The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) strongly condemns the recent
arson attack on the Jumma people at Joysen Para of Maischari union, under Mahalchari Upazila of Khagrachari district.
The CHTC demands an immediate, impartial investigation, compensation to the victims, and justice to prevent further recurrence of such attacks, said a press release issued on Friday.
On Tuesday, a group of Bengali settlers numbering between 150-200, led by former union council member Md Aziz carried out the attack on the above-mentioned Jumma village with the intention to grab Jumma’s land.
During the attack, the settler group burnt 37 Jumma houses to ashes and looted everything from the houses (including utensils) before setting fire to the houses, reads the press release.
Four Jumma persons were also injured in the attack, while two had to be hospitalized.
“It has been learned that for a long time, Bengali settlers have been trying to grab land at Joysen Para belonging to the Jumma people. For years, they have been harassing and intimidating the local Jumma in many ways, including barring them from using their crematorial ground,” the press release added.
“On September 16, 2020, local police had to come and intervene when residents from
the nearby Sapru Karbari Para tried to use their crematorial space, and Bengali settlers prevented them. Further, on March 14, 2022, Bengali settlers set fire to a few Jumma houses in Joysen Para. Local administration and security forces were informed during both incidents,” it added.
The CHTC said it is further alleged that the recent attack on July 5, 2022, occurred in the presence of security forces, and they did nothing to prevent it.
The Commission believes this and previous attacks on the Jumma people are the results o the government’s and security forces' failure to provide security for the Jumma.
In the same upazila, on August 26, 2003, Bengali settlers burnt down 312 houses and killed two Jumma persons (including an eight-month-old baby) in a communal attack. The Jumma are yet to receive justice for that incident, the press release reads.
Due to the non-implementation of the CHT Accord, the inactiveness of the land Commission, and the existing culture of impunity – communal attack on indigenous peoples by Bengali settlers in CHT is rapidly rising. “Such arson attacks are slowly destroying everyday life, cultural essence, and the artifacts of the Jumma,” it said.
However, recently, the Commission worryingly noticed that when such incidents occur in CHT, for some reason, our country's mainstream media remains very silent.
“For example, only one mainstream print media covered the recent incident of Joysen Para. In this regard, the Commission would also like to urge the print and electric media of the country to be more sensitive and active in promoting peace and prosperity in CHT,” the press release added.
The Commission also asks for speedy implementation of the CHT Accord and for the CHT Land Commission to become functional.
