With demand for full implementation of CHT Accord and in protest against establishment of Rangamati Medical College and University of Science & Technology and violence against indigenous women, the Parbatya Chattagram Mohila Samiti (PCMS) (Chittagong Hill Tracts Women Association) and Hill Women’s Federation (HWF) have jointly staged Black Flag Procession and Showdown and submitted a Memorandum to the Prime Minister on 22 September 2015. It is to be mentioned that the program has been observed as a part of the on-going Non-Cooperation Movement pre-declared by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) as to forge ahead the CHT Accord implementation process and to resist the government-led programs contravene to the CHT Accord and interest of the Jumma people.
Rangamati: Around ten thousand men and women including the leaders and workers of the two organizations, starting from PCJSS Rangamati district office of North Kalindipur of Rangamati sadar, staged Black Flag Procession uttering various slogans and demands at 10 am on that day; the procession, having turned from Banarupa round about, ended in a gathering held at the space adjacent to southern gate of Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s office. The assembly chaired by Sona Rani Chakma, Vice-President of Rangamati District Committee of PCMS began at 10:30 am there. Under moderation rendered by Jonaki Chakma, General Secretary of CHT Women Association, the speakers who contributed to the assembly were ? Kalpana Chakma, Women Affairs Secretary of PCMS; Sajib Chakma, Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary of PCJSS; Suprava Chakma, General Secretary of PCMS; Toyen Chakma, President of CHT Youth Association; Jewel Chakma, Central General Secretary of Hill Students Association and the welcome speech rendered by Chandra Tripura, central Organization Secretary of HWF. Besides, Jonaki Chakma read out the memorandum in the gathering.
It is to be mentioned that a delegation of PCMS and HWF, getting to the office, handed over the memorandum addressed to the Honorable Prime Minister, to the Additional District Magistrate, the In-Charge in absence of Deputy Commissioner.
The leaders, while addressing the gathering, alleged the government to have been passing the time by dilly-dally tactics and thereby deceiving in implementing the CHT Accord that was signed between the government of Bangladesh and PCJSS in 1997 aimed at solving the CHT crisis politically, establishing peace and just rights of permanent residents including the Jumma people.
The leaders made a point that the government would have to bear the responsibility for the crisis that might crop up if, the CHT Accord signed at the cost claiming dignity of numerous mothers and sisters and regarded to be charter of permanent residents including the Jumma people is not implemented.
The leaders added that the Non-Cooperation Movement that began by the Jumma people under PCJSS leadership in order to advance the CHT Accord implementation process and to resist and resolve the government-led anti-accord and anti-Jumma-interest programs, would continue until the CHT Accord is implemented to the full; and in need, the gravity would be made tough to tougher.
The leaders further said that apart from the Bengali community, leaving behind the indigenous community peoples in plains and the Jumma community peoples in CHT and ignoring their justified rights, peace and democracy in real sense of the term would never be established in this country and this country would never be turned into a land of middle-income group or a developed country.
Bringing in an allegation, the leaders pointed out that the government, in one hand, undertook no initiative to implement the core issues of the CHT Accord and the measures to solve out the land disputes as per the act whereas, it has been occupying the lands of Jumma people in the name of establishing BGB camps and tourism centers by illegal means while on the other, the situation with the education at primary, secondary and tertiary levels has been left disarrayed and amidst such realistic reality, the government is coercing the Rangamati Medical College and University of Science and Technology projects upon the Jumma people with ulterior motive and conspiracy.
Besides, the leaders expressed their concern raising allegation on the increasing violence against the Jumma women and children day by day despite signing of the accord as it used to happen before signing the accord. The leaders opined that it is due to non-implementation of the accord and not awarding examplary punishment to the offenders, such violence is getting intensified.
The following demands were raised in the public gathering by the PCMS and HWF:
1. To declare a time-framed plan of action (road map) for speedy and proper implementation of the CHT Accord;
2. To undertake an initiative to amend the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act, 2001 as per the 13-point amendment proposal adopted unanimously by the CHT Accord Implementation Committee in order to solve out the land disputes without any delay;
3. To postpone the program of establishing Rangamati Medical College and University of Science & Technology; and
4. To ensure examplary punishment to those who are involved with violence against Jumma women and to take measures for compensation to the affected persons and families;
It is worth mentioning that apart from holding the program in Rangamati District Sadar, the program of staging black flag march, demonstration and handing over memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister.
Besides, on that day, procession bearing black-flag at the initiative taken by PCMS and HWF moved out from Barkal, Kaukhali, Bilaichari and Jurachari Upazilas under Rangamati district.
Bandarban: A Black-flag procession was out at the initiative taken by PCMS and Bandarban Branch HWF at 10 am from the PCJSS District Office with the same demand. The procession marched along the main roads and ended in a gathering at the Press Club round about. In the gathering chaired by Wai Ching Prue Marma, President of Bandarban Branch CHT Women Association and also Vice-Chairman of Bandarban Upazila Porishad, the speakers were ? Uchomong Marma, President of Bandarban District PCJSS Branch, Bachchu Chakma, Central President of Pahari Chatra Porishad, Chanchana Chakma, Central President of Hill Women Federation, Shanti Debi Tanchangya, President of Bandarban District Branch and Sharly Meshoi Prue, Assistant General Secretary of Women Association, among others. Bhagya Lata Tanchngya, General Secretary of PCMS Bandarban District Branch read out the Memorendum in the gathering and the gathering was moderated respectively by Bhagya Lata Tanchangya and Anonti Tanchangya, Vice-Chairman of Bandarban Branch Hill Women Federation.
Besides the Bandarban District Sadar, in Ruma Upazila of Bandarban, a Black-Flag Procession took to street at the initiative taken by Ruma Thana Branch Women Association with the same demand at 10 a.m. After the procession, a gathering was held at the premise in front of the Ruma Bazar Temple. Memoyeng Moy Bawm, President of Ruma Thana Branch CHT Women Association and Bandarban District Branch Organizing Secretary presided over the gathering addressed by Kyawsa Prue Marma, Vice-President of PCJSS Ruma Thana Branch, Meonsing Marama, Vice-President of CHT Women Association Bandarban District Branch, Dochingnu Marma, General Secretary of Hill Women Federation Bandarban District Branch, Aung Meching Marma, member of Women Association Ruma Branch, Meyinu marma, member, Mong Min Marma, among others. Olivia Bawm read out the memorandum in the gathering.