Hill Voice, 1 October 2020, Rangamati: Allegations of construction of a semi-pakka house for a new army camp by the 12 East Bengal Army in Baghaihat Zone have been reported by occupying the land of four indigenous Jumma families at Kalpa Karbari Para No. 9 of Massalong area of Sajek Union in Baghaichhari Upazila of Rangamati District
According to local sources, the camp was set up a few months ago. However, a semi-concrete building is being constructed for the camp by occupying the land of Rupayan Chakma, son of Parinay Karbari, Sumon Chakma, son of late Dhireron Chakma, Alo Karbari, son of Andar Singh Chakma and Amalendra Chakma, son of Kanyaram Chakma.
It may be mentioned that the government has set up three new camps last year (2019) and three more this year (2020) in violation of the provisions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord signed in 1997. Besides, a battalion of RAB named Hill Battalion has also been formed. It is learnt that the process of setting up a RAB camp in Mogban area of Rangamati Sadar Upazila is underway.
In violation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, in 2001 the Sheikh Hasina government imposed de facto military rule ‘Operation Uttaran’ (Operation Upliftment) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. By virtue of this operation, the army have been interfering in all matters including general administration, law and order, development activities, land management in the CHT and have been carrying out operations in the CHT to crack down on Jumma people including arbitrary arrests, beatings and house searches.
The armed forces continue to persecute the Jumma people by labelling the organizations and individuals engaged in the movement demanding implementation of the CHT Accord and for the rights of the Jumma people as ‘terrorists’, ‘extortionists’, ‘armed miscreants’ and so on.
