Kapaeeng Watch News Release: 8 July 2008
PCJSS leaders deliberately charged with
murder case in Bandarban
On 27 June 2008 the local leaders of
Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samiti (PCJSS), a political party of indigenous Jumma
peoples in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), south-eastern part of Bangladesh, were
purposely charged with murder case in Bandarban district following the killing
of the Priya Tanchangya.
It is learnt that Priya Tanchangya, a
businessman and allegedly source of military forces was shot death at around
1.30 a.m. on 27 June at his house of Ghanau Para of Kuhalong union under
Bandarban sadar upazila by a group of armed miscreants. No sooner of the incident,
joint forces led by army conducted searching operation at no. 3 Rubber Bagan
area, two kilometers away from the spot. In this operation, 7 innocent Jumma
villagers were arrested and brutally tortured by military forces. Among the
arrested villagers, following persons were identified as:
Among them, Joy Moni Tanchangya was
produced before district judicial magistrate court on 28 June. He was placed
5-days police remand. The other arrested are still missing. It is also learnt
that on that night the joint forces also conducted operation at no.1 and no. 2
Rubber Bagan areas from where 17 innocent Jumma villagers were also arrested,
but released later after inhumanly beating.
A murder case against Rajan Chakma (40)
and 20/25 unknown persons was filed with Bandarban police station by the
deceased wife on 27 June. In the deposition of the case, she charged local
PCJSS leaders of Bandarban district including assistant general secretary of
central committee and also member of CHT Regional Council K S Mong, president
of Bandarban district committee and also member of CHT Regional Council
Sadhuram Tripura and leader of Rowangchari upazila branch Shambu Kumar
Tanchangya to have been involved with this killing. PCJSS leaders of Bandarban
district denied to have involved with this incident. They also claimed that
charging them with this incident is nothing but politically motivated.
Workshop on indigenous peoples and PRSP
held by CIPRAD in Mymensingh
On 4 July 2008 Centre for Indigenous
People's Research and Development (CIPRAD), an NGO, working to uphold rights of
indigenous people organised a workshop titled 'Plain Land Indigenous Peoples'
Rights and PRSP: Strategic Advocacy' at CARITAS auditorium in Dhaka with
Chairman of Tribal Welfare Association (TWA) Advocate Promod Mankin in the
chair.
Speakers of the workshop demanded to the
government to set up a separate ministry for indigenous people of plain lands
to uphold their rights. Speakers said indigenous people of plain land
outnumbered their brothers in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) by four times. Still
then the people of CHT are enjoying more facilities than indigenous people of
plain land, they said. The government should take steps to set up a separate
ministry titled, 'Ministry for Plain Land Adivasis,' for upholding their
rights, speakers said.
GOC of 24th infantry division
calls on CHTRC chairman
On 7 July 2008 General Commanding Officer
(GOC) of 24th Infantry Division of Chittagong Cantonment Major General Mohammad
Shamim Chowdhury called on Chairman of CHT Regional Council Mr. Jyotirindra
Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma at his office in Rangamati district of CHT.
Sources said it is a courtesy visit after his appointment as GOC of 24th
Infantry Division in last June.
Sources also reported that Mr. Larma
raised the issues of implementation of CHT Accord and execution of CHTRC and
HDC Acts for establishment of good governance and rule of law and holding free,
fair and accepted election in CHT.
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Aungkyew Mong
Coordinator
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