chtnews.com
News No. 121/2010, August 23, 2010
ARMY have detained 7 Jumma activists in Naniachar as the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) held rallies and demonstrations in Upazila headquarters in CHT despite attempts to disrupt them.
The UPDF held the rallies today to demand that the government declares the CHT as a Separate Autonomous Region and provides constitutional recognition to the entity and rights of the ethnic Jumma nationalities in CHT.
Sachib Chakma, a central leader of the UPDF, condemned the arrest of the activists of its associated organisations and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
He also criticized the army and the police for disrupting their peaceful programme.
He said, “The government must give CHT the status of a ‘separate autonomous region’ and hand over to an elected autonomous body all the subjects of state administration excepting foreign policy, currency, defense and heavy industry”.
“This is what the people of CHT demand, and we urge the government to amend the constitution to fulfill this demand.” he added.
Army arrest 7 in Naniachar
In Naniachar, army have arrested seven activists of the PCP and DYF, two front organisations of the UPDF, in the morning and detained them in army zone headquarters till 4pm.
They were beaten severely, UPDF leaders in Naniachar alleged.
Later, the army released four of them, but handed over the rest three to the police. They are Bilash Chakma, president of PCP Naniachar branch; Bablu Chakma, assistant general secretary of PCP Naniachar branch and Tapu Moni Chakma, ex president of PCP Naniachar College Unit.
It is not known whether any cases have been filed against them.
According to UPDF sources, the released activists included PCP members Ithon Chakma and Chikon Moni Chakma and DYF members Gyana Dorshi Chakma and Jibon Chakma.
Since morning the army had cordoned off the venue of the demonstration in Naniachar and no one was allowed to go there.
At about 12:30pm, the army personnel entered and searched the UPDF office at T & T area.
Manikchari
In Manikchari, army and police personnel cordoned off the college ground at Dharmaghar area and prevented the people from entering it.
In addition, the army also blocked the people at Jaliapara, Hatimura, Kalapani, Gochchabil, Borpilak and Batna area, refusing to allow them to attend the UPDF programme.
Even then, hundreds of participants took roundabout routes to reach the venue.
When they tried to bring out a precession, they were blocked and confined to Dharmaghar area.
When Apruchi Marma, General Secretary of PCP Khagrachari district Unit, protested the undemocratic behaviour of the police and the army, the OC of Manikchari police station, Md. Abul Hashem said, “You always engage in anti-government activities. So, you will not be allowed to organise meetings and processions.”
Apruchi refuted this, saying “How can you say we are engaged in anti-government activities? It is our democratic and fundamental rights to organise public meetings and rallies.”
He also asked the OC whether it was anti-government to demand constitutional recognition for the ethnic nationalities.
The OC failed to answer his questions but persisted in preventing them to take out the procession.
The Borkah Party terrorists including “Japan Babu” helped the army and police to disrupt the UPDF programme.
The police also tried to foil the rallies in Matiranga and Panchari under Khagrachari district and in Kaokhali of Rangamati district.
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