chtnews.com
News No. 41/2010, March 05, 2010
The settlers backed by army personnel burnt down at least six more houses and a UNICEF-run community school or Para Kendra at Daney Baibachara in Sajek Union of Rangamati district last night.
Dayal Kishta Chakma told chtnews.com that his house was also set on fire. “The settlers came shouting slogans and we had to run away in fear. Then they set our houses on fire.” he said.
The houses that were burnt down last night are located a few hundred yards away from a police camp. But the police did nothing to prevent the arsonists.
“We are living in constant fear of attacks. The settlers are boasting that the government could not touch them even though there have been huge protests against earlier attacks on our villages.” Kina Chan Karbari, whose house was burnt down last night, said.
He said the settlers began to torch the houses at 8:55pm.
“The settlers also took away bundles of CI sheets from Rabi Chandra Chakma he got from the government as relief.” he added.
Describing the situation in Baghaihat, an NGO activist said, “The Jumma people are at the mercy of the army and the settlers. On the one side are the army, police, BDR, VDP (Village Defense Party) and other para military forces and the settlers; and on the other side the hapless Jumma villagers. There is no one to protect them from attacks.”
Besides the house of Dayal Kishta Chakma, the settlers also burnt down the houses of Kina Chan Chakma, Baggya Chakma, Bidya Sadhan Tripua, Ramana Sen Chakma and Nirmal Kanti Chakma.
They also set fire to a UNICEF-run community school in the village, known as Alo Ranir Para Kendra.
The United Peoples Democratic Front condemned the burning down of more houses by the settlers in the village of Daney Baibachara last night and urged the government to take stern actions against the culprits.
“The refusal of the government to arrest and punish the attackers of 19-20 February has provided direct encouragement to the settlers to launch further attacks on the Jumma villages.” Shant Dev Chakma said.
“The repeated failure of the government to protect the Jumma villagers from settler attacks is something that we must take note of seriously.”
Mr Chakma said peace cannot descend on the hills of Sajek until the settlers and the army camps are withdrawn from there.
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