Stop fratricidal conflict among political parties in CHT

Urge citizens' bodies in Rangamati, Bandarban

28 April 2013, 18:24 PM

UPDATED 29 April 2013, 01:02 AM

Our Correspondent, Rangamati

Leaders and activists of Chittagong Hill Tracts Nagorik (citizens') Committee take out a procession in Rangamati town yesterday, urging the hill people to stop killing, abduction and fratricidal conflict and hold political programmes in the three hill districts in a peaceful manner. Photo: Star Leaders of Chittagong Hill Tracts Citizen's Committee (CHTCC) yesterday brought out a procession in the town and formed a human chain in New Court Building area calling to stop 'fratricidal conflict' between the local political parties. Shun polities of killing and abduction, practice democracy. Organise all political programmes in a peaceful manner. Killing and kidnapping own brothers cannot resolve any problem, said the leaders of the citizen" body. We want to live in peace, so hold dialogue across the table for your own interest, they said, pointing at pro-peace Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), anti-peace treaty United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and Manabendra Narayan Larma faction of PCJSS. Violation of human rights in the hills is on the rise and it has become a regular phenomenon in the recent days. Killing and kidnapping by the three factions --PCJSS, UPDF and MN Larma -- is taking place in the region almost every other day. Jumma people are being killed by their own brothers, many women are becoming widow while youths becoming orphans, they lamented. So, we can't sit idle any more. It is high time to stop fighting between the brothers. Existences of Jumma people will be at stake if the infighting continued, they said. Expressing grave concern, the leader said that 15 years have elapsed since signing of the peace deal. But the vital clauses still remained unimplemented, causing misunderstanding among the local political parties, they said. They demanded full implementation of the peace deal and called upon the indigenous people to be united to launch a greater movement to realise their demands including solution of land disputes. Chaired by Goutam Dewan, president of CHT Citizen's Committee, the human chain was also addressed by Dr. Manik Lal Dewan, former dean of Bangladesh Agriculture University, Jagat Jyoti Chakma, former chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council, Nirupa Dewan, member of National Human Rights Commission and women leader Tuku Talukder. A similar human chain was formed in Bandarban district yesterday. Organised by the citizen's body it was held in the district town where the leaders urged both the political parties to practice democracy instead of violence, reports our correspondent. Former courncillor of BHDC U Nai Shai Prue, Chala Prue Jimmy, Danai Prue Nali and Uttara Tripura addressed to programme.