Amidst suppressive and delicate situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), the 11th Parliamentary Elections is all set to be held in the CHT along with the other parts of the country on 30 December 2018. The situation as such is by no count conducive to holding free, fair, impartial and participatory election in the CHT. The on-going-military operation of the joint forces on plea of illegal arms recovery have got momentum after declaration of the election schedule. It is observed that, until now, every operation under the arms recovery drives was led, indeed, against the PCJSS leaders, workers and supporters already engaged in the legitimate democratic movement for implementation of the CHT Accord and thereby they were put under steam roller of suppression and oppression.
Given this situation, on 27 December 2018, right three days ahead of the 11th parliamentary election, seven members of the PCJSS and also poll campaigners of independent candidate Ushatan Talukder have been arrested by joint forces in different upazilas (sub-districts) under Rangamati district. Many houses of supporters have also been searched and vandalized in the name of recovering illegal arms. All this led to creation of extreme panic in the areas.
It is to be mentioned that soon after declaration of the election schedule of the 11th parliamentary election in November 2018, the drive of joint forces of the genre is being conducted in the CHT, indeed, to intercept the election campaigns of independent candidates supported by the regional political parties in the 11th parliamentary elections in one hand, and to attain mean objective directing to assist the ruling party candidates on the other. Meanwhile, new check-posts have been installed by roadsides, navigation points and in the Bazaars of all the three hill districts including Rangamati town; and the innocent people are being harassed in these check-posts. The inhabitants of Bandarban and other regions have been ordered to keep own National Identity Card all the time and produce it in the check-posts or anywhere.
Security forces from different camps go out for operation every day in different upazilas and intimidate and apprehend innocent people, particularly targeting election campaigners of independent candidates. The arbitrary arrest of Samiron Tanchangya, finance secretary of PCJSS of Kaptai unit and member of Kaptai Election Managing Committee for Ushatan Talukder on 25 December 2018 from Karigor Para of Raikhali union in Kaptai upazila; and arrest of three persons, namely, Bankim Chandra Tanchangya, member of Bilaichari unit of PCJSS and also member of Bilaichari Election Managing Committee for Ushatan Talukder; his son Papel Tanchangya and his brother Jatin Kanti Tanchangya, member of Bilaichari unit of PCJSS and also member-secretary of Bilaichari Election Managing Committee for Ushatan Talukder on 26 December 2018 from Tarachari village of Farua union of Bilaichari upazila putting a country-made gun with them were latest incidents of military atrocities.
It is learnt that Samiron Tanchangya was arrested while he was going to Borokhola village of Raikhali union to attend a pre-scheduled poll meeting on 25 December. He was falsely charged with an extortion case filed 10 December 2018 with Chandraghona police station, though his name was not mentioned in this case. On the other, Bankim Chandra Tanchangya was held by the security forces while he along with many villagers went to Farua camp as per order given by camp authority to be present there. After the arrest, Bankim was taken to his village, Tarachari under Farua union, and then his and his brother’s houses were searched in the name of recovering illegal arms. At a stage, security forces unitarily declared to have recovered a country-made revolver which was allegedly brought by security forces to make plot for arm recovery.
This incident was followed by apprehending of more 3 election workers of independent candidate Ushatan Talukder from Malumya village of Bilaichari union of Bilaichari upazila in Rangamati district, by Allekhyong camp on 28 Dec 2018 early morning at around 1:30 am, charging them with tearing posters. The arrested persons were identified as (1) Samir Kanti Tanchangya, member of Ward no. 9 of Bilaichari union, president of PCJSS Malumya village committee and convenor of Election Managing Committee of Pangkho Para Govt. Primary School centre; (2) Manju Kumar Tanchangya, polling agent of Ushatan Talukder at Pangkho Para Govt. Primary School centre; and (3) Nirbhoy Tanchangya. This brought in fresh fear in the mind of people. Later, due to tremendous pressure, the 3 arrested persons were released at around 1:00 pm from Bilaichari army zone.
On the other, on 28 December in the morning, army from Taktanala camp conducted searching operation and searched at least 3 houses at Taktanala village of Farua union in Bilaichari upazila. Army entered the houses breaking doors and vandalized all the valuables. The owners of houses were identified as (1) Rabin Chandra Tanchangya, member-secretary of Election Managing Committee of Taktanala village for Ushatan Talukder; (2) Nilu Kamar Tanchangya and Bhorot Kumar Tanchangya et al, who all are members of the PCJSS. All this led to creation of extreme panic in the areas.
A group of security forces from Bangalhalia camp surrounded and searched house of Thuihla Marma, Convener of Bangalhalia Union Election Committee for Ushatan Talukder and land & agriculture affairs secretary of PCJSS Rajasthali unit at Dakbanglow village of Bangalhalia in Rajasthali upazila on 24 December 2018 at 11:30 am, with an aim to arrest him. However, at that time Thuihla was out of his house on election campaign. The security forces vandalized the valuables of the house and threatened of arrest if he was found anywhere. Right prior to election, in a 3-days (26-28 December), the arrested workers of independent candidate Ushatan Talukder from Bilaichari upazila including one from Kaptai stood 7 persons. Besides, 7 houses comprising 3 in Bilaichari and 4 in Baghaichari upazila were searched and vandalized.
Earlier, on 25 October 2018, Subhash Chakma, President of PCJSS Kaukhali branch was arrested. Before arresting him, he was called from Ghagra Champatali camp to be present there. Accordingly, as he went there, the camp authority arrested him and handed him over to the police station and entangled him in the case of Shaktiman Chakma who was killed on 3 May 2018. Whereas, in the killing case, Subhash Chakma’s name had not been included initially. On 16 October 2018 at mid-night, the resident of Satyabir Dewan, former general secretary and eldest central member of PCJSS was surrounded and he was sought, but Mr. Dewan was not at his residence by then. This brought in fresh fear in the mind of people.
Since the declaration of election schedule of 11th parliamentary election, the security forces are regularly found in carrying out searching operation particularly through out Baghaichari upazila under Rangamati district. Searching of houses of Surja Lal Chakma and Nila Ranjan Chakma at Nolbanya village of Khedarmara union of Baghaichari upazila entering houses breaking the lock and vandalization of valuables on 26 December; searching of houses of Sindhu Kumar Chakma and Ronochitra Chakma alias Demaboidya at Bara Durchari village of Khedarmara union are the latest incidents of such military atrocities just ahead of national election.
Despite campaign against illegal arms holders, the security forces and local leadership of ruling Awami League are seen providing support and assistance to the so-called armed elements of PCJSS reformist group, which is already engaged in creating terror and obstructions to the election workers of the independent candidates supported by regional political parties including PCJSS. The reformist group is being used as its puppet in snatching and tearing off posters and leaflets of the independent candidates in various upazilas; threatening the local voters of different upazilas of death ordering not to cast for independent candidates using different mobile numbers; and carrying out gun attack on election offices of independent candidates.
On 25 December 2018, the polling agents of Ushatan Talukder in Baghaichari upazila submitted allegations to the Assistant Returning Officer and filed a General Diary with Baghaichari police station against such threatening, but the administration is being seen taking no action to that regard.
Ushatan Talukder, independent candidate (lion symbol) of 299 Parbatya Rangamati constituency, supported by the PCJSS, urges all the stakeholders involved with the election including administration, law enforcement and security forces, journalists etc. in Rangamati district to play neutral and commendable roles in ensuring free, fair and acceptable election.