THE Jana Samhati Samiti (Santu group) president, Santu Larma yesterday foiled a press conference organised by elected public representatives including Naniachar Upazila chairman Priti Moy Chakma.
The press conference was organised at the office of the Jumma Logging Business Association at Kalyanpur, Rangamati town and was to highlight the military repression and land grabbing in Naniachar.
It was ready to go at 11am when members of the Santu group surrounded the venue, threatened the journalists and then picked up the organisers, namely Naniachar Upazila chairman Priti Moy Chakma, vice chairman Kumentu Chakma, Naniachar headman Mridul Kanti Chakma, Naniachar Union Council chairman Panchanon Chakma, Burighat Union Council chairman Pronoti Bikash Chakma, Ghilachari Union Council chairman Mithu Chakma and Sabekhyong Union Council chairman Ramani Ranjan Chakma.
They were taken to Santu Larma, who pressured them not to hold the press conference.
One of the organisers told chtnews.com that Santu Larma had said that no press conference, human chain or demonstration would be permitted.
“Santu also took a swipe at UPDF and said ‘either UPDF will exist or I will exist. The war shall continue’.” (In Chakma: Hoi UPDF thebo, noi mui thaim. Juddo chulibo” he added.
The text of the press conference, which the organisers were scheduled to read out to the journalists, contained a four-point demands.
These are inquiry into the death of Hamidur Rahman and bring those responsible to justice, removal of the red flags around the ‘fringe’ lands of the Jumma people and providing opportunity to the Jummas to till their own lands, taking punitive actions against those who are
trying to create communal unrest by using the death of Hamidur Rahman,
and launching development activities in Naniachar Upazila.
The organisers were also scheduled to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati highlighting the same demands.
Hamidur Rahman, a fisherman from Naniachar, died in mysterious circumstances. His dead body was found floating on Kaptai lake waters (Chawkuribil) on 4 February.
The settlers held the Jummas responsible for his death and tried to
fan communal tensions in the area.
They also filed a murder case against many Jummas including UPDF members.
A few days later, the settlers from Burighat made an attempt to occupy Jumma people’s lands at Gobindabil.
On 10 February, they put up red flags around the ‘fringe lands’ of the Jumma villagers indicating that those have been taken over.
Bazaar boycott
The Jummas have begun boycotting Naniachar bazaar from today to press their demand for the withdrawal of the false case filed in connection with the death of Hamidur Rahman.
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Source : chtnews.com
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