Arakanland News & Article

ARAKANLAND

 Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

23 May 2011 –

“Violence continues in many of these areas, while systematic militarization contributes to human rights abuses,” said Tomás Ojea Quintana, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, in a statement.

“These abuses include land confiscation, forced labour, internal displacement, extrajudicial killings and sexual violence. They are widespread, they continue today, and they remain essentially unaddressed by the authorities.”

Mr. Ojea Quintana, who was not able to visit Myanmar, spoke after wrapping up an eight-day visit to neighbouring Thailand.

He said he saw “positive signs” in the elections of new national and regional legislatures earlier, but added that “it is too early for them to function effectively and to manage this important and complex issue that has a direct impact on ongoing human rights abuses and compromises stability. ”

He said the electoral process excluded several significant ethnic and opposition groups, “so their voices are not being heard in these fora.”

Regarding a recently announced release of prisoners, the independent expert said most prisoners of conscience remain in jail. “I would like to see a concrete and time-bound plan announced by the Government for the systematic release of all prisoners of conscience.”

Last week Vijay Nambiar, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Myanmar, told the Security Council that the prisoner release was short of expectation and insufficient.

Mr. Ojea Quintana said: “Through this mission, I see some positive signs in the developments. In the first and only sitting of the Parliament so far, MPs, despite limitations, were able to raise some important questions from the human rights perspective.”

The Special Rapporteur also noted the beginning of discussions about economic, social and cultural rights and some participation by ethnic minority parties in the legislatures.

“The new President’s speeches have led to some expectations for positive change. He provides some interesting ideas that could be developed into benchmarks for progress. We will have to watch closely to see how this is translated into action.”

President Thein Sein was elected by Parliament in February.

“It is my hope to be able to visit Myanmar as soon as possible to continue discussions with the authorities and other stakeholders about progress being made towards the transition to democracy and concerns about the ongoing serious human rights situation in the country.”

Mr. Ojea Quintana, who has served in an unpaid and independent capacity since May 2008, reports to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

Source: UN News Service

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ARAKANLAND

 Vijay Nambiar, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar

20 May 2011 –

Vijay Nambiar, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Myanmar, briefed the Council yesterday in a closed door session on his three-day visit last week to the country.

Mr. Nambiar said the visit offered an opportunity for the UN to engage with the new Government, six weeks after it was installed, and to build on existing dialogue with key stakeholders.

He welcomed the Government’s recognition of Myanmar’s most pressing political and economic challenges and the need to address them in a way that strengthens national unity and reconciliation, according to information released by the UN spokesperson’s office.

The Government made an explicit commitment to keep the “peace door” open to political forces that had not accepted the recently adopted constitution or political roadmap, he said.

“While the Government’s stated commitments were encouraging at this stage, he noted that gaining international confidence was as much a factor of leadership and policies as of delivering on popular expectations,” the spokesperson noted.

During the visit Mr. Nambiar reiterated the UN’s call for the urgent release of all political prisoners.

While the initial sentence reductions and resulting release of some political prisoners is a small step in the right direction, it has been short of expectation and is insufficient, he said.

“We continue to urge the Myanmar authorities to do more in order to be consistent both with their recent stated commitments and to meet the expectations of both its own people and the international community.”

The Special Adviser also conveyed to the Council the gist of his conversations with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League For Democracy (NLD), as well as Myanmar's other political opposition groups, ethnic groups and representatives of civil society. He said the real test would be whether – or how quickly – the new climate can translate to a change in content.

A meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar is likely to be scheduled in the near future, the UN spokesperson said.

Source: UN News Service

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ARAKANLAND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ev6uoRk9r0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxHYOma1QMc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57e_LITrQjU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK443B07o3c&feature=related

May 19, 2011

Kolkata, India

Press Statement

We, the Arakanese and Karen freedom fighters from Burma, have been released from Alipur Presidency Correctional Home in Kolkata today on May 19, 2011 after spending more than 13 years in detention in India.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to all those individuals and organizations, which have for the last 13 years worked for our freedom.

Unfortunately, only 31 of us out of 34 are released today and our three comrades will be sent to Port Blair to clear their court case. We believe that they will be able to join us soon in freedom.

With our freedom, we would like to reiterate our commitment that we will continue our struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma.

Dynyalin

On behalf of the 34 Burmese freedom fighters

Background:  

We, the Arakan and Karen nationals from Burma, were arrested in a joint operation carried out by the Indian authorities on February 9, 1998 in which six of our leaders were killed.

The FIR No 50/98 was filed by R S Dhankar, Lt Commander and Deputy Naval Provost Marshal for Fortress Andaman and Nicobar Islands which alleged that the arrested persons were bringing arms etc for “terrorist militant outfits in north eastern states of India via Cox bazaar and Bangladesh to wage war and or, attempting to wage war and or aiding and abetting to wage war against the government of India and conspiring illegally to wage war against the lawfully established government of India and or abetting terrorism to destabilise the lawfully established government in the country.”

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to file a charge sheet for more than six years and when it did file the charge sheet, under pressure from Indian human rights activists, they dropped the charge of waging war. The CBI has not completed its investigation regarding the six persons murdered in Landfall Island.

With the intervention of India’s leading human rights lawyers notably Ms Nandita Haksar, the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its Order dated September 11, 2006, had directed that the City Sessions Court in Kolkata carry out the trial expeditiously and on a day to day basis. During the trial, which started in January 2007 and ended in July 2010, our defence has produced four witnesses, which have produced conclusive evidence that we, the 34 persons, are indeed freedom fighters from Burma.

The first DW 1 is Ms Nandita Haksar and she appeared as a defence witness in her capacity as a member of the Solidarity Committee for Burma’s freedom Fighters of which Lt Col (Dr) Lakshmi Sahgal is the Chair. DW 1 produced original letters from various Burmese resistance groups testifying to the bona fides of these freedom fighters.

DW 2 was Mr Harn Yawnghwe, the son of the first President of Union of Burma who is working for the Europe Burma Office. DW 3 was Dr. Tint Swe, the representative of the National League for Democracy, which is the party of the Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He testified that these Burmese freedom fighters were a part of the movement for the restoration of democracy.

DW 4 was a civil servant belonging to the West Bengal State Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and he testified that the State of West Bengal organized a football match in April 2008 in Kolkata between the East Bengal team and a Burmese football team sponsored by the Burmese media group “Mizzima” in solidarity with the 34 Burmese freedom fighters lodged in jail in Kolkata.

After 12 years in detention and after nearly four years of the trial, we, the Burmese freedom fighters on 12 May 2010 filed the plea bargain application under provision of Section 265-B of the Cr.P.C. In May 2010, an agreement was reached between us and the CBI (prosecutor) under section 265-C of Cr.P.C for mutually satisfactory disposition of the case.

On 12 July 2010, the City Sessions Court, Calcutta announced the judgement under provision of section 265-C of Cr.P.C, sentencing us for total 3 years and eight months along with fine Rs. 6,000 each u/s 14 Foreigners Act, u/s 5 (6) of the Explosives Act and u/s 25-1B of the Arms Act. Since we, the 34 Burmese, have been in detention for more than 12 years, their imprisonment term has been set off u/s 428. Cr.P.C. We paid the fine of Rs. 6,000 each (total Rs. 204,000 for 34 persons) on 23^rd September 2010 after the Burmese refugee community in India raised the money for the fine.

In January 2011, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with the permission of the Government of India, interviewed us individually face to face in the Presidency Correctional Home, Kolkata for determining our refugee status. In March 2011, the UNHCR under its mandate granted refugee status to all of us.

There are about 8,000 Burmese refugees residing in New Delhi under the protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The government of India has granted them residential permits.

Please link to read: http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/5292-detained-13-years-rebel-fighters-released-from-prison-in-india.html

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WAO-USA- A successful teleconference of World Arakanese Organization (WAO) U.S.A branch was held by Executive Committee according to the following schedule and agenda.

Date: May 14, 2011 (Saturday)
Time: 9 PM (EST)
          8 PM (CST)
          7 PM (MST)
          6 PM (PST)

Agenda: Giri Relief Efforts (Tentative)
              Arakanese and Indigenous People Crisis in Bangladesh
              Annual Conference (Tentative)

During the three hours meeting, there was attending eleven attendees including a special guest from Bangladesh.

U Tun Won, Patron of WAO-USA, was installed as speaker of conference by EC members and he delivered the speech of suggestion which provided to attendees as knowledge. Ko Kyaw Htoo Aung, General Secretary of WAO-USA, served master of ceremony. And U U Sein Tun who is a head of WAO-USA spoke the closing address.

All attendees have heartily discussed an agenda of Giri Relief Efforts of WAO-USA has been working Arakanese natural disasters so far.

Ko Kyaw Htoo Aung reported the WAO- U.S.A's letter to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh regarding the recent outbreak of arson and human right violation  upon Indigenous Jumma Peoples by Bengali settlers with the direct boost of local authorities in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Ko Ba Moung, who recently came from Bangladesh to U.S.A, explained in detail about the critical situation of minorities ( Arakanese and Jumma Peoples of Chittagong Hill Tracts) of Bangladesh.

As the global social network, up to now, WAO-USA's commitment has made about decision of national interest and it has been undertaking its national and nationalities of Arakan around the World.

Please link to read:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Arakanese-Organization/159608264096846?v=wall

Source: WAO-USA

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ARAKANLAND

Aung San Suu Kyi

13 May 2011 –

Vijay Nambiar, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Myanmar, said that during the three-day visit he underlined the importance of the Government implementing its stated commitments on such issues as governance, human rights, the rule of law and sustainable development.

In a press statement issued in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, Mr. Nambiar noted that expectations are high both domestically and internationally that the Government will soon take “concrete steps” to meet those commitments.

“In all my meetings I stressed that this must include the release of all political prisoners and inclusive dialogue with all segments of society, as well as greater outreach to the international community to ensure that the proposed reforms enjoyed broad buy-in,” he said.

“Only then can there be greater confidence that the efforts undertaken will indeed serve to meet the long-standing needs and aspirations of the people of Myanmar. There is no time to waste if Myanmar is to move forward.”

Mr. Nambiar welcomed the themes and reforms outlined by President Thein Sein in his inaugural speeches on “some of the most pressing political and economic challenges facing Myanmar.”

The Special Adviser cited sustainable development and equitable growth; good governance, through greater inclusiveness, accountability and transparency; respect for fundamental human rights, the media and the rule of law; and continued engagement with those who do not accept the recently adopted constitution and the Government’s roadmap agenda.

During the visit Mr. Nambiar met with the ministers of foreign affairs, home affairs, social welfare, national planning and development, as well as newly appointed presidential advisers for political, legal and economic affairs.

He also held discussions with the Deputy Speaker of the People’s Assembly and the Secretary-General of the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

In addition, Mr. Nambiar met with Ms. Suu Kyi and members of the NLD’s central executive committee, and also with representatives of parliamentary political parties and civil society organizations.

During the visit he also reiterated the UN’s commitment to engage more with the people and Government of Myanmar on issues ranging from health and education to human rights and capacity building.

Source: UN News Service

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ARAKANLAND

 April 26th, 2011

Dear Sir/Madam:

We are deeply concerned about the physical security and well-being of the Buddhist, Hindu and Christian minorities, or Jumma, living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh. Since 1980 the Jumma indigenous people have suffered grave violations of their human rights as a result of the Offensive Land Occupation by Bengali settlers which is supported by the Government of Bangladesh – and therefore, by the country’s security forces, as well. This suffering has led to the loss of many hundreds of lives, unspeakable trauma and the erosion of the indigenous people’s customs and culture. Foreigners are discouraged and hindered from visiting this area in an attempt to hide these atrocities.

According to the accounts we have received from websites, newspapers and various private and organisational reports (please see the List of Documentation that follows below), including scholars’ accounts of the CHT region, the Bengali Muslim Migrants (BMM) were first brought into the area by the Bangladeshi government’s army in December 1980. This gave rise to the first extremely bloody outbreak of violence, as the local Jumma Buddhist minority in Khawkhali defended their lands against the BMM. Over a hundred local villagers died, including two Buddhist monks, as a result of indiscriminate firing by the army during the course of a weekly market day in December 1980.

The influx of BMM has intensified in many parts of the CHT ever since, as an effort to destabilise the peaceful minority people, who have been living there for over 700 years without the presence of Bengali Muslims. As a result of the illegal seizure of land by the BMM, the Jumma minorities have suffered loss of life, as well as of the properties, homes and lands that they owned for many centuries. This action on the part of the BMM continued to affect the minorities, as about 50,000 members of Jumma minority groups temporarily retreated to India in 1986 and 1994, during which time a number of massacres took place at the hands of unsympathetic army commanders in many parts of Rangamati and Khagrachari districts in the CHT, including the bloodiest massacre, which took place in Logan in 1992.

A Peace Accord was signed in 1997 between the Jumma self-declared “freedom fighters”, who were advocating self-determination and the promotion of their people’s material and spiritual well-being, and the Government of Bangladesh. The Government, however, has never actually implemented this agreement. As a result, the situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has deteriorated dramatically, resulting in the regular occurrence of further traumatic events that impact the Jumma Buddhist, Hindu and Christian minorities.

In the context of the non-implementation of the 1997 Peace Accord, we have recently been receiving numerous accounts of new atrocities and land-grabbing incidents in the CHT. There have been two major arson attacks within the last 14 months: one in Baghaihat in February 2010 and the most recent attack in Ramgarh on 17th April 2011. These two incidents are similar to each other, in terms of the nature of the attack. All over the world people protested against the arson attacks in Baghaihat last year, from London to Paris, from Geneva to New York and in the major cities in Asia. They demanded that the perpetrators face appropriate punishment, while at the same time calling for an end to the land grabbing and for the withdrawal of the army force from the CHT region. However, these issues were not resolved before the latest recent attack on this minority.

The local security forces (army and police) were informed and their assistance was sought to stop the BMM settlers from attacking the minorities last week, but the security forces did not take action. Instead, they allowed the incident to happen. As a result, two Bengali setters and three minorities lost their lives and the bodies of over ten ethnic-minority Buddhists have still not been found. Over a hundred buildings, including two Buddhist monasteries belong to the Jumma Buddhist minority, were burnt to the ground. In spite of such a dreadful incident, as of the time of the drafting of this petition, the governmental authorities have still not allowed any relief aid to be distributed to these homeless people.

In light of the above, we would therefore like to request your office to support this appeal to the Government of Bangladesh. Specifically, we are calling for:

1.) An immediate halt to acts of violence, with commitment by all parties to respect the truce and keep the peace by settling the land disputes.

2.) An immediate commitment on the part of Bangladesh's authorities to allow relief supplies to reach those displaced as a result of the April 2011 Ramgarh attacks and adequate compensation to all victims and allow all relief agencies to operate freely.

3.) The immediate withdrawal of the Bangladeshi army from the CHT

4.) The prompt convening at an international venue of focused talks aimed at negotiating a durable political solution to the land issue in the CHT. These talks should bring to the table representatives of the Jumma peoples, the Government of Bangladesh and major international agencies (for example, the UNDP, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Bank etc.)


Yours Sincerely,


--------
Petition Authors

JUMMA PEOPLE NETWORK, UK


Copy to:

1. Foreign Office UK Government
2. Foreign Office EU Government
3. Bangladesh High Commission, London
4. Prime Minister Officer, Government of Bangladesh
5. Amnesty international, UK
6. Survival international, UK
7. Barrister Shafique Ahmed, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs,      Bangladesh
8. Advocate Shahara Khatun, Minister for Home Affairs. Bangladesh
9. Advocate Shamsul Hoque Tuku, State Minister for Home Affairs, Bangladesh
10. Dipankar Talukdar, Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Bangladesh
11. Md. Rezaul Karim Hira, Minister of Land, Bangladesh
12. Prof. James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
13. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
14. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), U.S State Department

Human Rights Organizations
Media Outlets


Signatures in support of this petition:

Please provide your name and country; additional comments/notes are also welcome.

THE PETITION; http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-jumma_minorities-cht/

Photos taken after the Ramgarh – Khagrachari attack, which took place
at around 5 p.m. on 17 April 2011

The houses above are still burning

The main shrine of the temple was completely burnt down in the arson attack carried out by the Bengali settlers.

This monk is assessing the damage that was done to the temple. 

These monks and novices are fortunate to have survived when their temple was reduced to ashes.

The back of this image of the Buddha was damaged by the Bengali settlers.

These desperate women and children are waiting for someone to come and deliver them from their suffering.

This man still feels luckier than many others, because he has managed to salvage some rice from the paddy under the debris.

Photos taken in Baghaichari on or around February 23^rd,
2010:

 

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ARAKANLAND

A peaceful demonstration was held this morning, 10th May 2011 in front of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London to protest against the recent attacks (17th April ) on indigenous villages in Ramgarh in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh.

During the attacks scores of houses of the indigenous Jumma people were burnt down, property looted and many Jumma residents were injured with some still missing. Reports have mentioned several Buddhist temples were also razed to the ground by settlers. Reports indicate a conflict arose when settlers were attempting to occupy land belonging to indigenous people. Three Bengali settlers are also reported to have died in the violence

The protest gathering was organized by the Jumma Peoples Network UK and was attended by around thirty people. Also present were Ansar Ahmed Ullah (Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmal Committee), Kamal Rajapakse (Sinhala Foundation), Anura Seneviratan, Alan Craig (Christian Peoples Alliance), D Brunetti, besides members of the Jumma community.

A petition addressed to the Foreign Secretary William Hague along with a letter from Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) was handed over to an official of the ministry. A copy was also handed over to Mr. Jack Straw, a former Home & Justice Secretary who was also present there.

Here is the text of the petition submitted to Rt Hon William Hague MP,Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs.

JUMMA PEOPLES NETWORK UK

Human Rights Organisation – ‘demanding justice for the           Indigenous Jumma People of the CHT’

Rt Hon William Hague MP

Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Date: 10 May 2011

Subject: Save Jumma minority in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh.

Dear Mr. Hague,

We are deeply concerned about the physical security and well-being of the Buddhist, Hindu and Christian minorities, or Jumma, living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh. Since 1980 the Jumma indigenous people have suffered grave violations of their human rights as a result of the Offensive Land Occupation by Bengali settlers which is supported by the Government of Bangladesh – and therefore, by the country’s security forces, as well. This suffering has led to the loss of many hundreds of lives, unspeakable trauma and the erosion of the indigenous people’s customs and culture. Foreigners are discouraged and hindered from visiting this area in an attempt to hide these atrocities.

According to the accounts we have received from websites, newspapers and various private and organisational reports (please see the List of Documentation that follows below), including scholars’ accounts of the CHT region, the Bengali Muslim Migrants (BMM) were first brought into the area by the Bangladeshi government’s army in December 1980. This gave rise to the first extremely bloody outbreak of violence, as the local Jumma Buddhist minority in Khawkhali defended their lands against the BMM. Over a hundred local villagers died, including two Buddhist monks, as a result of indiscriminate firing by the army during the course of a weekly market day in December 1980.

The influx of BMM has intensified in many parts of the CHT ever since, as an effort to destabilise the peaceful minority people, who have been living there for over 700 years without the presence of Bengali Muslims. As a result of the illegal seizure of land by the BMM, the Jumma minorities have suffered loss of life, as well as of the properties, homes and lands that they owned for many centuries.

This action on the part of the BMM continued to affect the minorities, as about 50,000 members of Jumma minority groups temporarily retreated to India in 1986 and 1994, during which time a number of massacres took place at the hands of unsympathetic army commanders in many parts of Rangamati and Khagrachari districts in the CHT, including the bloodiest massacre, which took place in Logan in 1992.

A Peace Accord was signed in 1997 between the Jumma self-declared “freedom fighters”, who were advocating self-determination and the promotion of their people’s material and spiritual well-being, and the Government of Bangladesh. The Government, however, has never actually implemented this agreement. As a result, the situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has deteriorated dramatically, resulting in the regular occurrence of further traumatic events that impact the Jumma Buddhist, Hindu and Christian minorities.

In the context of the non-implementation of the 1997 Peace Accord, we have recently been receiving numerous accounts of new atrocities and land-grabbing incidents in the CHT. There have been two major arson attacks within the last 14 months: one in Baghaihat in February 2010 and the most recent attack in Ramgarh on 17th April 2011. These two incidents are similar to each other, in terms of the nature of the attack. All over the world people protested against the arson attacks in Baghaihat last year, from London to Paris, from Geneva to New York and in the major cities in Asia. They demanded that the perpetrators face appropriate punishment, while at the same time calling for an end to the land grabbing and for the withdrawal of the army force from the CHT region. However, these issues were not resolved before the latest recent attack on this minority.

The local security forces (army and police) were informed and their assistance was sought to stop the BMM settlers from attacking the minorities last week, but the security forces did not take action. Instead, they allowed the incident to happen. As a result, two Bengali setters and three minorities lost their lives and the bodies of over ten ethnic-minority Buddhists have still not been found. Over a hundred buildings, including two Buddhist monasteries belong to the Jumma Buddhist minority, were burnt to the ground. In spite of such a dreadful incident, as of the time of the drafting of this petition, the governmental authorities have still not allowed any relief aid to be distributed to these homeless people.

In light of the above, we would therefore like to request your office to support this appeal to the Government of Bangladesh. Specifically, we are calling for:

1) An immediate halt to acts of violence, with commitment by all parties to respect the truce and keep the peace by settling the land disputes.

2) An immediate commitment on the part of Bangladesh’s authorities to allow relief supplies to reach those displaced as a result of the April 2011 Ramgarh attacks and adequate compensation to all victims and allow all relief agencies to operate freely.

3) The immediate withdrawal of the Bangladeshi army from the CHT
4) The prompt convening at an international venue of focused talks aimed at negotiating a durable political solution to the land issue in the CHT. These talks should bring to the table representatives of the Jumma peoples, the Government of Bangladesh and major international agencies (for example, the UNDP, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Bank etc.)

Yours sincerely,

S/d

Lal Amlai

Copy to:

1. Foreign Office EU Government
2. Bangladesh High Commission, London
3. Prime Minister Officer, Government of Bangladesh
4. Amnesty international, UK
5. Survival international, UK
6. Barrister Shafique Ahmed, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Bangladesh
7. Advocate Shahara Khatun, Minister for Home Affairs. Bangladesh
8. Advocate Shamsul Hoque Tuku, State Minister for Home Affairs, Bangladesh

9. Dipankar Talukdar, Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Bangladesh
10. Md. Rezaul Karim Hira, Minister of Land, Bangladesh
11. Prof. James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
12. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
13. The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), U.S State Department

Source: Jumma Peoples Network UK http://www.jpnuk.org.uk/

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ARAKANLAND

24 April 2011
To
The Honorable Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Prime Minister’s Office
Tejgaon, Dhaka

Subject: Renewed violence in the CHT and the need for implementation of the CHT Accord

Dear Madam,
The CHT Commission has observed with alarm the developments in Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachhari district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
In the first four months of this year there have already been two major arson attacks in the CHT. During both incidents there have been losses of lives, severe injuries to both Bangalis and Paharis and extensive damage to property. During both incidents there have been allegations that a group of Bangalis in presence of security personnel, set fire to homes of Paharis. There has been some damage also to homes of Bangalis. In the case of the incident on 17 April in Ramgarh, three Bangali men, one Pahari man and a child have allegedly lost their lives. We condemn such killings and demand that the perpetrators of these acts be brought to justice. There have been allegations in the Ramgarh attacks that Paharis who were not concerned with the attacks in Ramgarh and were travelling in public buses were attacked by Bangalis in presence of security forces. There are also allegations that a Pahari man is still missing after these attacks. It is elemental that the people who carried out and abetted this violence be brought to justice and investigations carried out immediately to find any missing persons.

The overriding factor in both the incidents in February and April is the unresolved land disputes. Until and unless the land disputes are settled by the Land Commission these incidents will continue to take place and there will no peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Madam, your government signed the CHT ‘Peace’ Accord in 1997 and the CHT Commission fully supports this Accord. It is imperative that the government implement all clauses of the Accord in full. The functioning of the Land Commission should be a top priority for the government.
In view of the recent violence we therefore recommend that the government immediately take the following actions:
a) The government should immediately set up a team to carry out an investigation in a thorough, transparent, independent and impartial manner to probe into the incidents that led up to the attacks on 17 April.
b) In the interests of justice, and to prevent land-related conflicts and ethnic tension, the government should issue instructions to all civil, military, and other security personnel to refrain from involving themselves in land-related disputes, which are by law only within the jurisdiction of the Land Commission, courts of law and traditional indigenous authorities.
c) All persons involved with the killings, arson attacks, carrying out injuries to others, or destroying property should receive exemplary punishment.
d) The members of the security forces including Border Guards Bangladesh, the members of the Bangladesh Army, and police personnel must be held accountable for allegations, of negligence of duty and complicity, against them.
e) The government must ensure that proper relief and rehabilitation is provided to all the victims of the violence.
To prevent any further violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts we recommend:
a) That the government amends the Land Commission Act according to the CHT Accord.
b) That the present Land Commission Chairman be replaced with a neutral person acceptable to all groups and stakeholders in the CHT.
c) That the Land Commission, including the new Chairperson, immediately starts resolving land dispute from all over the CHT, after the Act is amended according to the CHT Accord.
d) That the Land Commission carries out its functions in a transparent and acceptable manner.
e) That there be an independent judicial inquiry into all previous attacks and the findings be made public. This includes the attacks in February 2011 in Longadu, in February 2010 in Baghaihat and August 2009 in Sajek.
f) That the government declares a roadmap to implement the CHT Accord within its present term in office to fulfill its Election pledge.
The CHT Commission extends its full support to the Government of Bangladesh in realizing its commitments to the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
On behalf of the CHT Commission

Eric Avebury Sultana Kamal Ida Nicolaisen
Co-chair of the Co-chair of the Co-chair of the
CHT Commission CHT Commission CHT Commission

Source: http://ericavebury.blogspot.com/

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ARAKANLAND

News No. 115/2011, May 9, 2011

THE Jumma people in Ruma have boycotted a meeting called by army today, sources have said.

Lt. Col. Imtiaz, commander of Ruma zone, called the meeting today, Monday, at 10am at Ruma High School ground.

Mr. Imtiaz was posted to Ruma garrison from Baghaichari zone last year. He was the mastermind behind the 19 – 20 April 2010 Sajek attacks which left 4 innocent Jumma villagers dead and nearly 500 houses burnt.

Today is market day for Ruma bazaar. Hundreds of Jumma people from all corners of the area thronged the market, but none attended the meeting.

The army invited the Jummas to the meeting with loud speakers and set tables and chairs on the school ground.

But as no Jumma attended the meeting, the army called off the meeting and left the venue at 11am.

The army is reportedly set 11 May for the next meeting.

It is not known why the today’s meeting was called, however, knowledgeable sources believe that it might have been a reaction to a ‘Long March’ organized by Ruma people on 3 May in protest against a land acquisition plan of the government to expand Ruma garrison and build a new BGB headquarters in Ruma.

If the acquisition goes as planned, it would displace thousands of Jumma people, mostly people from Mro community, and destroy the natural environment of the area.

The UPDF has hailed the decision of the Ruma people to boycott the meeting, saying this symbolic protest would send a strong signal to the army and the government.

It urged the people to continue the movement until victory is won.

Source: Jumma Peoples Network UK

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ARAKANLAND

News No. 114/2011, May 9, 2011

THE settlers made another unsuccessful attempt to grab land in Ramgarh under Khagrachari district yesterday.

According to sources, at around 9am, a group of 30 – 40 settlers from Gochchabil and Jamtola went to Wakchari village under Hafchari Union to grab about 10 acres of land belonging to Jumma people.

When they began clearing bushes and shrubs for aurum cultivation, a member of Hafchari Union, Ula Pru Marma, protested, asking them not to take away other people’s lands.

But the settlers paid no heed to him, and claimed that the land belonged to them.

“The settlers said they would cultivate aurum on the land,” a Jumma villager told chtnews.com.

He said tension between the two communities increased after that and many Jummas had fled their homes in fear of attacks.

However, at 12pm, the Jumma villagers picked up courage, organized themselves and then repulsed the settlers’ attempt to grab their land.

According to the villagers, some of the settlers involved in the land grab attempt have been identified. They are Md. Momin, Md. Sultan and Md. Shafi from Gochchabil and Md. Shahab Mian, Mondol, Md. Yunus, Md. Sultan, Malek Bhandari, Md. Shahajahan, Md. Karim, Md. Yusuf, Md. Hafizur, Md. Goda Mian and Md. Hakim from Gamtola.

Source: Jumma Peoples Network UK

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ARAKANLAND

Vijay Nambiar, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Myanmar

10 May 2011 – A top United Nations official will arive in Myanmar tomorrow for a three-day visit in which he will meet with the country's newly installed Government, political parties and civil society groups in the Asian nation.

Vijay Nambiar, the Special Adviser to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Myanmar, will hold meetings in Naypyitaw, the country's capital, and Yangon, its biggest city, according to a statement issued by a spokesperson for Mr. Ban.

The visit is being held as part of the implementation of the Secretary-General's good offices mandate and takes place after a new Government was installed earlier this year following elections.

In March Mr. Ban said Myanmar's authorities had a duty to show that the announced transfer of power from the long-ruling State Peace and Development Council to a new Government is more than a change in name and represents a genuine move away from military rule.

Source: UN News Service

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ARAKANLAND

 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the press on the death of Osama bin Laden

Terrorism ongoing and evolving global threat, Security Council told

Source: UN News Service

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