chtnews.com
News No. 122/2010, August 24, 2010
The Hill Students’ Council (PCP) has staged demonstrations in a number of Upazila headquarters across CHT, demanding immediate and unconditional release of its three members arrested yesterday in Naniachar, says a press release issued by Batayan Chakma.
The arrested three PCP activists were severely beaten at Naniachar army zone before being handed over to the police.
They have been shown arrested under section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which gives the police sweeping powers to arrest anyone on mere suspicion. They were sent to Rangamati jail.
At the demonstrations, held simultaneously, the PCP leaders condemned the arrest of their activists, who were organising a rally yesterday in support of a demand that the government declares CHT as an Autonomous Region and gives constitutional recognition to the ethnic Jumma nationalities.
They said the repressive and undemocratic measures of the government and the army were aimed at destroying the movement of the Jumma people.
The PCP leaders warned that if their activists were not released soon, they would be compelled to announce tougher programmes.
Naniachar
Hundreds of students and common people staged demonstrations in Naniachar today, taking part in a procession that started from Rest House at 4pm.
When the procession reached near the office of the TNO, the army and police blocked them.
A group of plainclothes army personnel with clubs in hands encircled the demonstrators there.
The army also checked the engine boats used to ferry the demonstrators and harassed them.
The demonstrators held a brief rally in which PCP leader Bighna Chakma spoke.
Mahalchari
The PCP brought out a procession in Mahalchari, demanding release of its activists. The procession started from Bridge Para and ended in front of the police station, where the demonstrators held a rally.
Nitu Chakma, president of PCP Mahalchari branch, Remin Chakma, president of DYF Khagrachari district unit and Ushamoy Chakma, general secretary of DYF Mahalchari Unit addressed the rally.
About 800 students and common people took part in the demonstration.
Manikchari
PCP Manikchari branch held a similar demonstration. They organised a procession which started from Manikchari College and ended at Upazila ground.
At a rally held at Upazila ground, Apruchi Marma, General Secretary of the PCP Khagrachari district branch, demanded an unconditional release of the arrested PCP activists.
Panchari
The Panchari protest demonstration kicked off from College Gate, and when it reached Kalanal Bridge, the police blocked demonstrators.
The demonstrators then took an about turn and came back to College Gate. At a rally held there, the PCP, HWF and DYF leaders demanded the release of the arrested PCP activists.
Khagrachari Sadar
The PCP Khagrachari branch held a demonstration in the district at 5pm today. The PCP activists took out a procession from Modhupur, which paraded Pankhaiya Para.
They also held a rally at Modhupur which was addressed by Pruchingthoai Marma, a central committee member of the PCP.
………………………..
