Press release: “Global Voices for Peace in the CHT” – Japanese MPs present the government an appeal with more than 35,000 signatures calling for full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord
Release Date: 21 March 2010
During a courtesy visit with Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 7-8 P.M on 21 March 2010 at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Mr. Naoto Sakaguchi and Ms. Mieko Tanaka, Japanese Members of Parliament (House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan), presented the Prime Minister’s staff with the following appeal calling for full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord. Japanese Ambassador Mr. Tamotsu Shinotsuka and other embassy staff were also present. The Prime Minister reiterated her strong resolve to implement the accord, and requested Japan to promote economic development and investment in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The appeal was signed by 35,757 citizens from 105 countries and 12 autonomous territories around the world and accompanied by “peace messages” from 2754 people. Signatories included 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, 62 Members of Parliament of Japan, 4 Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of Australia, 1 Member of Constituent Assembly of Nepal, and leaders of civil society in Bangladesh and around the world. The signature drive was co-sponsored by the CHT Jumma Peoples Network of the Asia Pacific (Australia), the Indigenous Jumma People’s Network USA, Jumma Net (Japan), and the Organizing Committee Chittagong Hill Tracts Campaign (Holland), with the endorsement of 55 organizations worldwide.
The appeal is a sign of global support for the government’s efforts to implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord as pledged in its election manifesto. It comes as the accord faces severe obstacles, including a legal challenge to its constitutionality, protests against withdrawal of military camps, and continued land grabbing and communal violence most starkly evident in the tragic 19-23 February 2010 Baghaihat/Khagrachari arson incidents which left hundreds of families homeless. It is a matter of great urgency for the government to adopt a time-bound action plan, allocate the required human and financial resources, and take appropriate legal and administrative measures so that the Land Commission, Refugee/IDP Taskforce and other bodies tasked with implementing the accord can fulfill their mission without delay in full compliance with the accord.
1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire writes:
“After more than 30 years of violent conflict and deep suffering, the Jumma people have a right and deep desire for justice and peace. I hope therefore that you and your Government and all parties to the conflict will increase and sustain your important efforts to move to the fulfillment of the l997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. Peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts will give hope not only to the people of Chittagong, and Bangladesh, but also to people around the world, that peace is possible.”
This is the message of hope and trust that citizens around the world send to Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government as it boldly takes up the challenge to establish lasting peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Sincerely,
Tom Eskildsen,
Vice-Chairperson,
Jumma Net (Japan)
On behalf of the co-sponsors of the “Global Voices for Peace in the CHT” Signature Campaign:
The CHT Jumma Peoples Network of the Asia Pacific (Australia),
The Indigenous Jumma People’s Network USA,
Jumma Net (Japan)
Organizing Committee Chittagong Hill Tracts Campaign (Holland)
For Further information, please contact:
Jumma Net
(A Japanese NGO working in solidarity with the Jumma peoples of CHT, Bangladesh)
5F Marukoh Building, 1-20-6 Higashi Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan 110-0015
Tel & Fax: +81-3-3831-1072 E-mail: jummanet@gmail.com URL: http://www.jummanet.org/
Honorable Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
“We call for full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.”
We call upon the Bangladesh government to set forth and carry out a time-bound roadmap for full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord, including resolution of all land conflicts, withdrawal of all temporary military camps, transfer of administrative powers to the hill district councils and regional council and rehabilitation of returnee refugees and internally displaced hill people.
Number of Signatures
Individuals in Total 35,757
Groups in Total 55
Number of Countries 105
Autonomous Territories 12
(Basque Country, British Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Galicia, Haudenosaunee Territory, Huahine, Kanienke’ha:ka, Ladakh, New Caledonia, Nunavut, Tibet)
Signatures Collected from Each Country
| Afghanistan | 2 | Great Britain | 5 | Peru | 22 |
| Argentina | 121 | Greece | 16 | Philippines | 59 |
| Australia | 362 | Guatemala | 5 | Poland | 14 |
| Austria | 27 | Guyana | 1 | Portugal | 31 |
| Bangladesh | 22912 | Honduras | 2 | Puerto Rico | 1 |
| Belgium | 75 | Hong Kong | 6 | Qatar | 2 |
| Bhutan | 1 | Hungary | 5 | Republic of Korea | 39 |
| Bolivia | 1 | Iceland | 1 | Romania | 3 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1 | India | 125 | Russia | 2 |
| Brazil | 12 | Indonesia | 4 | Scotland | 17 |
| Britain | 9 | Ireland | 26 | Serbia | 2 |
| Brunei | 1 | Israel | 5 | Singapore | 8 |
| Bulgaria | 9 | Italy | 165 | Slovakia | 4 |
| Burma | 5 | Japan | 7119 | Slovenia | 8 |
| Cambodia | 9 | Kenya | 1 | South Africa | 18 |
| Canada | 129 | Laos | 6 | Spain | 1349 |
| Chile | 19 | Latvia | 2 | Sri Lanka | 67 |
| China | 11 | Luxembourg | 6 | Suriname | 1 |
| Colombia | 50 | Malaysia | 21 | Sweden | 40 |
| Costa Rica | 34 | Malta | 46 | Switzerland | 29 |
| Croatia | 9 | Mexico | 53 | Taiwan | 3 |
| Cuba | 1 | Moldova | 5 | Tanzania | 1 |
| Cyprus | 1 | Monaco | 1 | Thailand | 21 |
| Czech Republic | 20 | Montenegro | 1 | Trinidad & Tobago | 1 |
| Denmark | 34 | Namibia | 1 | Turkey | 2 |
| East Timor | 2 | Nepal | 20 | Uganda | 1 |
| El Salvador | 5 | Netherlands | 58 | UAE | 1 |
| England | 56 | New Zealand | 26 | UK | 717 |
| Equador | 9 | Nicaragua | 1 | Uruguay | 10 |
| Estonia | 1 | Nigeria | 4 | USA | 652 |
| European Union | 1 | North Ireland | 2 | Vanuatu | 1 |
| Finland | 35 | Norway | 18 | Venezuela | 10 |
| France | 679 | Pakistan | 6 | Vietnam | 2 |
| French Guyana | 1 | Papua | 3 | Wales | 5 |
| Germany | 115 | Paraguay | 8 | Zimbabwe | 1 |
| Other Territories | 16 | Unknown | 64 | Total | 35,757 |
Global Voices for Peace in the CHT!
A Call to Global Action for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
For more than 30 years since the start of armed conflict in the 1970’s, the indigenous Jumma Peoples of the Chittagong Hill tracts have been subjected to military rule and oppression, serious human rights violations and land grabbing by settlers. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord (CHT Peace Accord) signed by the government and the indigenous peoples in December 1997 promised support for returnee refugees, regional autonomy, resolution of land disputes, military withdrawal and other measures needed to protect the legitimate rights of the Jumma peoples. But more than a decade later, most of the key promises of the accord remain unfulfilled. The Awami League government that came to power in 2009 has committed to full implementation of the peace accord, and has taken a number of positive steps such as establishment of relevant committees, cancellation of plantation leases and withdrawal of an army brigade. Now is the time for all of us in the international community to bolster efforts to solve the CHT issue. Please sign the following appeal and send a message of peace to the Bangladesh Government!
＜Sponsoring Organizations＞
The Indigenous Jumma People’s Network（USA）
CHT Jumma Peoples Network of the Asia Pacific (Australia)
Jumma Net (Japan)
Organizing Committee Chittagong Hill Tracts Campaign (Holland)
＜Campaign Secretariat: Jumma Net (Japan)＞
Jumma Net was established in March 2002 by volunteers and groups wishing to promote conflict resolution and peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. It aims to ensure that the marginalized indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts can live in peace, with their basic human rights protected and with opportunities to benefit from economic development.
Endorsing Individuals and Organizations
<Endorsing Individuals>
・ Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Co-founder of the Community of Peace People
・ The Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP, Federal Member of Reid (NSW), House of Representatives, Member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
・ Ven. Shincho Shigeta , Abbot, Shorakuji Buddhist Temple
・ Kayoko Ikeda ,translator
・ Naoto Sakaguchi ,Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・ Ryoichi Hattori ,Member of House of Representatives, Social Democratic Party of Japan
・ Mohiuddin Ahmad, Chairperson, Community Development Library
・ The Hon. Senator Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens
・ The Hon. Janelle Saffin MP, Federal Member for Page, House of Representatives, Member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
・ Ricardo Carrere, International Coordinator, World Rainforest Movement
・ Marcus Colchester, Director, Forest Peoples Programme
・ Michael Heyn, Director, CHT Development Facility of UNDP
・ Dr. Meghna Guhathakurta, Executive Director, Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB)
・ The Hon. Lee Rhiannon, MLC, The Greens Parliament of New South Wales Australia
・ Dr. Sikder Monoare Murshed (Shourav Sikder), Professor and Chairperson Dept. of Linguistics, University of Dhaka
・ Ms. Khusi Kabir, Nijera Kori
・ Dr. Peter Custers, President, International Committee for Democracy in Bangladesh (ICDB)
・ Dr. Hamida Hossain, South Asia Forum for Human Rights
・ Dr. Ajoy Roy, President, Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities; President, Sampreeti Mancha; Retired Professor of Dhaka University
・ Ram Bahadur Thapamagar, Member of Constituent Assembly, Nepal
<Endorsing Organizations>
・ Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD)
・ Peace Campaign Group India
・ Jumma Peoples Alliance (JPA)
・ Jumma Peoples Network International
・ Jumma Peoples Network in Japan
・ Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)
・ Survival International
・ Vanishing Rites , UK
・ Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center （AJWRC）
・ Ayus:Network of Buddhist Volunteers forInternational Cooperation
・ Action Center for Development and Rights
・ Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society （JACSES）
・ Intercommunication Center for Asian and Nippon ICAN
・ New Internationalist Japan
・ Sarawak Campaign Committee
・ NGOJikeiji Temple
・ Citizen’s Centre for Diplomacy
・ Shapla Neer: Citizens’ Committee in Japan for Overseas Support
・ Jumma-to-Ayumu-Kai
・ Hosenji Temple (Seizan Zenrinji Group, Jodo School)
・ The Japan Citizens’ Coalition for the UN International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
・ Chechen Liaison Committee Japan
・ NPO Ancient Futures
・ FoE Japan
・ People’s Forum for Burma
・ The Asia Christian Education Fund
・ Network for Indonesian Democracy, Japan
・ Amnesty International Japan
・ WE21 Japan
・ WE21 Japan Izumi
・ WE21 Japan Kanazawa
・ KODO Kyodan Buddhist Fellowship
・ Earth Tree
・ The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
・ The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism-Japan Committee (IMADR-JC)
・ WE21 Japan Asahi
・ WE21 Japan Yamato
・ Asian Muslim Action Network
・ Youth Coordination Center International
・ Asian Muslim Lawyers Network
・ Dependent Origination Society (DOS)
・ Seikatsu Club Consumer’s Cooperative
・ Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum
・ AJHA International Chakma Organisation in France
・ Jumma Peoples Network France
・ Society for Women’s Empowerment and Sustainability-SHRISTI (Nepal)
・ Sampreeti Mancha, Bangladesh
・ WE21 Japan Kounan
・ Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperative Service（JOCS)
・ Society for Threatened Peoples – Germany
・ Adhibasi Janajati Munch, Australia
・ Nijera Kori, Bangladesh
・ International Committee for Democracy in Bangladesh (ICDB)
・ Parbattya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS)
・ Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Forum Australia (NINFA)
Signed by Members of Parliament of Japan
<Endorsing Individuals>
・Naoto Sakaguchi, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Ryoichi Hattori, Member of House of Representatives, Social Democratic Party of Japan
<Signatures>
・Tsunehiko Yoshida, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Kimiyoshi Tamaki, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Seishu Makino, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Toshiro Ishii, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Takashi Takai, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Mieko Tanaka, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Toru Matsuoka, Member of House of Councilors, Democratic Party of Japan
・Gaku Kato, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Tetsuo Inami, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Mitsuji Ishida, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Hirotami Murakoshi, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Masato Imai, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yoichi Kaneko, Member of House of Councilors, Democratic Party of Japan
・Shuhei Kishimoto, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Mitsunori Okamoto, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Toshiharu Todoroki, Member of House of Councilors, Democratic Party of Japan
・Mito Kakizawa, Member of House of Representatives, Your Party of Japan
・Masaharu Nakagawa, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Souichiro Okuno, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Tsutomu Hata, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Kenichi Kaneko, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Kenichiro Fukushima, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Syunji Yuhara, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Hiroe Makiyama, Member of House of Councilors, Democratic Party of Japan
・Shino Aihara, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yuichiro Tamaki, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yuko Sato, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Daisuke Ｆujita, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Kazuya Mimura, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Tetsuo Kutsukake, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Hisaaki Komuro, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Kazuya Kondo, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Mitsue Kawakami, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Seiichiro Dokyu, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Takamura Tsutomu, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yoichiro Morioka, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Koichi Mukoyama, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Koichiro Katsumata, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yukiko Miyake, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Ken Okuda, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yasuo Ichikawa, Member of House of Councilors, Democratic Party of Japan
・Eriko Fukuda, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Takanori Ohnishi, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yasuhiro Okada, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Yuu Kuroda, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Kayoko Isogai, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Masahiro Ohyama, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Miki Wajima, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Hajime Yatagawa, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Tamiko Kasahara, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Susumu Saito, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Denny Tamaki, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Kazuyoshi Morimoto, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Eiko Okamoto, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Takahiro Kawagoe, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Hirobumi Niki, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Seizo Wakaizumi, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Takashi Nagao, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Nobuhiko Sudo, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
・Seiki Soramoto, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
Noteworthy Comments Accompanying Signatures
Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, 1976 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Co-founder of the Community of Peace People
“To: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina:
After more than 30 years of violent conflict and deep suffering the Jumma people have a right and deep desire for justice and peace. I hope therefore that you and your Government and all parties to the conflict will increase and sustain your important efforts to move to the fulfillment of the l997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. Peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts will give hope not only to the people of Chittagong, and Bangladesh, but also to people around the world, that peace is possible.”Mohiuddin Ahmad, Chairperson, Community Development Library
“FIGHT FOR LIFE
Kashmir to Mindanao Belfast to Basque Acheh to Jummaland whomever I ask
They all say in their mind freedom tops the list
We are all freedom fighter not a separatist
I am a freedom fighter to fulfill my need
I fight for my people and indigenous seed
I fight for land rights raising my fist
They call me an insurgent and a terrorist
Our land and our river belong to us
We have the knowledge to become prosperous
We don’t want a recipe based on aid and loan
Lay off your dirty tricks and leave us alone
Let us fight for realizing our dreams
Let us fight to free the streams
Let us fight from Sangu to Nile
Let us fight for children to smile”The Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP
Federal Member of Reid (NSW), House of Representatives,
Member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
“I have had an abiding interest in the state of indigenous people, including the Jumma of Bangladesh. History informs us of the destruction of culture, Government sponsored transmigration and the flight of Jumma to India. I strongly endorse the need for fulfillment of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.”
The Hon. Janelle Saffin MP, Federal Member for Page, House of Representatives,Member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP)
“The Suffering of the Jumma peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has gone on for far too long. Please fulfill the CHT Peace Accord. The Jumma people are entitled to have peace in 2010 and see an end to conflict.”
The Hon. Senator Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens
“There is strong international support behind the Jumma people’s struggle to establish peace in their land. I am encouraged that the new Government is showing a willingness to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, but I urge them to fully implement this Agreement which is now more than 10 years overdue.
The Hon. Lee Rhiannon, MLC, The Greens Parliament of New South Wales Australia
“After many years of suffering, the indigenous Jumma peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts deserve peace and to have their basic human rights protected. In 2010 it is vital that the Chittagong Hill Tract Peace Accord is fully implemented.”
Naoto Sakaguchi, Member of House of Representatives, Democratic Party of Japan
“I am visiting the Chittagong Hill Tracts to help promote implementation of the peace accord. I will do my best as a Member of Parliament to increase the awareness of the Japanese government and Japanese people about this issue.”
Related news on new papers:
2 Japan MPs arrive with peace call (http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=131041)
35,000 global signatures press for CHT peace plan: http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=156389&cid=2
Protom Alo: Bengali news paper link: http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-03-23/news/51050
