Rangamati, Sept 30 (V7N) – The Parbatya Chattagram Nagorik Parishad (PCNPP) has welcomed the formation of three high-level national committees on the Chittagong Hill Tracts and called for a review of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, along with measures to curb violence, extortion and armed activities in the region.
The demands were made at a press conference held at the central office of the PCNPP at Mridha Bhaban in Kathaltali, Rangamati, on Tuesday afternoon.
Kazi Mojibur Rahman, chairman of the PCNPP central committee, read out a written statement at the press conference, which was moderated by Habib Azam, general secretary of the Parbatya Chattagram Citizens Council central committee and a former member of the Rangamati Hill District Council.
The PCNPP said the three committees formed by the government could play an important role in assessing the overall situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, formulating policies and protecting national interests. It said the initiative could contribute to establishing lasting peace and strengthening relations among different communities in the region.
The government formed three high-level committees in September to determine national strategies on issues concerning the Chittagong Hill Tracts, including security, border protection and the review of existing laws, provisions and the Peace Accord. The committees include a national committee chaired by the prime minister, an executive committee chaired by the home secretary and an advisory committee.
However, PCNPP leaders alleged that armed activities, extortion and violence had continued in the hills despite the signing of the Peace Accord.
They called for effective measures to stop extortion and armed activities and criticised recent statements attributed to the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), alleging that the organisation had not completely abandoned armed activities.
The PCNPP also rejected a recent press conference by Shishir Chakma, saying he did not represent all residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The organisation described his statements as reflecting the political position of the PCJSS.
The PCNPP called for the Peace Accord to be reassessed in light of its implementation and the current situation in the region. It also called for the state to ban the PCJSS, United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF).
The organisation further demanded legal action over killings in the hills and the formation of a legal task force to ensure trials in all such cases.
Among its other demands were bringing the education and health departments currently assigned to the hill district councils back under the respective ministries; introducing a quota for all disadvantaged communities instead of the existing 1 percent quota for indigenous communities; and ensuring representation of all ethnic groups in the hill district councils and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council in proportion to their populations.
The PCNPP also called for greater oversight of activities by foreign non-governmental organisations in the hill districts, including monitoring by executive magistrates.
The organisation demanded that State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin remain in his position, saying his role in peace, communal harmony and development in the region should continue. The Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs currently lists Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin as its state minister.
The state minister has previously said the government has a long-term and coordinated plan to stop the use of illegal arms and restore peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
At the press conference, PCNPP leaders said they would cooperate with constructive initiatives by the three national committees aimed at establishing lasting peace and protecting national sovereignty in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Kazi Mojibur Rahman also warned that if the government failed to take steps to ensure what the organisation described as equal rights for local residents, the PCNPP could launch a broader movement across the hill districts, upazilas and unions.
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