|
|---|
Statement of the PCJSS on the open letter of the CHT Commission on election violence in the CHT The PCJSS and the Jumma people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) recall with deep gratitude the worthiest contribution of the Organising Committee, Chittagong Hill Tracts Campaign (OCCHTC) for its commendable role in the worldwide campaign to safeguard the Jumma people. The Jumma people are greatly indebted to the OCCHTC for sending the CHT Commission (CHTC) to Bangladesh and India to investigate the gross human rights violations in the CHT. The PCJSS and the Jumma people shall remain ever grateful to all the members of the CHTC for their visit to far-flung areas of the CHT and the Jumma refugee camps in India taking all risks of their lives. The report brought out by the CHTC based on its field inquiry under the title 'Life is not ours' was a great documentation of facts of ethnocides and all forms of gross human rights violations done against the Jumma people which helped draw the support from all over the world. The PCJSS shares the view of the CHTC that the use of violence in an election process is undemocratic. The PCJSS also believes that in the democratic politics it is completely unethical to use violence. Unfortunately, with pain, it has been witnessed major election violence during recently held 8th parliamentary election throughout Bangladesh including the CHT. According to some press reports, the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) has accused the PCJSS for killing some of its members prior to election. The CHTC has also wanted to know whether the PCJSS members have "acted without the knowledge and approval of Mr. Santu Larma, leader of the PCJSS." The PCJSS being a Democratic Party can not engage itself in such undemocratic and unlawful act. This accusation against PCJSS has been brought just to tarnish down its image. Rather, the UPDF has opposed the PCJSS activists who were engaged in election boycott programme. For instance, Mr. Mangal Sundar Chakma and Mr. Nishiram Chakma were put under house arrest by the UPDF at village Pujgang Mukh in Panchari Sub-district since September 18, 2001. It has deployed special armed groups for pressurizing the voters in favour of Mr. Prasit Bikash Khisa, President, the UPDF. (Ref.: Daily 'Bhorer Kagoj' and 'Jugantar' dated September 5, 2001) and has threatened, tortured and misbehaved with many Jummas before and after the election in Kaukhali, Panchari and Khagrachari areas. The PCJSS has the information that the UPDF has developed an internal conflict on the election strategy and the distribution of huge amount of money they got as ransom against the release of three European hostages. A section of the UPDF has wanted to support Mr. Kalpa Ranjan Chakma, former M. P. while others Mr. Upendra Lal Chakma, President, Repatriated Jumma Refugees Welfare Association as candidate for Khagrachari Hill Tracts constituency. It has been learnt that Mr. K. R. Chakma was assured to get support from the UPDF for his return to the parliament. Mr. U. L. Chakma extended his logistical supports to make the UPDF show down at Swanirbhar bazar in Khagrachari on August 1, 2001 a success, as he was also assured to get fullest election support from the UPDF. Even the UPDF has given commitment to support the leaders of the Marma Unnayan Sangsad for its Marma candidate. Ignoring all these opinions Mr. Prasit Bikash Khisa, President, UPDF has fielded himself as a candidate for Khagrachari and Rangamati constituencies. A rivalry has developed among Mr. K. R. Chakma, Mr. U. L. Chakma and Mr. Prasit for returning to the parliamentary election. For instance, the UPDF has asked Mr. U. L. Chakma to meet them at Giriphul, a UPDF base. Mr. U. L. Chakma could anticipate that he would be forced to withdraw his candidature in favour of Mr. Prasit and in lieu, he has sent two of his election agents. They both were misbehaved by Mr. Dipti Sankar Chakma, one of the UPDF leaders and has sternly warned them that Mr. U.L. Chakma would face serious consequences if he did not withdraw from the election battle. Mr. Kalpa Ranjan Chakma was stopped and assaulted by the UPDF at Shivmandir on his way to Panchari for his election campaign. As a result he has gone to Panchari with Police escort. (Ref.: Daily 'Janakantha' dated September 16, 2001). Considering the above election scenario and internal conflict in the UPDF the PCJSS is well convinced that the UPDF is solely responsible for the above violence which resulted killing, injury and kidnap. The call for election boycott by the PCJSS was against the illegal and anti-accord decision of the government but not against the UPDF. The PCJSS is also of the opinion that each individual and each party/organization has the freedom to decide whether, and how to use its democratic rights to take part in the elections. The CHTC is also aware of the fact of the PCJSS' election boycott. With a view to boycotting the election through democratic and peaceful means, the PCJSS has announced that the voters would not be forced against their wills and it would not hinder the election officials and personnel. Accordingly, the election result has proved to be free and peaceful. Even the UPDF was seen very free and active in election campaign in many parts of Khagrachari district without any opposition from the PCJSS. Hence, the PCJSS can not be suspected for the armed attacks on the UPDF's activists in election campaigning. The PCJSS also believes that in the over ground politics there is no scope to practice the culture of armed politics. Unfortunately, the UPDF has introduced this culture in the CHT in the name of establishing its Fullest Autonomy against the PCJSS' regional autonomy that was achieved through the signing of the CHT Accord. The UPDF had started armed attack on the members of the PCJSS before the return of the PCJSS to over ground and consequently in its first armed attack in Panchari two PCJSS members namely Mr. Sunendu Bikash Chakma (Renon) and Mr. Pranamoy Chakma (Sujan) were seriously injured and taken to Khagrachari government hospital. Mr. Hangshadhwaj Chakma, Convenor, CHT Liaison Committee (entrusted to arrange peace talks between the Bangladesh government and the PCJSS) took care of their treatment. For giving a strong and organised move against the PCJSS, the UPDF was formed in December 1998. All activities of Mr. Prasit and his followers have been against the PCJSS but not against the government. The UPDF wants to establish its sole political supremacy in the CHT and hence, has engaged itself using all forms of actions against the PCJSS. They have pointed their guns on the necks of the PCJSS members whether he is a general member or a leader. It even has been hindering in PCJSS' organisational activities. The UPDF could have make the PCJSS as their closet tactical friend at least for some time for achieving the rights of the Jumma people. Still they have no political activities on basic issues of the Jumma people like the issue of demilitarization, settlement of land disputes and rehabilitation of Bengali settlers outside the CHT, rehabilitation of the internally displaced Jummas and the repatriated refugees and etc. They rather chalked out their lone programme to annihilate the PCJSS members for establishing their Fullest Autonomy from the graves of the PCJSS members and the Jumma people as well. As a democratic political party, the PCJSS has no any reservation on the UPDF's political activities, as every individual has the rights to choose his or her political belief. But, it has the rights to raise its concern for being targeted by the UPDF through armed activities. The UPDF has also rights to express its unhappiness on the extent of rights achieved through the CHT Accord but it has no rights to kill the PCJSS members on the ground of so-called failing to achieve their fullest rights. The UPDF, so far has killed 34 PCJSS members, PCP (Pahari Chatra Parishad/Hill Students Council) members and PCJSS supporters, abducted more than 100. Five PCJSS members including one central committee member were abducted by the UPDF on June 13, 1998 at Ghilachari under Naniarchar Sub-district while they were busy in a pro-peace accord campaign. They even attacked a convoy carrying PCJSS participants returning from Khagrachari after attending the programme to mark the 15th death anniversary of late M. N. Larma, the founder of the PCJSS on November 10, 1998. The PCJSS, in due time has brought these atrocities before the kind notice of the CHTC. Considering the grave situation the CHTC could have issue an open letter like the one issued on 29th September. Unfortunately, it has given importance on the killing of UPDF activists during recent parliamentary election where the PCJSS has been suspected by the CHTC for the killings. Appreciating all these, can the PCJSS come to conclusion whether the CHTC wants to create pressure on the PCJSS in favour of the UPDF? Some of human rights activists have idea that Ms. Jenneke Arens, one of the architects of the CHTC has sided with the UPDF. The PCJSS would love to believe this idea is to be wrong. The PCJSS feels that in the update 4- "Life is not ours" of the CHTC the PCJSS' position has not been given in a right manner. Rather, it was very soft towards the UPDF. The PCJSS sent its comments on the update 4 to Ms. Arens, with a request to incorporate it in the Bengali edition of update 4. Unfortunately, it was not accommodated on the ground of making it available in late. The PCJSS believes that it could be easily accommodated had there been right consideration. She, of course, had assured to accommodate it in update 5. As a result the readers of the update 4 may develop some negative impression about the PCJSS. The update 4 has devalued the CHT Accord and presented some incorrect information, which will mislead many readers. This will also raise the question of impartiality of the CHTC or failure of its proper research. The PCJSS welcomes the offer of the CHTC for its cooperation with the PCJSS and the UPDF to eliminating violence in the CHT. The PCJSS feels the necessity to present here the information of holding two rounds of formal dialogues with UPDF on February 20, 2000 and in October, 2000 the same year in Khagrachari. The UPDF had violated decision of non-aggression pact reached in the first dialogue by killing Mr. Sukhendu Bikash Chakma, PCJSS member from village Dantkuppya Udayan Headman Para under Khagrachari Sub-district on February 21, 2001 (Ref.: Daily "Prothom Alo" and "Inqilab" dated February 23, 2000). The PCJSS, of course, already had several rounds of discussion with Ms. Arens on the issues including the UPDF's armed attacks on the PCJSS and clarified its stand on the UPDF. However, the PCJSS reiterates its stand that it shall always welcome any positive and acceptable initiatives by any individuals or organisations to fully bring an end to all forms of violence and unrest in the CHT. Finally, in response to this offer the PCJSS urges to the CHTC that the UPDF should immediately be encouraged to stop their armed attacks on the PCJSS' workers and the supporters for a strong and united leadership of the Jumma people. Sub: Open letter on election violenceCHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS COMMISSION Open letter from the international Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission on the election violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, calling on all parties to respect the democratic process. Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission |
Developed by sajib_tri@hotmail.com |