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
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