DOCUMENT: JSSBANG6.TXT REPORT ON THE SIXTH GROUP MEETING HELD BETWEEN THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT COMMISSION AND THE JANA SAMHATI SAMITI AT DHUDUKCHARA UNDER PANCHARI POLICE STATION WITHIN KHAGRACHARI DISTRICT ON OCTOBER 25, 1995 (based on a letter sent to me by the Jana Samhati Samiti on 27 October, 1995). A. BACKGROUND The following decisions were made at the Fifth Group Meeting held between the Sub-Committee of the Bangladesh Government Commission (BGC) and the Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) on July 12, 1995: 1. The cease-fire would be observed by both sides for a further period till September 30, 1995, in the interest of maintaining the peace-process and the congenial environment in the CHT. 2. Communications between the two sides would be maintained through the Coordination (or Liaison) Committee in order to follow the present process and to arrange Group Meetings between the Sub-Committee of the BGC and the JSS if necessary. 3. The rest 5 arrested Members of the JSS (or SB) would be set free within the next two months (on or before 19 September, 1995). B. DELEGATIONS AT THE SIXTH GROUP MEETING a. The Delegation of the Sub-Committee of the BGC It consisted of the following Delegates: 1) Mr. Rashed Khan Menon, MP (Workers' Party), the Head of the Sub-Committee of the BGC and Chairperson of Group Meetings; 2) Mr. Kalpa Ranjan Chakma, MP (Awami League); 3) Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan Chowdhury, MP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party). b. The Delegation of the JSS It consisted of the following Delegates: 1) Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, the President of the JSS and Leader of the JSS Delegation; 2) Mr. Goutam Kumar Chakma, a Member of the JSS Central Committee; and 3) Mr. Sudha Sindhu Khisa, a Member of the JSS Central Committee. c. The Delegation of the Coordination (or Liaison) Committee It consisted of the following Delegates: 1) Mr. Hangsadhwaj Chakma, the Convenor of the Coordination Committee; 2) Mr. Mohammad Safi; and 3) Mr. Mathura Lal Chakma. d. The Delegation of the Bangladesh Government Officers It consisted of the following Officers: 1) Matiur Rahman Mridha, the Director (Coordination) of the Special Affairs Department; 2) Mr. Saiful Azad, the Assistant Secretary of the Special Affairs Department; and 3) Mr. Mohammad Ismail, the Deputy Commissioner of Khagrachari District. C. THE SIXTH GROUP MEETING The Meeting continued from 12-15 p.m. to 03-40 p.m. with a lunch-break from 02-00 p.m. to 03-35 p.m. At the outset of the Meeting, Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, the JSS President, distributed a list of some cease- fire violations by the Bangladesh Security Forces (BSF) to the Delegates. After going through the list, Mr. Rashed Khan Menon, the Head of the Sub-Committee of the BGC and Chairman of Group Meetings, said that the Sixth Group Meeting could not be arranged in September, 1995, as the political crisis in Bangladesh took a serious turn and so he had written to the JSS about it. However, later at the suggestion of Mr. Hangsadhwaj Chakma, the Convenor of the Coordination Committee, he discussed with Col. Oli Ahmed, the Chairman of the BGC and Communication Minister of Bangladesh, about the need of holding the Sixth Group Meeting. The latter was convinced by the former despite the prevailing political situation to give consent to the said Meeting. Then, Mr. Menon made the following comments: 1. Col. Ahmed had asked him to propose the cease-fire extension from 21 October, 1995, to the end of April, 1996, on the supposition that the General Elections might be held anytime between January and April, 1996. 2. He had learnt that recently the Pahari Gana Parishad (Hill People Council = HPC = a Jumma organisation) circulated leaflets to instruct its Branch Offices and that one of the instructions condemned the reactionary Jumma Leaders and thus caused fear among the Jumma Leaders and also great anxiety to the Local Government Authorities. 3. The Local Authorities had complained that the tax collection by the JSS had gone beyond the limit of their approval. 4. Since the commencement of the cease-fire agreement in November, 1992, 19 JSS (or SB = Shanti Bahini) personnel had been arrested of which 12 had been set free unconditionally, 4 on bail, and 3 had not yet been released. Regarding the 4 JSS (or SB) Members, who had been set free on bail, and regarding the remaining 3, who had not yet been freed, Mr. Larma reminded the Sub-Committee of its repeated promise to release all of them unconditionally. In reply, the latter promised to arrange unconditional release of the 4, who had already been set free on bail, if they applied to the Judicial Courts. Then, Mr. Larma disclosed that those 4 were released on bail by the concerned Authorities only after taking bribe from the relatives of the victims and that the JSS had to pay the money to their relatives. He also disclosed that only 2 out of the 4 - i) Mr. Deva Ranjan Chakma & ii) Mr. Bishwakalyan Chakma - had reported to him about their release and that the BSF attempted to cancel their bail and also to rearrest them after their release. Naturally, they feared for their security if they were asked to go to the Court again. In response, Mr. Menon pointed out that Mr. Abani Kumar Chakma (Ashesh), who was also released on bail, had a theft charge still pending against him and that the Authorities would not withdraw the charge. Then, Mr. Larma argued that many similar cases were framed against him when he was detained in prison from 1975 to 1980 and despite that he was set free unconditionally and all the charges pending against him were withdrawn. Having cited a convincing example, he commented that the Authorities could release all the arrested JSS (or SB) Members without any conditions if they had the goodwill to do so. His powerful argument persuaded the Sub-Committee of the BGC to arrange unconditional release of the 4 JSS (or SB) Members, who had already been set free on bail, at the earliest moment. Thereafter, Mr. Menon invited Mr. Larma to speak. The latter took the floor and said that since the Fifth Group Meeting the BSF had intensified cease-fire violations of which only 23 incidents had been shown in the given list. Then he read out 2 examples - incident nos. 22 & 23 - to highlight the unprovoked attacks by the BSF on the JSS (or SB) camps. In the first incident, the Armymen of Mahalchari Military Zone attacked the JSS (or SB) camps in the deep forests of Bagapara, Karalyachari and Golakya hilly areas although the JSS (or SB) was observing the cease-fire strictly and sincerely. The raiders captured some documents, utensils, clothes, foodgrains and so forth from a camp of the JSS (or SB). In the second incident, the soldiers of Hazachara Camp under the jurisdiction of Baghaichari Police Station (PS) ambushed a group of the JSS (or SB) men in the deep forest of Machalong area under the jurisdiction of Baghaichari P.S. without any provocations from the JSS (or SB) side. As a result, a Member of the JSS (or SB) was shot, wounded and arrested and died in the custody of the BSF. Then, Mr. Larma blamed the BSF for hiding the body of the victim. With regard to the 2nd incident, Mr. Menon gave the BSF version and said that accidentally both the BSF and the SB came into contact and exchanged fire. The dead body was handed over to the Police of Rangamati Police Headquarters who in turn handed in the body to the relatives of the victim after carrying out the post-mortem. Mr. Larma, again, pointed out that the BSF had conducted a massive combing campaign in the entire areas of Naniachar, Lakshmichari and Mahal Chari P.S.s for 4 days from August 28 to 31, 1995, in blatant violation of the cease-fire. In reply, Mr. Menon also pointed out that the BSF had produced a list of 26 cease-fire violations by the SB as well. Then, the JSS Delegates promptly drew his attention to the fact that those 26 allegations were not related with the JSS (or SB) armed attacks on the BSF but to the tax collection by the JSS (or SB) which was legal and even approved of by the Sub-Committee of the BGC. In response, Mr. Menon opined that the cease-fire modalities had not been set out clearly and so the cease-fire violations had been increasing. In this connection, Mr. Larma said that the basic terms and conditions of the cease-fire agreement had been agreed upon by both sides although those terms and conditions had not been written down in full detail. Moreover, those had been discussed time and again in the 7 Rounds of the Dialogue between the BGC and the JSS and also in the 5 Group Meetings between the Sub-Committee of the BGC and the JSS. Then, Mr. Larma appealed once again to the Sub-Committee of the BGC to stop the BSF from attacking the JSS (or SB) camps & personnel, from launching campaigns against the JSS (or SB) & innocent Jumma people, and from arresting the unarmed JSS (or SB) Members. If the BSF did not refrain from the stated activities, he warned, the JSS (or SB) should not be expected to observe the cease-fire properly. In response, Mr. Menon proposed to set up a body with the Representatives of the Special Affairs Department under the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the BSF and the JSS to monitor the cease-fire violations. Commenting on the said proposal, Mr. Larma said that no agencies of the Bangladesh Government (BG), including the Special Affairs Department, would control the BSF to follow the cease-fire because the BG itself approved of the cease-fire violations by the BSF. He further said that the JSS Representative could not be involved because he would be at risk at the hands of the extremely hostile BSF and Bangladeshi Muslim Infiltrators (BMI). So, Mr. Larma suggested to include the Coordination (or Liaison Committee) in lieu of the JSS. Replying to Mr. Larma's comment, Mr. Menon said that the JSS could not be represented by the Coordination Committee because this Committee did not carry as much weight as the JSS did. So, he urged the JSS to nominate a person to be a Member of the Monitoring Body. If the JSS would support his proposal, Mr. Menon continued, then he would place the proposal before the BGC or BG. After that, the Sub-Committee of the BGC raised the question of tax collection by the JSS (or SB) in the Mahalchari- Manikchari-Rangamati Road area. In reply, Mr. Larma pointed out that the area was so heavily guarded by the BSF that it was quite impossible for the JSS (or SB) tax collectors to go there let alone to collect tax in front of the BSF men. Then, the Sub-Committee produced some letters written by JSS (or SB) tax collectors to some contractors and other people to pay tax to the JSS. In response, Mr. Larma assured the Sub-Committee that he would make inquiry into the matter whether those letters were actually issued by the real JSS officials or by some miscreants in the name of the JSS. Thereafter, Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan Chowdhury said that the Sub-Committee had never heard before of any raping allegation against the JSS (or SB) but recently they had received one which occurred in Khagrachari. Responding to that charge, Mr. Hangsadhwaj Chakma explained the matter as he personally enquired the allegation. The actual incident was as stated below: One BMI, Mr. Abul Khair and one Chakma boy used to work at a saw mill owned by Dr. Prabhat Kumar Chakma of Khagrachari. In course of time, the former's sister fell in love with the latter (the Chakma boy) and the lovers eloped one night. Incidentally, they came across with the JSS (or SB) members at Guimara. Having suspected a romantic relationship between a Muslim girl and a Chakma boy and having feared inevitable Muslim fury against the Chakma boy, the JSS (or SB) detained them, put them under the separate custody of the local village Leaders and sent the Muslim girl back to her brother, Mr. Mohammad Abul Khair under the care of proper guides. The actual story fully convinced the Sub-Committee of the BGC that the said allegation against the JSS (or SB) was not only baseless but also distorted with a view to maligning the good name of the JSS (or SB). Then, Mr. Menon invited Mr. Larma to speak on the instructions circulated by the HPC to its Branch Offices. Speaking on this point, Mr. Larma reminded the Sub-Committee of the BGC that he had repeatedly spoke on many previous occasions against any activities prejudicial to the peace process. However, he continued, it was natural for the young Leaders of the HPC to protest vigorously against very serious injustices being done in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) by the BG in league with some Jumma puppets. At the same time, he did not rule out over-reactions by some spirited Leaders from time to time. Thereafter, Mr. Menon remarked that the Hill Student Council (HSC = Jumma student organisation) should also abide by democratic rules and regulations. Otherwise, he further remarked, its activities might harm the peace-process as well. In this connection, Mr. Mohammad Ismail pointed out that the HSC had urged the local Headmen and Karbaris not to pay revenues to the BG. To refute and correct this allegation, Mr. Larma disarmingly admitted that the JSS did it and not the HSC. Then, he complained that when the HPC and the HSC did something justly, the Local Government Authorities immediately took strong actions against them. But when the Parbatya Gana Parishad (PGP = the militant organisation of the BMIs = the under-cover Hit Squad of the BG) did something wrong to the Jumma people, the HPC and the HSC, then the Local Government Authorities never took any actions against it. Similarly, the Local Government Authorities simply turned their blind eye to the puppet organisations if they did wrong to the helpless Jumma people. For example, at the behest of the BSF, the PGP and the puppet Jumma organisations had recently set up another puppet organisation called, "HPC-HSC-Terrorism Resistance Committee", in order to resist the Autonomy Movement of the Jumma people led by the JSS, HPC and HSC. The BSF directed the new puppet organisation to stage demonstrations in Dhaka and Khagrachari on 26 September and 10 October, 1995, respectively brandishing pistols, machetes, spears, axes, iron bars and sticks and shouting anti-Jumma and Islamic slogans in full view of the BSF and the BG. Despite that, neither the BSF nor the Local Government Authorities disarmed the demonstrators , stopped the violent and provocative demonstration and arrested the Leaders. On the other hand, the BG funded the demonstrations in full! Mr. Larma also gave another example to show how the puppet organisations had been used by the BSF to discredit the JSS, the HPC and the HSC. The puppet Jumma organisations bribed a few members of the HSC and ordered them to beat up Mr. Mintu Bikash Chakma, a Member of Khagrachari Hill District Council. Then, the BG blamed the HSC for the attack. Needless to say, the Local Government Authorities had filed cases against the Leaders of the HSC Branch at Khagrachari. This kind of fabricated allegation or charge should be properly investigated by the Local Government Authorities, Mr. Larma demanded. At this stage, Mr. Mohammad Ismail denied the involvement of his District Civil Administration in the aforesaid 2 incidents and said that the 10 October demonstration in Khagrachari was led by a Jumma, Mr. Alok Chakma himself. Regarding Mr. Alok Chakma's involvement in the demonstration, Mr. Hangsadhwaj Chakma disclosed that the Officer-In-Charge of Khagrachari Police Headquarters told him and others before 10 October that he would arrest Mr. Alok Chakma immediately indicating that the BSF knew very well about the said demonstration in advance although Mr. remail flatly denied having knowledge about it beforehand! Then, Mr. Ismail wanted to know whether the JSS (or SB) would allow the Thana (PS) Nirbahi (Civil Administrator) Officer and other Government officials to visit Jumma villages for official purposes. In reply, Mr. Larma said that they would be allowed to do so provided they did not collect information for the BSF. Mr. Larma complained that the Deputy Commissioner of Khagrachari District had recently issued permit to allot land to 28 BMI families in an area under the jurisdiction of Mahalchari P.S. within Khagrachari District. In response, Mr. Ismail explained that he had done so because those old cases were decided by the previous Deputy Commissioner except issuing the permits (Kabuliats) and because those 28 BMI families were the original inhabitants of the CHT. Mr. Sudha Sindhu Khisa hails from that area and asserted that there were no BMIs in Mahalchari Thana (PS) area before 1979 and that all the BMI families in the area had been brought in under the State-sponsored transmigration scheme. Perhaps, it is noteworthy that Mr. Ismail failed to respond to the evidence of Mr. Khisa. Mr. Larma, then, forcefully demanded the immediate cancellation of all those settlement orders (Kabuliats). After that, Mr. Larma suggested the proper rehabilitation of all those Jumma Refugees, who had returned to the CRT officially, and of all Jumma Refugees, who had returned to the CRT unofficially. On this proposal, Mr. Menon requested Mr. Ismail to take all necessary steps. On this proposal,, Mr. Kalpa Ranjan Chakma revealed that at the request of his Tribal Refugee Repatriation and Rehabilitation Committee, the 3 Deputy Commissioners of the CHT had issued orders to all Thana Nirbahi Officers to collect the list of Refugees in their respective areas. But the work had not progressed further, he regretted. Again, Mr. Menon proposed to extend the cease-fire till the end of April, 1996, because the General Elections were very likely to take place either before the Ramadan in February or after it and because there would be no more opportunity or time to hold a Group Meeting before the General Elections. Doubting the supposed time-limit for Elections, Mr. Larma commented that the Elections might not be held in time if the BSF came to power. Then the Army would hang both Ladies (Begum Khaleda Rahman and Mrs. Hasina Wazed), remarked Mr. Menon. However, he assured that Begum Khaleda Rahman, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, would make an announcement to resolve the political crisis in Bangladesh after her return from the U.S.A. Once more, Mr. Larma reminded that in the Fifth Group Meeting of 12 July, 1995, the JSS had made the extension of the cease-fire conditional on the behaviors of the BSF. But, he regretted, the BSF had not only breached the cease-fire but also intensified violence against the innocent and helpless Jumma People on an alarming scale. Apart from that broken promise, the political stability in Bangladesh did not exist and so the JSS could not rely on the BG's ability to hold Elections in time. Considering all these facts, Mr. Larma refused to extend the cease-fire for such a long period. Thereafter, Mr. Larma demanded the release of 3 JSS (or SB) Members still held in jail and also the unconditional release of the 4 who had already been released on bail within the month of November, 1995. In reply, the Sub- Committee of the BGC gave an assurance to do so at the earliest moment and persuaded to alloy more time. Finally, both sides reached the following decisions: 1. The apprehended JSS (or SB) Members would be released unconditionally before December 31, 1995. 2. The cease-fire period would be extended upto December 31, 1995. 3. Both sides would observe the cease-fire carefully and any problems relating to it would be solved by communicating through the Coordination Committee. These decisions were put on a paper which was signed by Mr. Menon and Mr. Larma. Both Leaders jointly briefed the Press thereafter. The Sixth Group Meeting was completed in a peaceful and cordial climate. * * * * * * * * * (This report has been written by Ramendu Shekhar Dewan, a Spokesman of the Jana Samhati Samiti in Europe, on November 21, 1995) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- :: :: A service provided by :: :: The Center For World Indigenous Studies :: :: www.cwis.org :: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Originating at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia, Washington USA www.cwis.org © 1999 Center for World Indigenous Studies (All Rights Reserved. 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