chtnews.com
News No. 43/2010, March 07, 2010
The local administration of Khagrachari has refused to allow the civil society members of Khagrachari to hold a human chain against the recent communal attacks on Jumma people in Sajek and Khagrachari, sources say.
The Khagrachari Citizen Committee was scheduled to form a human chain in the town today to demand an independent inquiry into the communal attacks in Sajek and Khagrachari and the unconditional release of Jumma people detained in the aftermath of the attacks.
On behalf of the Committee Mr Ananta Bihari Khisha sought the cooperation from the local district administration for the success of their programme; but the Khagrachari Thana OC Abul Kalam Azad told him that no such programme could be observed.
However, the OC refused to clarify the reason as to why such peaceful programmes like human chain cannot be observed despite the fact that the administration has already withdrawn section 144 imposed earlier.
The United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) in a statement condemned “the undemocratic and fascist behaviour” of the local administration and accused the government of supporting those who were involved in the attacks.
In the statement Ujjal Smriti Chakma, organiser of UPDF Khagrachari district unit, said the government was trying to muzzle the voice of the Jumma people by refusing to allow peaceful demonstration.
Mr Chakma urged the government to stop interfering in the democratic rights of the people and return full democratic environment in the CHT.
He also urged the government to release all the innocent Jummas arrested during the raids of joint forces made in the aftermath of the communal attacks that left hundreds of houses burnt and two Jumma villagers dead in Sajek.
“It is unacceptable and unfortunate that the government should arrest innocent people instead of arresting those who were involved in the arson attacks.” he said.
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