Recognise as per election pledge

Indigenous community leaders urge govt

8 August 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Leaders of indigenous communities yesterday demanded of the government to review the 15th amendment to the constitution to recognise indigenous people “as per its election pledge.” They also urged the government to ensure indigenous people's right to land along with their political, economic and social rights and a declaration of a road map for the implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord. The demands were placed at a press conference organised by Chittagong Hill Tracts Citizens Committee at Jatiya Press Club in the city in response to the government's stance to not recognise CHT people as “indigenous”. The committee President Goutam Dewan was in the chair while Prof Mong Shanoo Chowdhury, a member of the committee, presented the keynote paper. National Human Rights Commission Member Nirupa Dewan was present. Prof Mong said the ruling Awami League in its election manifesto declared to ensure the age-old rights of the indigenous people on land, water bodies and forests while repealing all laws which are discriminatory towards them. “But this has completely changed in 2011. Now the government says that there is no indigenous people in the country and those in the CHT claiming to be indigenous are outsiders. “The government does not have the jurisdiction to impose any identity on any group of people. We do not accept the government's stance and denounce it,” said Prof Mong. He said indigenous people of the CHT meet all the criteria set by International Labour Organization in its Convention 107 and 169. Goutam Dewan said, “We have all the characteristics needed to be recognised as indigenous people internationally and we will continue our systematic movement to gain our constitutional recognition.” Managing Editor of the daily Samakal Abu Sayeed Khan said the country's overall development cannot be achieved while the indigenous people are left out. The recognition is necessary for their development.