Editorial
Gunfight in the hills
Tribal groups' turf war takes on lethal form
In what appears to be a disquieting eruption of violence in Rangamati between Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) and United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), altogether seven persons died of gun wounds. Judging by the witness accounts and local administration's version, it was the outcome of a turf war to extend two feuding parties' area of influence. The common aim seems to be collection of tolls; in other words, it is put down by the local authorities to a motive for extortion. This rakes up the memory of the days of insurgency when fugitive tribal groups used to thrive on toll collection. But the people of CHT have come a long distance away from those nightmarish days by virtue of a peace accord.
It is to be noted however that there has been occasionally infighting within PCJSS as well. All this creates an impression of disunity among the tribal community ranks which cannot augur well for themselves, let alone the country. As a matter of fact, the PCJSS is known to be pro-peace accord while UPDF is opposed to it. But for all we know, majority of the hill people crave for full implementation of the CHT peace accord. Thus, it is imperative for the indigenous people to present a united front in order that they can best protect their interests.
In all these years since the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord in 1997, when the prime concern of all stakeholders has been to see it fully implemented, unfortunately that coveted goal remains far from realised. But, by hindsight, the accord ending more than two decades of insurgency and blood letting in the region was swiftly hailed by the international community as a milestone in South Asia spreading an olive branch in a conflict zone through a negotiated settlement.
Successive governments have to take their part of the blame for not giving the priority that the issues of indigenous people deserve they have been lacking in flexibility. High expectations are placed on implementing the provisions of the accord to propel economic development of a highly naturally endowed part of Bangladesh. The indigenous community leadership and the government need to realise that it is much better to have had the accord than not having it at all. Thus we urge all concerned to move forward on fuller implementation of the peace accord in the spirit and the letter in which it was consummated with some realistic adjustments to help bring about peace dividends in the form of rapid and all round development of the hilly region.
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