Noymile area of Merung union under Dighinala upazila in Khagrachari district while
she was grazing cows near Ataltila police camp. When the child’s mother
went to the police camp to file a case against the alleged perpetrator,
the on‐duty police officer of the Dighinala Police Station allegedly
refused to file the complaint and instead offered her Taka 1000 to
settle the matter. It was only after the Head Karbari of Noymile village
and Tripura Students’ Forum leaders and locals protested, that a rape
case (G.R.‐237/012, sec‐9[1]) was filed under Women and Children
Repression Prevention Act 2000.
It is most disturbing that serious allegations of sexual violence and
complicity in a cover up are being brought against members of the
law‐enforcing agencies. If proved correct, these would amount to grave
violations of fundamental rights to protection from violence enshrined
in the Constitution and various international commitments made by
Bangladesh. They are doubly disappointing as they contradict the
electoral pledge of the Government.
The CHTC recalls that the AL‐led Government had stated in their Election Manifesto:
“…discriminatory treatment and human rights violations against
religious and ethnic minorities and indigenous people must come to an
end permanently. Security of their life, wealth and honor will be
guaranteed. Their entitlement to equal opportunity in all spheres of
state and social life will be ensured”.
In the face of such commitments, the CHTC is shocked and concerned
that indigenous women and girls are not only the victims of sexual
violence in increasing numbers, but also denied justice, while
perpetrators are rarely brought to justice, which is creating a culture
of impunity. The CHTC is deeply worried about implications of such
incidents on rule of law and justice system, as well as the democratic
credentials of the Government.
The Commission urges that the Government take all possible measures
to stop and prevent such violations and demonstrate that they are
committed to basic human rights of the indigenous communities, justice
and democratic practice. In this connection the CHTC reiterates the
demands that in the CHT there should be a mixed police force drawn from
different communities and systematic monitoring of rape incidents to
remove barriers and discrimination at every level of the justice system.
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courtesy: Kapaeeng
Following is the full press statement of CHTC:
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