Government urged to declare roadmap for implementation of CHT Accord

Kapaeeng News Release: 1 April 2009

“Government should start implementation of CHT Peace Accord without any delay. Roadmap with timeframe should be set out by the government to implement the accord”, speakers demanded in a national seminar held in Dhaka. They also said that this is the right time to implement the CHT Accord and the government should undertake all possible steps for establishing lasting peace in CHT.

The speakers raised this demand at a seminar titled “Government Commitment to implement the CHT Accord and active popular support” jointly organized by Kapaeeng Foundation, a human rights organization of indigenous peoples and Association of Land Reform and Development (ALRD), a national NGO on 31 March 2009 at national press club in Dhaka. Presided over by ALRD executive director Shamsul Huda, the seminar was attended by Advocate Promod Mankin MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of CHT Affairs as chief guest.

Mr. Mangal Kumar Chakma, Information and Publicity Secretary of PCJSS presented a keynote paper. In his paper, he stated the present status of implementation of CHT Accord. He said that though the then government of Awami League implemented few issues of the Accord, but the main issues of the Accord were not implemented. He urged the government to start implementation of the Accord from May 2009 and to complete it within 2 years. He also urged government to reconstitute the Accord Implementation Committee by appointing the representative of the Prime Minister to the committee by next May. He demanded a clear roadmap from the government to implement the Accord.

In his speech as chief guest, Mr. Promod Mankin said that present government is very keen to implement the Accord. Informing his recent consultation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said that Prime Minister is committed to establish peace in the CHT. Referring to the Prime Minister’s comment in regard to Bengali settlers, he said that Bengali settlers would be withdrawn from CHT phase by phase. He also added that Parliamentary Standing Committee under his stewardship would always play active role in implementing the Accord. He asked the civil society members to submit a draft roadmap of implementation of the Accord to the Prime Minister with sending a copy of it to his parliamentary standing committee.

Mr. Jatindra Lal Tripura, ruling party MP from Khagrachari, said that land commission would be reconstituted to resolve land problem in CHT. He assured that he would rehabilitate the internally displaced persons as per CHT Accord.

Mr. Pankaj Bhattachariya, presidium member of Gono Forum, said that the main obstacle in implementing the peace accord is the fanatic and war-criminal forces. At present the enemy was identified. He urged the government to implement the CHT Accord within two years by reconstituting the Accord Implementation Committee in next May.

Barrister Devasish Roy, Chakma Circle Chief and special assistant to the Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government said that for the sake of constitutional guarantee of the CHT Accord, the Accord should be inserted in the first schedule of the constitution. Expressing his experience, he added that for the sake of making effective role of the Ministry of CHT Affairs, appointment of the permanent residents prioritizing the indigenous people to the post of officers and employees of the CHT Ministry should be given priority. He called on the government to take immediate steps first to amend the CHT Land Disputes Resolution Commission Act 2001 as per recommendation of the CHT Regional Council. He expressed that it would not be wise to work for him as a member of Land Commission under the existing Land Commission Act for resolution of land disputes as it is contradictory to the CHT Accord.

Barrister Sara Hossain, an eminent human rights activist, said that legal issues, such as, enactment and amendment of acts, rules, regulations of CHT Accord should be done first. Then resolution of land disputes should be given priority in implementing the Accord. Referring to include a subject on indigenous peoples’ issues in the training manual of Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) and National Defense College (NDC), she suggested to incorporate the same issues in the training manual for judicial services. She also informed that during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in UN Human Rights Council in last February, foreign minister Dr. Dipu Moni did not say anything about the implementation of the CHT Accord. However, Dr. Moni assured that government would submit roadmap of implementation of the Accord during the next session to be held in June 2009. Sara Hossain called on the civil society member to influence government for formulation of roadmap for implementation of the Accord before the next session of UPR.

In his speech as chair of the seminar, Mr. Shamsul Huda said that the withdrawal of temporary camps and Operation Uttoron should be given priority in implementing the peace accord. He added that civil society should take supportive role to the government for speedy implementation of the Accord. He expressed that constitution recognition and seat reservation for indigenous peoples should be made for sake of good governance.

Among others, eminent human rights activist Ms. Rosaline Costa, women rights activist Ms. Delara Rekha, VSO Ms. Hosne Ara Begum, indigenous rights activist Mr. Kirti Nishan Chakma, RDC organizer Mr. Mazharul Islam, indigenous rights activist Mr. Albert Mankin, Santal leader Subodh Baskey etc spoke during the open discussion. Earlier Mr. Rabindranath Soren, Chairperson of the Kapaeeng Foundation delivered the welcome speech while Mr. Dipayan Khisa conducted the start of the seminar.