chtnews.com
News No. 82/2010, April 04, 2010
The Jana Samhati Samiti has “expelled” seven of its top ranking dissident leaders during its ninth central council held on 29 – 31 March in Rangamati.
The “expelled” JSS leaders include Rupayan Dewan, Vice president of the past committee, late Chandra Shekhor Chakma, Former General Secretary, Sudhasindhu Khisha, Tatindra Lal Chakma alias Pele, Binay Krishna Khisha, Mrinal Kanti Tripura and Advocate Shaktiman Chakma.
Rupyan Dewan and Sudhasindhu Khisha together with Santu Larma, Gautam Kumar Chakma alias Ashok and Raktolpal Tripura had formed the core committee which took part in peace negotiations with the government of Bangladesh that ultimately led to the signing of the CHT accord in 1997.
While Mr Dewan and Mr Khisha have been expelled from the party for reasons yet to be explained, Mr Raktotpal Tripura has been left out in the newly formed 27-member central committee.
Besides Mr Tripura, five other members of the immediate past central committee have been left out. They are Subol Chandra Chakma alias Ashish, Bharateshwar Chakma alias Ishwar, Plabon Chakma, Dr. Nilu Tanchangya and Thoai Aung Marma.
The JSS council elected Santu Larma and his son-in-law Pranati Bikash Chakma aka Victor as President and General Secretary of the new central committee respectively.
Commenting on the just concluded central council of the JSS, an observer said, “With the expulsion of seven top ranking leaders and the election of his son-in-law as GS, the process of turning JSS into a private Ltd. company has been complete.”
The position of General Secretary is very important as he or she has to co-ordinate activities of all the departments of the party as well as direct instructions on important matters.
According to many JSS insiders, Mr. Victor is not fit for the job. He is inexperienced and naive; he does not even have the experience of running a department of the party.
“His only quality is that he is a son-in-law of Santu Larma.” one commented.
Most of the other members of the central committee are new faces. Even an experienced leader like Ashok babu, who was once elected GS of the party, has not been given any important portfolio. He has been merely elected to the committee.
The other two relatively old guards that have been elected and given important positions are Ushaton Taluker and Lakshmi Prashad Chakma.
While the former is known to be a “yes man” of Santu Larma, the latter is Mr. Larma’s close relative.
Mr. Ushaton has been made Vice president of the party, an important position in the JSS hierarchy.
“With this committee of inexperienced people and cronies, the JSS is doomed to failure.” said an ex-leader of JSS.
“Santu Larma often accuses others especially UPDF of trying to destroy JSS. But the truth is that so long as he runs the party like a feudal lord he will not need an enemy to destroy the JSS. At present, Santu Larma’s enemy is Santu Larma himself.” he added.
The dissident’s response
To many, the expulsion of the seven JSS leaders has not come as a surprise. Even well before this council, the JSS had been divided into two groups, with the dissidents coming to be known as Reformists.
The expelled JSS leaders were not even invited to participate in the council sessions, not to mention providing the right to be heard.
Rupayan Dewan said he and his like minded party leaders and activists would soon convene another congress to form a new central committee of the JSS.
He was in Baghaichari busy holding meetings with his supporters as the Santu group met in a congress.
Ruapyan group insiders said the group might hold a press conference soon to lay out their plan of action.
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