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|Assignment on: |
|CHT CONFLICT AND PEACE PROCESS |
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|DHAKA CITY COLLEGE |
|17/10/2009 |

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Bangladesh Studies (3105)

Prepared For:

Name: Mr. Md. Sazzad Hossain Siddiqui

Lecturer

Department Of BBA

Prepared By:

Group: I

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List of group members:

|NAME |CODE |
|Fahmida Rahman |029 |
|Sharmistha Das |042 |
|Tamanna Tasnin Neeshe |043 |
|Marzia Begum |047 |
|Tamanna Nahar Tany |050 |
|Muhammad Tanvir Rahman |054 |
|Akayed Ullah |055 |

Table of Contents:

| Serial no: | Topic | Page no: |
| |Executive Summary | 5 |
| |CHT: a brief prelude | 6 |
| |CHT conflict & its instigation | 7 |
| |Factors or causes of conflict & Goals of PCJSS | 8 |
| |The Revolution of CHT conflict | 9 |
| |Government response towards the occurrence of revolution | 9-12 |
| |CHT peace accord & its contents | 12 |
| |Proceedings after CHT peace accord | 13 |
| |How effective was CHT peace accord or limitations of peace treaty | 14 |
| |Daily Star report on misinterpretation of CHT peace treaty | 15 |
| |Wrapping up & recommendations | 16 |
| 12. |References | 17 |

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of this booklet is to provide information regarding the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) conflict and CHT Peace Process, applying the conflict analysis approach. As an approach conflict analysis requires a combination of consciousness and methodical analysis.

CHT is the integral part of Bangladesh. Its total area is 13,184 sq. km. The three hill districts Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari cover the one-tenth area of the country. CHT was under the rule of Bengal during Mughal dynasty. It was included with East Bengal during British era and was within East Bengal during Pakistan period. And now naturally CHTs is the inseparable part of Bangladesh. CHT was considered as barren hilly region. Its administrative authority was also under control of Chittagong during British period though it was upgraded as a district in 1860.
The CHT conflict was the political conflict and armed struggle between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) and its armed wing, the Shanti Bahini over the issue of Autonomy and the Rights of the indigenous people and tribes of CHT.

Numerous steps were taken by several Governments, but it was after the signing of Peace treaty that the level of violence was significantly reduced in the region. The CHT PEACE ACCORD recognized the special status of the hill people. However, the booklet ends with some limitations and recommendations to overcome those limitations of peace treaty.

CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS (CHT): A BRIEF PREAMBLE:

CHT is the only extensive hill area in Bangladesh that lies in southeastern part of the country, bordering Myanmar on the southeast, the Indian state of Tripura on the north, Mizoram on the east and Chittagong district on the west. The area of CHT is about 13,184 sq. km. which is approximately one-tenth of the total area of Bangladesh.

Usually tribal people inhibits in CHT. By the term tribal people we mean, a small group of people, living in a certain place for a long time an each tribe having its own unique culture, trends, beliefs etc. the term ‘tribe’ ‘race’ ‘clan’ and ‘lineages’ are interchangeable.

CHT – POPULATION:

• CHT is dominated by Mongolian group;

• Mongolian tribes include: Chakma, Tipra, Magh and Murong;

• CHT host 13 different tribes;

• Total population enumerated in 1991 census was 1.042 million of which 562.597 were male and 479.776 female;

• Buddhism is being followed by Chakma and Marma, Hinduism by Tripura and Christianity by Mizo and Bawm.

CHT –ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT:

✓ In the year 953, a king of Arakan occupied the present districts of CHT;

✓ In 1240, king of Tripura occupied this region;

✓ The Arakanese king recaptured the district in 1575 till 1666;

✓ This region frequently changed hands between the rulers of Hill Tripura and Arakan;

✓ The Mughal controlled the area from 1666 to 1760;

✓ In 1760, the area was ceded to East India Company;

✓ The British occupied the CHT in 1860 and made it a part of British India. They named it CHT (Parvatya Chattagram);

✓ With the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, the CHT came under the jurisdiction of Pakistan. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, it came under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh and entered into a period of remarkable changes and development;

✓ During the early 80’s CHT was finally divided into 3 individual districts:

o Rangamati;

o Khagrachhari;

o Bandarban.

CHT CONFLICT AND ITS INSTIGATION

Generally conflict is considered as a state or quality of ongoing relationships among social entities, such as groups or nations. Conflict begins where a lack of agreement over an issue is expressed in words or actions.

According to C.R.Mitchell, “Conflict means a situation where two or more parties strive at the same moment to acquire a set of scarce resource and the goal is incompatible.”

The CHT conflict was the political conflict and armed struggle between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) and its armed wing, the Shanti Bahini over the issue of Autonomy and the Rights of the indigenous people and tribes of CHT.

The PCJSS was established in 1973 with the aim of securing the hill people‘s rights to autonomy. Shanti Bahini started its activities soon after its emergence on 7 January, 1973.

FACTORS OR CAUSES OF CONFLICTS:

The following points are thought to be the principal factors of conflicts:-

I. Displacement of 100,000 of the native peoples due to the constitution of the Kaptai Dam in 1962;

II. Cancellation of CHT Regulation 1900 in 1964;

III. Lack of constitutional recognition in 1972 and Bengali Nationalism;

IV. Ban of all political parties by the 4th amendment;

V. Deployment of army in CHT in post 1975;

VI. Bengali settlers in CHT.

GOAL OF PCJSS:

On 24th April, 1972 Manabendra Narayan Larma presented his four point manifesto including demand for autonomy of the CHT to the committee engaged in drafting the constitution of Bangladesh. The four demands were:

i. Granting autonomy of the CHT and setting up its own legislative assembly;

ii. Inclusion of statute similar to the regulation of 1900 in the constitution;

iii. Retention of the offices of the tribal kings;

iv. Imposition of constitutional restrictions to the regulation of 1900 and prohibition of settlement of Bengalis in CHT.

As these points were rejected by the Government, it gave rise to resentment among the hill people and the concepts of Jumma nationalism took its origin.

THE REVOLUTION OF CHT CONFLICT:

In the year 1973, Larma and others founded the PCJSS as a united political organization of all native people and tribes.

In1977, The Shanti Bahini, launched their first attack on a Bangladesh Army convoy.

Since 1980’s, PCJSS gave a new identity to the hill people. It was Jumma nationalism. The PCJSS also demanded that a constitutional guarantee be given to their cultural distinctiveness. Therefore the Shanti Bahini divided its area of operations into zones and raised forces from the native people who were formerly trained.

The Shanti Bahini attacked Bengali police and soldiers, government offices and personnel and Bengali settlers in the region. The group also attacked any native people believed to be opposing it and supporting the government.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TOWARDS THE OCCURRENCE OF REVOLUTION:

❖ POST INDEPENDENCE AND MUJIB’S GOVERNMENT:-

On 29th January,1972, a delegation of CHT named Charu Bikash Chakma met Prime Minister SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN and placed a number of demands. But those demands were not fulfilled.

On 24the April, 1972, Manabendra Narayan Larma presented his four point manifesto including- demand for autonomy, inclusion of statute similar to the regulation of 1900 in the constitution, retention of the offices of tribal kings and imposition of constitutional restrictions on making amendments to 1900 regulation and prohibition of Bengali settlers in CHT.

As these points were rejected by the government, it gave rise to anger among the hill people and the concepts of Jumma nationalism took its origin.

With the aim of securing the rights of the hill people Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti was founded on 15th February, 1973 under the leadership of Manbendra Narayan Larma. The objectives of PCJSS were: Humanism, nationalism, democracy, secularism and establishing the rights of autonomy of the small tribes like: Chakma, Marma, Murong, Tripura, Khumi and so on. The associate organizations of the Samiti were the militant wing of Shanti Bahini.

❖ ZIA’S GOVERNMENT:-

President ZIAUR RHAMAN initiated a new chapter in the hill area by establishing Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board in 1976. But it was not notably accepted by the hill people. Thus, A Tribal Cultural Institute was established in 1977 at Rangamati.

He formed Tribal Convention in 1978 to start dialogue with tribal insurgent leaders. Regimes in different times continued meeting and dialogue with tribal leaders.
In 1981, an opportunity for dialogue between the government and Jana Sanghati Samiti was created at the instance of Major General MUHAMMAD ABUL MANZOOR. However, the process was interrupted when ZIAUR RAHMAN was assassinated on 30th May, 1981. When the situation got more violent the government stationed armed forces in the CHT in order to resist Shanti Bahini.

❖ ERSHAD’S GOVERNMENT:

The previous government took efforts to bring the rebels back to normal life since 1980 to 1989. During the tenure of Ershad regime in 1989, Local Government Council Act-1989 was established in three hill districts to ensure the return of the rebels back to normal life and to establish a terror-free CHTs. Extensive administrative power of the hill districts were handed-over to tribal in district level which is similar to limited autonomy. Yet the rebels did not shun the path of terror. On the other hand the Bengalis have been turned into second class citizen by enacting this Act.
However, it should be mentioned that during the period between 1985 and 1988 a total of six meetings were held. On 17th December 1987, Jana-Sanghati Samiti submitted their 5 points manifesto to the government, these were: i. Granting autonomy of the CHT together with its own legislative assembly and recognition of Jumma people’s right to self- determination; ii. Inclusion of provision in the constitution in order to repeal amendments to the regulation of 1900; iii. Removal of all non-tribal people who settled in CHT after 17 August 1947; iv. Allocation of funds from the government for the development of the CHT and; v. Creation of a favorable environment for peaceful and political solution to the existing crisis.

❖ KHALEDA’S GOVERNMENT:
The government of Bangladesh National Party (BNP) led by BEGUM KHALEDA ZIA attempted to trace political solutions to the hill tracts problems. A liaison committee was formed on 15th April 1991 and a CHT Affairs Committee comprising members of Sangsad on 9th July 1992.
The first meeting between the government and Jana Sanghati Samiti was held on 5 November 1992. A total of 13 points were discussed by both sides till 1995.

❖ HASINA’S GOVRNMENT:
Fresh dialogue restarted in 1992. This talk continued up to 1995 to solve the problem. Finally the Awami League government under Sheikh Hasina started political process in 1996 for solving the CHT problems.

An 11 member National Committee on CHT Affairs was constituted on 14th October 1996. On 17 September 1997, both sides reached a consensus on signing a Peace Treaty. The unstable situation in the CHT came to a close with the signing of the CHT PEACE ACCORD between Bangladesh Government and Jana Sanghati Samiti on 2 December 1997.
On 02 December, 1997 the then Awami League government signed a treaty bypassing the opinions of Parliament and the minority communities including the Bengalis. Extreme opposition was observed against this discriminatory accord. The Bengalis and all the tribal communities except the Chakmas demanded the repeal the black treaty. They forged an intense movement against it.

CHT PEACE ACCORD AND ITS CONTENTS:
The CHT PEACE ACCORD recognized the special status of the hill people. Under the Accord a Regional Council (RC) has been formed representing the three hill districts local government councils. The following is the composition of the RC: ✓ Chairman 1; ✓ Member (tribal) male 12; ✓ Members (tribal) female 2; ✓ Members (non-tribal) male 6; ✓ Member (non-tribal) female 1.
The elected members of the RC will elect its chairman. The council will be elected for five years. It will coordinate and supervise the general administration, law and order, and development activities of the three hill districts. The ACCORD also provides for the setting up of a Ministry of Tribal Affairs to be headed by a tribal to look into the affairs of the CHT.
Under the present accord the army will remain in the CHT. Permanently cantonments will remain; only the temporary camps of the army, ansar and the village defense forces, save and except the BDR, will be gradually withdrawn.

PROCEEDINGS AFTER CHT PEACE ACCORD

By signing treaty Shantu Larma along with the activists of Jana Shanghati Samiti pledged to establish peace. They surrendered arms and took over the responsibility of Regional Council. In 1998, government nominated Shantu Larma as the chairman of Regional Council. The post is equivalent to the status of state minister. It is a grim reality that he and his associates being the part of the government and enjoying all facilities provided by state have been instigating anti-treaty activities. They are hatching conspiracy by disseminating confusing information at home and abroad in order to create embarrassing situation for the country. Armed groups have been reorganized with the help of remaining terrorists.
From time immemorial, the majority Bengalis living in CHTs including a number of small tribal communities are facing serious problem in terms of right of franchise, human rights, land rights and economic rights due to discriminatory peace treaty which is contradictory to constitution. The hill Bengalis and minority tribal communities are badly affected due to the treaty. The present government is keeping mum conveniently forgetting their previous election pledge that if voted to power they would scrap or amend the treaty.
In order to implement the discriminatory peace treaty, Shantu Larma is creating anarchy in the pretext of movement. He is tarnishing the image of Bangladesh by disseminating confusing and false information to different countries and donor communities. He is demanding the withdrawal of the army with a view to establish Jummaland by seceding CHTs from Bangladesh. But the common tribal are not in favor of this trend. They can not raise their voice due to intimidation of the armed tribal.

HOW EFFECTIVE WAS THE CHT PEACE ACCORD? OR LIMITATIONS OF THE PEACE ACCORD:
Before we talk about whether it was effective or not we need to see how necessary it was. Given that up to 1997 there was ongoing conflict and basic denial of the rights of people within the region and effective army occupation, a resolution of some sort was essential. Of course the Accord did not put in any provisions regarding accountability for human rights violations committed during the period of the conflict. That was a very major limitation. But it was effective in reducing very significantly the level of violence in the region. And whatever its limitations, it is a recognition of an end to a three decade long conflict, and has been passed in full consonance with our Constitution, which mandates that special measures may be taken for disadvantaged communities, including providing for a measure of political representation and autonomy for the Paharis of the CHT. Thus in order to build peace and to begin to restore basic rights in the CHT it is essential to implement the Accord without any further delay.
The basic concept of the Accord is that there will be settlement of the ongoing land disputes. But the Land Commission, set up post Accord, has met barely once in the last 11 years! Just recently the Government announced it would reactivate the Commission and we hope they will act on this. Another big issue was about giving full power to the Regional Council and the Hill District Councils, representative bodies for the CHT. We are ten years and counting but this has also not been fully done.
The other important concern is about representation in these bodies and in other administrative structures -- for example in the local police force. Only limited action has been taken. As a result there is still a sense of grievance that although there is an agreement in place for Paharis to be part of the machinery of justice and administration but that hasn't been put in place.

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| |THE DAILY STAR REPORT ON: “CHT peace accord misinterpreted over the years” |
| |Participants at BBC Bangladesh Sanglap demanded full implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord, |
| |introduction of cellphone network, balanced development of all people including ethnic and Bangalee communities and |
| |development of tourism in the region. |
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| |"As the accord was misinterpreted over the years, it has not been implemented due to lack of political will," said Chakma |
| |Circle Chief (Chakma King) Raja Devasish Roy. |
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| |Although several provisions of the treaty have been implemented, there are some important clauses including land dispute and |
| |withdrawal of security camps are not implemented, he added. |
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| |BBC Bangla Service in conjunction with the BBC World Service Trust organized the event at Parjotan Holiday Complex. |
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| |The panelists said, the treaty could be implemented if a pro-treaty government assumes power in the next election, otherwise |
| |implementation of the treaty would be further delayed. As there are some highly controversial clauses in the accord, its |
| |full implementation would take time. However, if the accord is implemented, both the Bangalee and the indigenous community |
| |would be benefited. |
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| |The panelists urged the government to turn the hill districts into an internationally standard tourism spot. |
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WRAPPING UP:

The conflict in CHT is not a unique one. Such challenge posed by assertive regional minorities is a widespread phenomenon shared by numerous states both developing and developed of the present world.

The signing of CHT PEACE ACCORD will help to bring peace and harmony among the people of CHT. But this peace treaty will be beneficial only if it is properly applied. Although government demands that the peace treaty is being followed. But this has not been done even today.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

At the end of this report on CHT CONFLICT AND PEACE ACCORD, we have following recommendations to provide:

• Implement the Accord without any further delay;

• Since the Land Commission has been recently reactivated, it should start working immediately on the settlement of land disputes;

• Representation of the Paharis to all administrative structures should also be taken into consideration.

REFERENCES:

• ‘The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention’ by- Mohammad Zainal Abedin

• Article by: Nelofar Parvin

• The Politics of Nationalism: the case of CHT by: Amena Mohsin.

• CHT Peace Accord 1997

• A report by Sara Hossain

• www.wikipedia.com

• www.survivalinternational.org

• The Daily Star, Monday, October 12, 2009.