Jummas still being denied rights: Santu

Rangamati, July 9 (bdnews24.com)?The chief of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) has said that the Jumma people of the country are still being denied their rights.

Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, widely known as Santu Larma, on Saturday at a rally in Rangamati Gymnasium ground said that despite a peace accord inked 13 years back, the indigenous or Adivasi people were still being ruled by the army, laws on land disputes were yet to be amended and intrusion of Bangalee settlers was still going on.

He demanded revitalisation of the land commission, and revival of the laws on CHT regional council and regional council itself.

Santu, chairman of the CHT Regional Council, and other speakers also threatened the government of fresh movement if the anti-peace accord organisation United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) is not banned, and demanded an end to the ongoing politicisation of the region.

Former president of Pahari Chhatra Parishad Udayan Tripura declared the three local MPs 'unwanted' in the region as they were not pro-active in pushing for the demand for recognition of the local inhabitants as indigenous or Adivasi.

He said, "The three MPs despite being indigenous did not protest when the constitution was being amended in parliament, whereas being a Bangalee, Rashed Khan Menon and other MPs spoke against the government move."

The three MPs are Dipankar Talukder, the state minister for CHT Affairs, elected from Rangamati, Jatindra Lal Tripura of Khagrachhari and Bir Bahadur U Shwe Ching from Bandarbans.

Ruling allies Workers Party chief Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haque Inu were among those opposing the government move to deny recognition to the indigenous people.

PCJSS leaders from the region also spoke at the protest rally, followed by a procession, where a good number of people took part.

Santu said the indigenous people had been made 'second-class citizens' through the 15 amendment to the constitution. "Plans are afoot to make us Bangalee by erasing our indigenous identity.

"We'll continue our movement until we're recognised constitutionally," he pledged.

The amended constitution has termed the indigenous people of the CHT and plains as tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities, which the indigenous leaders have long been opposing.

Terming UPDF a terrorist organisation, Santu accused that the anti-peace accord organisation was carrying out extortion in the region. He also said they killed over a hundred indigenous people since 1997, when the deal was signed between the government and PCJSS.

He also slammed the government for delaying in executing the accord and diffusing Islam in the region that "leads to sufferings of the hill people".

Santu also called on all indigenous leaders in different parties to return to their land and raise voice for their rights.

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