Kapaeeng Watch News Release on CHT Situation: 23 June 2008
GoB declares district and session judge's courts
in the CHT to be functioned from July
The
Government of Bangladesh announced that District Judge Courts would be
functioning in the three hill districts of CHT region
from 1 July 2008. It is mentionable that on 24 February 2008 the High Court
directed the government to set up civil and criminal courts run by judicial
officers in the CHT within a year to implement the CHT Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2003. Though judicial power
of the administrative officials ended with separation of the judiciary from the
executive on November 1 last year, the Deputy Commissioners of three hill
districts still retain the civil judges' posts while the divisional commissioner
acts as district and sessions judge as per the CHT
Regulation, 1900. An amendment to the Regulation in 2003 made it mandatory for
the government to establish district and session judge's courts in the CHT, but that has yet to be implemented.
In the
CHT Regulation 1900, a three-tier social court headed
by three hill circle chiefs (or king) and their subordinate headman and Karbari is mandated to resolve only some social and family
conflicts in the ethnic communities.
Consultation on PRSP held in Rangamati
On 21
June 2008 a consultation on Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) was held at conference hall of Deputy Commissioner's
office in Rangamati district. The consultation was
organised by General Economic Relation Division and Planning Commission with
Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati district Md. Nurul Amin in the chair. Public
representatives, government officials, civil society members, development
activists, media persons etc attended the consultation.
Chairman
of the CHT Regional Council Mr. Jyotirindra
Bodhipriya Larma said that CHT is a home of multi-lingual ethnic peoples. So, problem
of this region is also multiplex. He urged government to undertake development
initiatives considering this distinctiveness and reality of this region in
order to achieve poverty reduction in this region.
A
keynote on draft 2nd PRSP has been presented by Zafar Ahmed Chowedhury, Secretary
of Finance and Planning Ministry. Participants raised the issues of land rights
and settlement of land disputes, protection of indigenous peoples' rights over
land and forest, undertaking social safety net and food assistance programme
during disaster, environment-friendly development initiatives etc. It is
mentionable that government is formulating 2nd PRSP
for nest three years.
Indigenous
leaders alleged that government organised this consultation through Deputy
Commissioner's office bypassing the apex body of CHT
governance institutions i.e. CHT Regional Council and
HDCs. The office bearers of these institutions have
only been invited as general participants. They said that it is nothing but to
indirectly paralyze the special governance system in CHT.
Follow-up: Sajek arson attack
On 18
June 2008 Bengali settlers destroyed 5 houses of Jumma
villagers at recently blazed area in Sajek union
under Baghaichari upazila
of Rangamati district. Sources said that the Bengali
settlers with the help of military forces are opposing Jumma
villagers to build houses on their land. On the other, Bengali settlers are
occupying
For
instances, on 3 June 2008, a Bengali settler named Alam
(30) planted banana saplings on the
It is
learnt that most of the affected Jumma villagers did
not take Tk. 10,000 for construction of house declared by army chief General Moeen U Ahmad protesting against direct involvement of
military forces of Baghaihat army zone with this
arson attack on 7 indigenous Jumma villages committed
on 20 April 2008 at Sajek union in Baghaichari sub-district that left 78 houses of Jumma people burnt to ashes. Report has also been received
that military forces conducted operation through out the affected areas to
gather affected Jumma villagers at Baghaihat army zone for distribution of this government
grant. Sources conformed that a few affected Jumma
villagers were caught up by the army and compelled to receive the grant.
It is
also learnt that an innocent affected Jumma villager
named Sneha Kumar Chakma (38) who was also gathered
at Baghaihat zone for distribution of Tk. 10,000 for
house construction was arrested by Baghaihat army on
1 June 2008 with an old case. He was handed over to Baghaichari
police station and sent to Rangamati jail.
The
army implicated him in a criminal case filed previously against unnamed persons
on 13 January 2008 under sections 143/144/149/224/332/34 of the Bangladesh
Penal Code. It is believed that Sneha Kumar Chakma
was arrested because he was vocal against land aggression and expansion of
illegal Bengali settlement in Sajek. At present, the
victim is being provided legal aid by BLAST in Rangamati.
Sources
also informed that Bengali settlers declared road blockage programme at Baghaihat bazaar for indefinite period in order to blockade
transportation of agricultural products of Jumma
villagers to other markets. It is mentionable that indigenous Jumma people have been boycotting Baghaihat
bazaar since 20 April following the arson attack. Most of shopkeepers and
dwellers of Baghaihat bazaar are Bengali setters who
committed 20 April arson attack on Jumma villagers.
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Aungkyew Mong
Coordinator
Kapaeeng Watch
(A
human rights group for indigenous peoples)
Jagannath Hall,
E-mail:
kapaeeng.watch@gmail.com, kapaeeng.watch@micico.ch