Editorial
For lasting peace in the CHT
Fresh resolve to implement the accord is not enough, new initiative imperative
Why is the CHT region still a place of occasional violence and discontent, so many years after signing of the peace accord in 1997?
Shouldn't have peace been established in the region by now, since the political party that was in office in 1997, is now again in power with a massive mandate from the people? But situation on the ground speaks volumes for the rather unsatisfactory status of implementation of the peace accord in the CHT.
It is not surprising then that even the leaders of the Partbattya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity (PCJSS), who had signed the treaty as the representative of the indigenous CHT people, are now also raising questions about the fate of the accord.
Though the government is harping on its pledge of implementing the accord, the situation obtaining in the region has been in a state of flux. It is however agreed on all hands that on the full implementation of the accord depends realisation of the rich potential for CHT's development and their mainstreaming into the national economy.
The government and the PCJSS need to take stock of the whole situation afresh and take necessary steps to speed up the process of implementing the accord. On this score, the first step on the part of the government will be to empower the indigenous people by vesting in their local representatives the power to administer their day to day affairs through holding elections for the district councils and the regional council. These are at present being run by nominated representatives which takes away from the true representative character of the bodies.
As titles of ownership of the lands in possession of the indigenous people have so far been determined orally by tradition, and there are many returnee refugees from the Indian state of Tripura to be allotted lands, the government needs to find a way through discussion with the local leaders to settle their land issue before going for any fully-fledged survey leading to land documentation.
Any more foot-dragging on the issue of fully implementing the CHT peace accord will only contribute to complicating the problem further. The indigenous CHT people do still pin their hopes on the incumbent government as the co-signatory to the peace accord.
So, the government would do well to hold a fresh meeting comprising representatives from its highest political level with the PCJSS leaders. That will inject renewed hope among the indigenous CHT people towards a lasting peace in the region.
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