Press Release from Peace Campaign Group (PCG)

Press Release
1 June 2007
The Advisor on Foreign and CHT Affairs Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury of the current interim government of Bangladesh called a meeting with the Advisory Committee on CHT Affairs Ministry on 31 May in Dhaka for discussion on CHT affairs with special reference to some crucial provisions of the1997 'CHT Peace Treaty' that remained unimplemented during the terms of the two previous governments.
Such provisions include, among others, delegation of power to the local government, land right of the local people and withdrawal of 'temporary' military camps from the CHT. The Advisory Committee consists of the Chairman CHT Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma, Chairmen of three Hill District Councils, Chiefs of three Circles andthree members of the non-indigenous (Bengali) permanent residents of the CHT. Peace Campaign Group welcomes the move and requests the current administration of Bangladesh to solve the long-standing problems rather than making it a mere diplomatic exercise to show to the international community.
PCG also urges the government to release the PCJSS and other indigenous leaders arrested by the Joint Forces under the emergency rule in place in the country by framing falsecharges against them as a mark of its good-will towards this direction.

Peace Campaign Group
RZ-I-91/211,West Sagarpur, New Delhi-110046
Tel: +91 11 2539 8383
Telfax: +91 11 2539 4277
Email: pcgoffice@yahoo. co.in, pcgonline@gmail. com