Rakhain people demand constitutional recognition

Source: Daily New Nation, 2 February 2010
Submitted by: Kapaeeng Foundation

The participants of an impact study seminar in Barisal on Rakhain community stressed on the constitutional recognition of them with separate socio-cultural-ethnic identity for their survival in Barisal coastal region.

The daylong seminar was organized on Sunday by Barisal regional office of Caritas Bangladesh at its auditorium under the three-year long "Integ-rated Community Development Project (ICDP)" Rishi-Khulna and Rakhanine-Barisal with funding support from Scours Catholic-Caritas France and the European Commission since February 2007.

The study looked into the socio-economic conditions, access to natural resources and government organisations, land rights, food security and Medicare facilities of the Rakhain people, said the organisers. They analysed the crises of the indigenous people in the context of colonial history, impact of globalisation, constitutional recognition of Rakhine community, ignorance and insensibility of the leaders of the community and mainstream, identity crisis, lack of endeavour to reserve the age-old customs and traditions, culture and language and conflict with dominating cultures.

The people of the Rakhine indigenous groups are being undermined gradually as the tribe of the region fighting against dire poverty, bad communication, inner-tribal conflict, lack of education, healthcare, housing, sanitation facilities, harassment and deprivation by greedy land grabbers and administration.

The programme was presided over by Francis Bepary, Caritas Barisal regional director and Khalid Madmud Zaki, personal secretary of Barisal City Corporation Mayor, as the chief guest, Father Nicolas Baroi, Catholic priest, Abdul Bark Molla, Kalapara Latachapli union parishad chairman, Mong Tenthan, Kalapara Rakhain community leader, Anisur Rahman Swapan, New Age Correspondent and Barisal Metropolitan Journalist Union, as special guests, Mezbahuddin Mannu, daily Janakantha Correspondent Kalapara, Khein Maung Hla, Rakhain community leader Taltali addressed the programme.

Myenthen Promila, ICDP R and R project in charge presented the audio-visual presentation for the participants representing Rakhain community, local government, mass media, government and non-government organizations.

Except some of the non-governmental organisations, the indigenous people have little representation either in government, local government or in semi-government organisations, the discussants said.

They also criticised the conventional trend of showcasing indigenous culture in national programmes.

The Rakhain people should be given due recognition rather than making them tourist attractive showpieces, they said. Immediate formation of land commission to stop intrusion into the Rakhine adivasis ancestral lands and harassment through filing of false cases by unscrupulous people need urgently, they called.

Abduction and conversion of minority girl in Sirajganj: HRCBM-Sirganj's protest

Source: HRCBM-Bangladeesh

The organizing secretary of HRCBM-Sirajganj District Unit and a correspondent of the daily star informs HRCBM-Bangladesh that an abduction and conversion incident of 15 years old minority going girl took place at Tamai Paschimpar, under PS Belkuchi of District.

It is informed that on 19th January 2010 the victim ( Rupa Rani Haldar) was kidnapped by perpetrators from the door step of her residence. The witnesses informed that for illegal purposes the victim girl was kidnapped and a marriage was solemnized between the girls and accused number 1- Shah Alam S/o Ashraf Ali of Tamai Paschimpar, under PS Belkuchi, District Sirajganj to show that the kidnapping was legal.

Ratan Chandra Haldar (complainant and father of the victim girl) produced a birth certificate where the date of birth of the victim was 1.12.1994 and he lodged F.I.R. at Belkuchi Police station being case No. 09 dated 21.07.2010 under section 7/30 ( Abduction with malafide intention) of Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Ain, 2003 against the perpetrators.

Police arrested Shah Alam today 1 February 2010. As per birth certificate the date of birth of victim girl is 1st December 1994. And as per birth record the age of the girl on 21 .1.2010 is about 15 years 1 month 20 days.

RALLY, MEMO TO District Administration of Sirajganj

The Daily Star ( 1 February 2010 ) reports : A rally was held in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here yesterday to press the demand for rescue of an abducted schoolgirl and arrest of the culprits.

Several hundred people, including teachers, lawyers, politicians, journalists and socio-cultural activists, joined the rally organised by HUMAN RIGHTS CONGRESS FOR BANGLADESH MINORITIES (HRCBM) SIRAJGANJ UNIT.

They later submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner Md. Humayun Kabir demanding immediate arrest and punishment of the persons involved in kidnapping the schoolgirl.

Speakers at the rally blamed the police for their failure to arrest the abductors even after 12 days of abduction of the girl. They threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme from Wednesday if the schoolgirl was not rescued within the next 24 hours.

A gang of criminals, led by Shah Alam, 22, son of Ashraf Ali of Tamai Pashchimpara village in Belkuchi upazila, picked up the clash nine student of Tamai Girls High School from their house at the same village on January 19.

Victim's father lodged a case against Shah Alam with Belkuchi Police Station on January 21.

Protest Meetings against attack on top indigenous leaders held in Dhaka and Rangamati

Source: PCJSS

On 30 January 2010 protest meetings and processions against the cowardly attacks on top indigenous leaders in the country namely Santu Larma, Raja Devasish Roy and Sanjeeb Drong were simultaneously held in Dhaka and Rangamati.

In Dhaka, at 11.00 am protest meeting organised jointly by Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP) and Bangladesh Adivasi Odhokar Andolon (BAOA) was started at the Central Shaheed Minar with information and publicity secretary of PCJSS Mr. Mangal Kumar Chakma in the chair.

Gono Forum presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya, convenor of Workers Party of Bangladesh (Reconstituted) Haider Akbar Khan Rano, general secretary of Workers Party of Bangladesh leader Anisur Rahman Mallik, leader of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal Bazlur Rashid Firoz, central member of Communist Party of Bangladesh and Dhaka University teachers M M Akash general and secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, assistant general secretary of Bangladesh National Awami League Party (NAP) Ismail Hossain, Dhaka University teachers Muhammad Samad, Saurav Sikdar and Robayet Ferdous, women rights activists Khishi Kabir of Nejera Kori and Rokeya Kabir of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha, indigenous women rights activists Madhabi Lata Chakma of Parbatya Chattagram Women Association, Rakhi Mrong of BAOA, Chaitali Tripura of BIPF and Tandra Chakma, human rights activists Salam Azad, indigenous rights activists Ajoy A Mree and Sanjeeb Drong, among others, spoke at the protest meeting.

Speakers condemned the recent attacks on the president of BIPF and PCJSS Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, Chakma circle chief Raja Barrister Devasish Roy and general secretary of BIPF Sanjeeb Drong. They urged the government to take stern steps to prevent recurrence of such attacks.

Demanding a proper investigation of the attacks and punishment of the culprits, a protest meeting also accused the government of doing little to protect the members of the ethnic minorities. They said the attack on top indigenous leaders during the Awami League-led government’s regime indicated how vulnerable indigenous peoples are in the country. They appalled the government to find out the perpetrators of such attacks and ensure their punishment.

Speakers also urged the government for early implementation of the CHT Accord and to announce a roadmap towards the implementation of the Accord.

Later, the organisers brought out a procession. Starting from Shaheed Minar, the rally paraded different city streets around Dhaka University campus. Several hundreds representative from indigenous peoples from across the country also joined the protest rally.

In Rangamati, PCJSS brought out procession protesting attack on PCJSS president Santu Larma and Chakma circle chief Raja Devisish Roy from outer stadium in Rangamati to Banarupa. Procession was followed by protest meeting at premises of Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The protest meeting was presided over vice president of PCJSS Laxmi Prasad Chakma while facilitated by assistant information and publicity secretary of PCJSS Sajib Chaknma. Among others, acting general secretary of PCJSS Pranati Bikash Chakma, general secretary of PCJSS Rangamati district branch Bodhi Satta Chakma, general secretary of Rangamati district Women Association Suprava Chakma and president of Hill Students Council (PCP) Udayan Tripura spoke at the meeting.

Speakers of the protest meeting urged the government to ban UPDF soon, to arrest and prosecute those responsible for this attack and to conduct judicial investigation to the attack.

It is mentionable that on 27 January 2010 president of BIPF and PCJSS Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma and Chakma circle chief and former special assistant to caretaker government of Bangladesh came under attack by UPDF miscreants in Mahalchari under Khagrachari district. Earlier on 22 January 2010, Sanjeeb came under attack at Rannikhong in Netrakona district when he was returning from Boheratali Christian Mission riding a motorcycle.

Indigenous People, Settlers Clash: Tension mounts in Rangamati

Source: The Daily Star News

Tension is mounting in Gangaram Mukh area under Baghaichhari upazila in the hill district over a clash between settlers and indigenous people on January 21 that left 12 people injured.

Following the incident, indigenous people have boycotted the only bazar Bagaihat while blockade on Bagaihat-Sajek road has been continuing, causing suffering to some 40,000 people of the remote area.

Sources said the district administration is yet to take an initiative to resolve the problem.

Gyanendu Bikash Chakma, an indigenous leader of Gangaram, said the incident took place in the area when the World Food Programme (WFP) team came to distribute food grains among the people.

A section of settlers looted some 20 sacs of WFP rice and beat up some 12 indigenous people, he alleged.

Sajek Nari Samaj (SNS) then put up a blockade on the road and boycotted Bagaihat bazar, demanding return of the indigenous lands allegedly grabbed by the settlers. The movement has been continuing, he added.

Mohammad Nazim Uddin, a leader of the settlers, denied the allegations of looting rice and beating up any indigenous people.

Moreover, they (Indigenous) have made the lives of the settlers miserable. They have been passing days without food, water and medicine. Even they cannot move freely for fear of indigenous cadres, he alleged.

“For the last two years, they killed our six men, including Rashel, Aman, Mojibor, Alakesh, Rahman and Nurunnabi, but we are deprived of getting any legal aid from the administration.”

Chiko Chakma told The Daily Star that, “The settlers wanted to grab their lands and orchards. We informed the local administration of the matter several times, but it didn't take any action.”

L Thanga Pankhuya, chairman of Sajek Union Parishad, said the disputed land belongs to the government reserve forest. So none can claim that it is their land.

Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Humayun Kabir said local people have been suffering for road blockade and boycott of the bazar.

The district administration has been holding talks with both sides to settle the matter, he added.

Full implementation of CHT accord demanded

Source: The Daily Star

Speakers at a discussion yesterday underscored need for full implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord to ensure rights of the vulnerable segment of people, especially women.

It becomes very tough for a woman to cope with the adversities in society where she often becomes a victim of repression, deprivation and oppression, they added.

The speakers further said that indigenous women are facing the denial of their basic human rights from the mainstream society years after years.

The discussion on 'Implementation of CHT Peace Accord and Rights of Adivasi Jumma Women' was organised by Hill Women's Federation in association with ActionAid Bangladesh at Natmandal auditorium on the Dhaka University campus.

Presenting a keynote paper, Chanchana Chakma, organising secretary of the federation, described the position of indigenous women in the country, especially the Jumma women.

She also placed a set of recommendations to protect the rights of Jumma women.

The recommendations include immediate implementation of the peace accord along with the implementation of ILO-107 Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Community, constitutional recognition to the ethnic community and ratification of ILO-169 Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Community.

Parliament and local government parishad should introduce reserved seats for indigenous women ensuring their political participation and to ensure security of women to reduce violation against them.

National women development policy should include an individual section on the rights and development of indigenous women, the recommendation added.

Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, expressed her solidarity with the demands of the Jumma women.

She said every individual indigenous group should share a common platform to reach their voices to the policy makers.

Mangal Kumar Chakma, information and publicity secretary of Jana Sanghati Samity, urged the government to withdraw all temporary military camps from the CHT area to give the hilly people scope for living peacefully.

Rokeya Kabir, director of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha, Jarita Chakma, general secretary of Chittagong Hill Tracts Mahila Samity, and Rakhee Mrong, organising secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Odhikar Andolon, also spoke at the discussion with Meyoching Chakma in the chair.

Invitation to attend the protest meeting against attacks on top indigenous leaders

Source: PCJSS

Dear all,

Greetings!

Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), Bangladesh Adivasi Odhikar Anlodon (BAOA) and Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP) are jointly going to organise a protest meeting against attacks on Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, Raja Devasish Roy and Sanjeeb Drong at Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka at 11.00 am on 30 January 2010 Saturday.

We cordially invite you to be present in this protest.

In solidarity,

Mangal Kumar Chakma

Information and Publicity Secretary

PCJSS
(Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti)
Kalyanpur, Rangamati-450000, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Tel+Fax: +880-351-61248

CHT Commission condemns attacks on Sanjeeb Drong, Santu Larma and Raja Devasish Roy

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

Forwarded message-

Dear all,

Please find attached two press releases -- one on the attack on human rights activist Sanjeeb Drong and the other on Regional Council Chairperson Santu Larma and Chakma Circle Chief Advocate Raja Devasish Roy.

Sincerely, Hana Ahmed

--
Hana Shams Ahmed
Coordinator
CHT Commission (http://chtcommission.org/)
Bangladesh Secretariat
10/11 Iqbal Road
Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207
Tel: +88-02-9146048
Fax: +88-02-8141810