UPDF rally held in Khagrachari: Army-JSS bid to disrupt failed

June 8, Dhaka: Despite numerous hurdles put up by army and attempts by Jana Samhati Samiti members to disrupt it, the grand rally called by United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) to protest recent land grabbing spree in CHT was held peacefully yesterday.

Thousands took part in the protest march

An estimated 7 - 8 thousand attended the rally, which was held at Swanirbhor bazaar in Khagrachari district. Presided over by UPDF leader Animesh Chakma, the speakers criticised the government for its anti-Jumma policy and demanded that customary land rights of the Jumma people are respected and recognised in the constitution of Bangladesh. They urged the government to stop grabbing lands in the name of construction of camps and training centres for the army and paramilitary forces in the CHT, withdraw military camps and rehabilitate the settlers in the plain district. They said full autonomy is a must for restoring genuine peace and stability in the area.

The UPDF leaders lashed out at the army and the government-backed JSS armed groups for creating obstructions and barring people from attending the rally. They said no amount of repression could subdue the spirit of the full autonomy movement and called upon the JSS supremo Santoo Larma to step down from the Regional Council and join the struggle of the people.

Role of the army and JSS

Both the army and the JSS made attempts to asphyxiate the rally. All roads to Khagrachari except for Chittagong - Khagrachari road were practically blocked by government-backed JSS cadres. No vehicles plied on these roads.

The army put up check posts in two points leading to Swanirbhor. They blocked buses at Zero Mile, searched bodies of each and every participant and forced them to walk two kilometers to get to the programme venue. At Chengi Bridge, another army check point, participants were frisked excessively before allowing them to proceed towards the venue.

In Manikchari soldiers halted vehicles carrying UPDF supporters, while in Baillyachari in Ramgarh Upazilla UPDF supporters were harassed.

In Panchari, Dighinala, Mahalchari and Kudukchari, the JSS men threatened the bus and jeep owners not to ply their vehicles. No UPDF supporters could come from these areas.

In Panchari the JSS supporters called hartal (strike) up to 12 noon for the day to prevent people from attending the rally. Thousands of people assembled at 4-5 locations in Panchari waiting for jeeps and buses to carry them to Khagrachari.

In Dighinala, the government-backed JSS members blocked the buses and jeeps carrying UPDF supporters and refused to allow them to go and participate in the rally. The UPDF supporters held a rally in Dighinala in protest.

A partial view of the rally at Swnirbhor, Khagrachari

In Rangamati, the JSS forced the

bus owners to shut their ticket counters.

A few days before the rally, a leaflet was circulated asking people not to participate in the rally. It said those who would take part in the rally would be liable for payment of a fine amounting to Taka 50,000 and other befitting punishments. The leaflet was unnamed but is attributed to the Jana Samhati Samiti.

When UPDF leaders complained about the army and JSS attempts to foil the rally, the Additional Superintendent of Police said, "we have nothing to do. They (the army) control us"

UPDF leader and ex-president of Hill Women Federation Samari Chakma also complained to the Khagrachari zone commander about the army intervention. The commander said his soldiers were merely "performing their duties".

From the beginning, the army-government-JSS trio tried to ensure that the rally did not take place in the first place.

On 22 May the JSS members tore down some posters announcing the June 7 rally at Chengi Square. This led to a clash with the UPDF supporters.

On 23 May police raided the office of the UPDF at Swanirbhor and arrested 16 of its members, including its district coordinator Sachib Chakma, who were holding a meeting to prepare the rally.

On 24 May the JSS kidnapped Punnyo Moni Chamka, 25, a pick-up van driver for renting his vehicle to the UPDF. He was released after a payment of Taka 20 thousand.

From 25 May army had been deployed in Mahalchari, Kamalchari, Gurgujjyachari and some other places in an apparent bid to create a fear psychosis among the villagers.

On 27 May the armed gangs loyal to Santu Larma beat up 15 villagers for taking part in a PCP programme and threatened them not to attend any programme called by UPDF and its front organisations, including the June 7 rally.

On 28 May the JSS carried out an armed attack on UPDF in Babuchara under Dighinala Upazila. No one was hurt.

The JSS men also conducted open propaganda against the rally. In Dighinala they announced openly that they would not allow even an ant to get to the rally.

The JSS is now playing a role similar to that of the Jingaweed militias in Durfur of Sudan or the Indonesia-backed armed gangs in the aftermath of the independence vote in East Timor in 1998.

So far, the government-backed armed gangs loyal to JSS president Santu Larma have killed 200 members and supporters of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), kidnapped 500 persons and levied hundreds of thousands of Taka as ransom and tax.

Prepared and issued by press section, publication and publicity department, United People's Democratic Front (UPDF). June 8, 2005