Ensure fair, speedy probe into Rangamati violence
Int'l CHT Commission urges PM
The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission has called upon Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to act firmly and without any delay to ensure an unbiased investigation into the recent violence in Rangamati.
In a letter to the prime minister yesterday, the commission condemned what it said another round of unprovoked and unacceptable violence against members of indigenous communities by a section of settlers on Saturday.
Referring to media reports, it said around 60 persons, mostly from indigenous communities, had been injured in the attack.
The commission called upon the home and the CHT ministries to conduct an independent judicial inquiry into the violence, make its report public, and ensure exemplary punishment to those found responsible.
The letter said much of the violence in the CHT was related to land disputes between Bangalees and Adivasis, but the CHT Land Commission had not been able to settle a single land dispute in three years of its existence.
“We call upon the government to take immediate steps to amend the Land Commission Act 2001, appoint a competent and credible chairman to the commission so that it can start work effectively to fulfill your government's commitment as a part of the CHT peace accord as well as your electoral pledge,” reads the letter, signed by three Co-Chairs Eric Avebury, Sultana Kamal and Elsa Stamatopoulou.
The commission also demanded that military be barred from handling civil law and order situations and that the government takes immediate steps to dismantle all temporary military camps in line with the 1997 CHT accord.
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