Probe in 'attacks' on Adivasis urged
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission has urged the government to conduct impartial investigations into the allegations of frequent attacks on indigenous people and attempts to occupy their lands, says a statement.
The commission said it has received reports of alleged attempts of land grabbing of the Khyang community from the area of Gungru Mukh Para in Bandarban. "We have learnt that local Awami League leaders have threatened the Khyang community with eviction from their land and have also threatened to attack them".
"All these allegations indicate that the indigenous peoples of the CHT continue to suffer from marginalisation and abuse by state (the border guards) and non-state (Bangalee settlers) actors even after 14 years into signing of the (peace) accord".
In the statement signed by three co-chairs of the CHT Commission -- Eric Avebury, Sultana Kamal, and Elsa Stamatopoulou, it also placed a 5-point charter of demands for early implementation.
The demands include showing full respect to international human rights obligations, investigating allegations of human rights violations in the hilly region, reactivating the Land Commission with a new chairperson acceptable to all, declaring a roadmap to fully implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord, and allowing the CHT Commission to work in the region without any hindrance.
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