Demand for full implementation of CHT accord

Shantimoy Chakma, Rangamati
Political as well as civil society leaders of indigenous communities in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have demanded full implementation of the peace accord signed on this day 10 years ago.

Expressing their discontent and disappointment at non-implementation of the accord in full in the past one decade, they noted that the present caretaker government has also taken no steps in this regard.

Vital clauses of the peace deal concern activating the Land Commission and withdrawal of all 'temporary camps' of army, BDR, APBn (Armed Police Battalion), police and Ansar in the CHT.

As per provision of the peace pact, the government has to hand over control of local civil and police administration and the three hill district councils (HDCs) to the CHT Regional Council (RC). But it is yet to be done.

The accord was signed on December 2, 1997, ending two decades of bush war.

Urging the present neutral government to implement the accord in full, leaders of the indigenous people said successive political governments in the past failed to execute the accord properly because of their limitations due to involvement in massive corruption. But the present government has no such limitations or weaknesses either to any individuals or parties, they noted.

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), a political forum of indigenous communities in the CHT that signed the peace pact with the then Awami League (AL) government, is not holding any programmes this time on the 10th anniversary of the pact.

Rupayan Dewan, a top PCJSS leader, told The Daily Star that they did not take up any programmes this time due to the state of emergency.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Adibasi Odhikar Andolan, a forum for establishing rights of ethnic minorities in the country, organises a review meeting on 'implementation of peace accord' at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today.

CHT Regional Council Chairman and PCJSS chief Shantu Larma and other leaders will attend the meeting, sources said.

Sanjib Drong, secretary general of Bangladesh Adibasi Forum, said indigenous people in the CHT are disappointed that the accord was not fully implemented even in 10 years.

Goutam Dewan, civil society leader and former chairman of Rangamati Local Government Council, said problems of the CHT cannot be solved without full implementation of the peace pact.

Prasanna Kumar Tangchangya, president of Bandarban district AL, said the AL government did not get enough time to implement the accord in full.

Dipankar Talukder, former lawmaker and president of Rangamati district AL, said, "We want full execution of the accord. All pro-peace treaty forces have to unite for this.

"When contacted, Shantu Larma said, “No comment now. I will tell you when time comes."

The leaders said vital clauses of the accord still remained unimplemented, breeding discontent and frustration among the CHT people, mostly indigenous.

On condition of anonymity, PCJSS leaders alleged that the previous alliance government had no intention to execute the accord. So, instead of taking any steps in this regard, it had violated the pact in various ways.

Noting that the main problem of the CHT concerns land, the leaders said the Land Commission has been formed to solve the complicated land disputes but it still remains dysfunctional. And land problem is getting more and more complicated, they added.

Such a situation is also affecting relationship between the indigenous and Bangla- speaking people in the CHT, the leaders said.

source by -http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=13911