It has been reported that eight leaders from three different organisations of the indigenous population have been killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the last month. Two others have been shot.
An ominous sign for the region, this shows that the law and order situation in that area is in dire straits. Surely, this is no step forward for the on-going peace process in the hill tracts.
Although the killings are reportedly results of infighting, mostly attributed to Santu Larma’s Parbattya Chattagram Jana Shanghaty Shamity, law enforcement must bring the guilty parties under trial and do whatever is necessary to stop the situation from getting out of control.
After more than 15 years of hard work, following the 1997 Peace Accord, going back to similar anarchy should be unthinkable and is something all concerned should try and avoid. The peace process must be continued at all costs.
The cabinet has approved the draft of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission Amendment act already. The draft has received lukewarm responses from the people of the area – indigenous and Bengalis alike. Santu Larma, the chairperson of the CHT Commission has come out and expressed his grief at the draft not being consistent with the recommendations. The scenario in the region is not promising.
If the authorities fail to fathom the gravity of the situation and act accordingly, we could thrust the area towards further struggle and conflict, which is the last thing the country or the people in the region need.