7 Indigenous Jumma villages burnt down by Bengali settlers in Sajek in CHT

7 Indigenous Jumma villages burnt down by Bengali settlers in Sajek in CHT

Newly infiltrated Bengali settlers with the direct support of Bangladesh military forces attacked on the 7 villages of indigenous Jumma peoples throughout the 4 kilometre long area from Nursery Para to Gangaram Mukh areas of Sajek union under Baghaichari upazila (sub-district) in Rangamati district in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) on 20 April 2008 at night. More than 100 houses of indigenous villagers were burnt to ashes. Bengali settlers beat the Jumma villagers including women and children indiscriminately and looted valuables of the houses during the attack. The attack lasted for almost 4 hours from 9.30 p.m. to 1.30 a.m.

Short description of Incident

Recently Bangladesh military forces started settlement programme of newly infiltrated Bengali families along the roadsides of Sajek road from Baghaichari to Gangaram Mukh by forcibly occupying the land owned by the indigenous Jumma people. It is also mentionable that thousands of indigenous Jumma families have been living in this area for decades long. Hence, Jumma villagers of these areas have been protesting against this illegal settlement programme. Despites the protesting, very recently Bengali settlers illegally constructed some houses at Gangaram area on the land owned by Jumma villagers. In addition, on 19 April around 2.00 a.m. a dozen of houses of Jumma villagers of Bhanga Karbari Para were destroyed by the Bengali settlers. On the contrary, on 20 April indigenous Jumma villagers also destroyed s! ome houses of Bengali settlers that constructed couple days ago. In retaliation to this act, the Bengali settlers equipped with sharp weapons started attack on Jumma villages at 9.30 p.m. while Jumma villagers also organised themselves to prevent the attack. At that time, a group of military forces from Baghaihat zone led by commanding officer Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz rushed there. However, they did not prevent Bengali settlers from setting fire on Jumma houses. Rather, it is learnt that the army led by one Captain Zabaedur Rahman supplied patrol to Bengali settlers to set fire on Jumma houses. More than 100 houses of Jumma villagers of 7 villages of Jumma people namely Nursery Para, Baibachara, Purba Para, Nangal Mura, Retkaba, Simana para and Gangaram Mukh were completely burnt to ashes. On the contrary, some Bengali settlers were wounded due to prevent by Jumma villagers. Jumma villagers also alleged that Bengali settlers set fire ! on their newly constructed houses to make excuse their brutal attack.

It is also learnt that three Jumma villages adjacent to Baghaihat bazar namely Trishankar Karbari Para, Kachu Adam and Shanti Member Para were also attacked by Bengali settlers. On 21 April at around 10.30 a.m. a group of Bengali settlers encircle the shop of Anunay Chakma (52) of Baghaihat bazar. However, shopkeepers of the market rescued him from physical assault by the Bengali settlers.

It is mentionable that the military forces have increased settlement programme of Bengali settlers in Khagrachari sadar, Mahalchari, Dighinala and Panchari upazilas (sub-district) under Khagrachari district, north district of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region by taking the advantage of State Emergency imposed on 11 January 2007 throughout the country. Two hundred families of Bengali settlers were already settled down on the indigenous people's land in March 2007 at Dantkupya mouza under Khagrachari sadar upazila. A new army camp was also set up there to provide security for Bengali settlers. Hundreds of houses were constructed by Bengali settlers at Gamaridhala, Maischari, Nunchari, Bijitala, Joysen Karbari Para etc. by forcibly occupying hundreds acre of land owned by indigenous Jumma people. Tension has been mounted in Dighinala while military forces tr! ied to settle 812 families of Bengali settlers at Sadhana Tilla of Babuchari mouza in Dighinala upazila in last year. On the other, BNP-led last coalition government undertook programme to settle 10 thousands families of Bengali settlers in Sajek union close to Maini reserved forest. Since imposition of the State of Emergency on 11 January 2007 , military forces resumed this settlement programme occupying indigenous people's land.

Reactions

Different organisations condemned the attack and demanded punishment to the people responsible who ransacked houses at the village. Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad formed a human chain and held a solidarity rally on Dhaka University campus on 22 April 2008 while the Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) brought out a protest procession on 21 April 2008 . Both organisations expressed deep concern over the incident and demanded proper investigation. Jatiya Mukti Council also condemned the attack on the hilly village. In a statement Council President Badruddin Umar and General Secretary Fayjul Hakim demanded punishment to the persons responsible.

Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad (BACSP) organised protest meeting at Dhaka University Campus on 23 April 2008 at 10.30 a.m. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Karuna Moy Chakma, President of BACSP. Among others, teacher of Dhaka University Dr. Sourav Sikder and Mr. Robaet Ferdous, general secretary of Bangladesh Garo Chatra Sangathan Mr, Uuther Samajatra, press secretary of Bangladesh Marma Students Council Mr. Aungyajai Marma, leader of Student Federation Mr. Saju, Hajong student leader Mr. Sahel Hajong and acting general secretary of Hill Students Council Mr. Hiron Mitra Chakma spoke in the meeting. The protest meeting was followed by a procession. Speakers demanded proper compensation for the victims and withdrawal of Bengali settler families from Sajek area.

Government's measures:

Chairman of the Khagrachhari Hill District Council Monindra Lal Tripura, Two members of the Rangamati Hill District Council namely Mr. Bihari Ranjan Chakma and Mr. Moniruzzaman Mohsin, Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Mohammad Nurul Amin, Police Superintendent of the district Abdul Baten rushed to the spots to take stock of the situation on 21 April 2008 . Rangamati Hill District Council granted Taka 100,000 for victims. It is very astonishing that lion share of this money were handed over to commanding officer of Baghaihat zone Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz to distribute to the victims.

Present situation

Most of the indigenous villagers took shelter into the deep forest fearing further attack. Victims of the indigenous families became totally ruined. Most of them are passing days without food. They are staying on open sky. Only 10 victims including two women members of the Sajek union came to Baghaihat bazar to receive reliel while others denied to come Baghaihat bazar fearing retaliation. Two women members of Sajek union submitted a list of victims to administration. On the other, separate cases were filed by both indigenous villagers and Bengali settlers with Baghaichari police station. But the officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station did not disclose the name of the complainants and defendants. But no arrest has been made so far.

Kapaeeng Watch
(A human rights group for Indigenous Peoples)
Jagannath Hall, Dhaka University
Dhaka, Bangladesh
E-mail:kapaeeng.watch@gmail.com, kapaeeng.watch@micico.ch