CHT HR Violation news from Bangladesh

CHT HR Violation news from Bangladesh

Army arrest 3 UPDF members in Naniachar

HR Monitoring Cell, UPDF, March 21, 2007

Three members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) were
arrested on 21 March by army in Naniachar under Rangamati district.

Before the arrest, the army personnel from Naniachar zone encircled a
house used by the UPDF members at T&T area at around 4 p.m.

The army dressed the arrested UPDF members in olive green uniforms and
placed homemade guns and bullets into their hands and then
photographed them.

The arrested UPDF activists have been identified as Arpan, Dixton and
Shokta. All of them have been sent to Rangamati district jail. It is
not known under what charges they have been arrested.

The army also tried to arrest Milton Chakma, ex-president of Hill
Student's Council, who was deputed to the area to organise Party
activities, but he was able to evade arrest.

CHT NEWS NO. 19/2007. Prepared by Human Rights Monitoring Cell, United
Peoples' Democratic Front (UPDF). March 23, 2007. Website: www.updfcht. org

CHT NEWS

Innocent villager dies after military beating

An innocent villager Suresh Mohan Chakma (40) died after severe military torture in Ghilachari of Rangamati district. Hill Watch Human Rights Forum has reported that on 3 March 2007 a group of army personnel from Ghilachari camp under Naniachar Thana raided the house of Suresh Mohan Chakma s/o Phedera Chakma in the village of Choichari . The victim was groaning with high fever with an intravenous drip set up when the arrest was made. However, the army provided no rationale for the arrest nor showed any warrant. After the arrest Mr. Chakma was taken to the camp and was severely beaten. He was released after three days on 6 March. The next day he died as a direct result of the torture. His family members could not give the name of the army commander who led the raid as the soldiers, as a rule, do not put on name badge during such operations.

UPDF activist arrested in Khagrachari

An activist of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) has been arrested in Khagrachari district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Human Rights Monitoring Cell of the UPDF said Kalo Priya Chakma (35) was arrested on the night of 10 March from the village of Gurgujjyachari , about 5 kilometers south of Khagrachari district town. A contingent of army personnel from the nearby camp made the arrest at midnight . He is learnt to have been handed over to the Khagrachari police station. It has not been known under what charges he has been arrested or whether any cases have been filed against him. Political repression against UPDF and its front organisation is rampant in the CHT. Bangladesh is now under an emergency rule declared on 12 January and the interim government of Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed, backed by the military, is now waging a tough battle against corruption. However, the context of the CHT is different from the rest of the country. While the ongoing crackdown on the corrupt politicians across the country is a commendable job, the arrest of the members of the ethnic Jumma organisaitons who are fighting for their just rights cannot be acceptable. There is wide apprehension that the government agencies may misuse the emergency powers to arrest the ethnic Jumma rights activists in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.