Editorial
CHT peace accord implementation still elusive
Need for dialogue between indigenous parties
THE Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord steps into its 14th year today. Signing of the treaty was a historic move on the part of the then government that indeed brought about peace in the insurgency-ridden region. We nonetheless regret that the accord's status of implementation is far from satisfaction. This fact over the years has as well as creating a split between Bangalee settlers and indigenous people widened the gap between PCJJS and UPDF.
Such divisions have inevitably resulted in a higher incidence of violence, claiming many lives which is why violation of human rights in the region have become a worrying concern to different rights bodies. In the end, there are conflicting groups either supporting or opposing the accord.
There is no gainsaying that the government should not drag its feet anymore, especially in view of the rising social and political tension and should face up to whatever challenges are there in effectively implementing the accord. First, we think, the government should encourage dialogue between PCJJS and UPDF where representatives from Bangalee communities might as well be present. Secondly, legitimate demands of the indigenous parties must be addressed at the soonest and unanimous decisions reached to ensure their peaceful co-existence with Bangalee settlers.
As far as our knowledge goes, there is a general consensus among indigenous communities that the accord should be fully implemented to allow for rapid development of the hill districts. So the PCJJS and UPDF, should hold dialogues for their differences can only impede the accord's implementation.
It was the Awami League that had inked the peace accord in 1997. Now that the same party is in power again, it must go the extra mile to address the legitimate concerns of the indigenous people in order that the unfinished agenda of the CHT accord's implementation are expeditiously attended to.
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