Conspiracy on to oust tribesmen from CHT

A section of jumma people who betrayed with the tribesmen have joined the vested quarters, he said but did not mention the name of any organisation.

Mentionably, PCJSS' rival United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) is opposing the peace agreement signed by PCJSS with the then Awami League government in 1997.

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Santu Larma was addressing a rally at Lemuchhori school ground in Mohalchhori where at least two persons were killed and around 400 houses gutted in arson on August 26, allegedly by Bangalee settlers joined by some tribesmen.

"The Mohalchhori incident is not an different one. It is the latest act of violence which is part of the conspiracy going on for long to oust the jumma people from the hills".

"We will never pardon them whether they are Chakmas, Tripuras or Marmas".

He said six major attacks by "outsider" Bangalees took place after the (CHT) peace agreement was signed. Vested quarters instigated them in most of these attacks, he alleged.

Political reasons are behind the Mohalchhori incidents, he said and emphasised full implementation of the peace agreement to stop such incidents.

But the government seems indifferent to this, he added.

He urged the affected tribesmen to begin life anew.

"We never flee our ancestral homes. We will have to struggle more to realise our rights".

During the visit, PCJSS leaders distributed food grains, cloth, utensils, mosquito nets and money among the affected tribesmen in Babupara, Lemochhari and Rameshhu Kerberypara villages.

Earlier, he held a meeting with Mohalchhari Upazila Nirbahee Officer Khizir Ahmed, village headmen and Union Parishad leaders. Local people submitted three memorandums to them demanding justice action against the attackers.

During the visit Santu Larma also exchanged views with a two-member Jatiya Party (Ershad) parliamentary team which came from Dhaka to visit the affected areas.