Protest against murder of Poney Mala Tripura held

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Protest against murder of Poney Mala Tripura held



chtnews.com
News No. 113/2009, September 08, 2009



Jumma organisations held a protest demonstration against continuing military repression and the killing of Ms Poney Mala Tripura in Khagrachari.



The Hill Students’ Council, Hill Women’s Federation and Democratic Youth Forum jointly organised the demonstration on Saturday, 5 September.



They brought out a procession from Swanirbhor bazaar and paraded city streets chanting slogans before holding a protest rally at Chengi Square.



Hundreds of members and supporters of these front organisations of the UPDF joined the demonstration.



Presided over by Arpan Chakma, General Secretary of PCP Khagrachari District Unit, the rally was also addressed by Remin Chakma, central member of DYF, and Konika Dewan, General Secretary (in charge) of Hill Women’s Federation.



The speakers condemned the arrest of PCP president Ricoh Chakma and others in Panchari and the killing of Poney Mala Tripura in Sindukchari.



Arpan Chakma said “Ricoh Chakma went to Panchari on a speaking tour to persuade Jumma youths and students to take part in a joint conference of the Khagrachari District Units of the three organisaitons to be held on 10 September. But the army detained him along with many others and harassed him.”



Mr. Chakma condemned the undemocratic and fascist behaviour of the army and demanded their complete withdrawal from the CHT.



“The army is the perpetual threat to peace, democracy and development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and therefore they must go back to their barracks in the plain land.” he said.



He also urged the government to bring the killer of Poney Mala Tripura to justice. “It is regrettable that the police have done nothing to arrest Noab Ali and his accomplices” he said and demanded that the government must take measures to ensure that Poney Mala Tripura’s lands cannot be captured illegally by the settlers.

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chtnews.com is an independent and voluntary online news service dedicated to projecting and analyzing the current events in the Chittagong Hill Tracts from the perspective of the Jumma people's struggle for the right to self-determination. For further information please contact at: chtnewsonline@gmail.com

PCP President, 21 others arrested by army, released later

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PCP President, 21 others arrested by army, released later



chtnews.com
News No. 111/2009, September 07, 2009



The Hill Students Council President Ricoh Chakma was arrested along with 21 others including 5 women in Panchari under Khagrachari district on 4 September.



Army personnel from Panchari zone made the arrest at 3:15pm when PCP leaders were returning from a meeting organised by Democratic Youth Forum. They were arrested from a tea shop at Taltola.



“The army came in two jeeps and caught us without assigning any reason.” Ricoh Chakma told chtnews.com.



The army gave no reason for the arrest and took them to the Panchari police station. However, they were released after midnight.



Among the arrested were PCP Khagrachari district unit president Ratan Chakma, Chairman (in-charge) of Chengi Union Council Mr. Nabo Kumar Chakma, Chengi UP member Khagendra Tripura and businessman Hirohito Chakma.



The arrested also included 5 Jumma women who were returning from a meeting of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF). All other arrested excepting the PCP members had also taken part in the same meeting.



The army beat up nine of the arrested including Tripti Dhan Chakma, Tinku Chakma and Kamleshwar Chakma.



“We don’t know why they have been tortured. None of them has committed any crime and the army personnel also did not ask them anything; they just beat them up.” Ricoh Chakma said.



“The army tied Tripti Dhan and Tinku to a wooden pole and beat them mercilessly”, he added.



He further said the army released them in phases: the five women were released first from Panchari bazaar after forcing them to sign a bond.



All others were released after midnight.

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chtnews.com is an independent and voluntary online news service dedicated to projecting and analyzing the current events in the Chittagong Hill Tracts from the perspective of the Jumma people's struggle for the right to self-determination. For further information please contact at: chtnewsonline@gmail.com

Boroitoli Villager's Demonstration against Land Grabbing

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Boroitali villagers stage demo against land grabbing



chtnews.com
News No. 59/2009, June 17, 2009



Jumma villagers have staged demonstrations in Khagrachari in protest at attempts by illegal settlers to grab land in Boroitali of Ramgarh Upazila.



They also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding that the government immediately stop settlers from occupying 300 acres of land belonging to the Jumma people.



Hundreds of people and villagers took part in the demonstration.



Before submitting the memo, the demonstrators took out a procession at 11:30am which paraded the city roads.



Thereafter, they held a brief rally in the town which was addressed by Niong Karbari, the Head of the village, and Mong Chai Aungyo Marma, another villager.



Mr. Karbari said “since 7 June, the settlers have been attempting to grab 300 acres of land in our village which we have been using for generations. On 14 June, the settlers began constructing houses there, and when we tried to prevent them, they attacked us.”



He urged the government to take immediate steps to stop land grabbing and ensure safety and security of his village people.



After the rally, Mong Chai Aungyo Marma submitted a memorandum to the DC on behalf of the villagers.



Democratic Youth Forum leader Remin Chakma and Hill Students’ Council leaders Batayon Chakma and Niko Chakma helped Mr. Marma submitting the memo.

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chtnews.com is an independent and voluntary online news service dedicated to projecting and analyzing the current events in the Chittagong Hill Tracts from the perspective of the Jumma people's struggle for the right to self-determination. For further information please contact at: chtnewsonline@gmail.com