Hill Voice, 19 April 2023, International Desk: Delegate of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), Chanchana Chakma, calls upon the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to intervene against criminalization of movement of indigneous Jumma peoples in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Chanchana Chakma made this call during the interactive dialogue on agenda “Item 5(d) Human rights dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples and Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” held on 19 April 2023 in the morning at 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York.

In her statement, Chanchana Chakma expressed gratitute to the Special Rapporteur for highlighting the fragile human rights situation in the CHT on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the historic CHT Accord on 2 December 2022 and for calling on the government to implement the CHT Accord properly, fully and expeditiously.

She further mentioned that at present, the government has currently opted for a military solution to the CHT problem rather than a political and peaceful solution through the implementation of the CHT Accord. On the other hand, the criminalization of the ongoing movement of indigenous Jumma peoples for implementation of CHT Accord and rights to self-determination by the army as well as the government have been intensified.

In such a situation, she calls upon the Special Rapporteur for repeated communication or intervention with the Government of Bangladesh against criminalization and human rights violation upon indigenous Jumma peoples.

The 22nd session of the UNPFII started on 17 April and continues to 28 April 2023 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA. A three-member delegation of PCJSS led by Priti Bindu Chakma is attending the 22nd session as representatives of the (PCJSS).