International

Chittagong leader alleges conspiracy

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA May 21. The chief of the Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS), J. B. Larma alias Santu Larma, has blamed "vested quarters in the ruling class" for the anarchy in the Chittagong hill tracts which led to the subversion of the peace deal that he signed four and half years ago.

Mr. Larma, also the chairman of the CHT regional Council (CHTRC) with the rank and status of a State Minister, alleged there was "a conspiracy of Islamic expansionism to destroy the national entity of the hill people". The outspoken tribal leader recently met the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, urging her to implement the peace treaty and withdraw the army from the region.

At a meeting here on Monday, the tribal leader alleged that the law was being used against the indigenous Jumma people and that development was delayed. "There is no government. There are no fundamental human rights. If any one is killed, no step is taken," he said. Mr. Larma, who signed the peace deal in 1997 with the then Sheikh Hasina Government, said many provisions of the treaty were not implemented during Sheikh Hasina's tenure. "A vested quarter in the present ruling class, like in the time of the previous Government, is trying to destroy the existence of the Jumma people to satisfy their petty interests," he said.

Mr. Larma blamed the anti-accord United Peoples' Democratic Front (UPDF) — the archrival of the JSS — for much of the troubles in the CHT region. Mr. Larma, who hinted that the UPDF was the creation of the government, sought a ban on the party.

The JSS president said while his party was negotiating with the Government to implement the peace accord "ultra-nationalists inside the government, along with the international terrorist group, UPDF, are active to perpetuate unrest in the region".

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Pakistan calls it an 'act of terrorism'
• Pak. forces on 'full alert'
• We take Musharraf's word seriously, says Rice
• Karachi stock market witnesses crash
• Plan to counter terrorism
• Killinochchi talks focus on highway dispute
• China pursues space programme in secrecy
• Sharon sacks coalition Ministers
• Chittagong leader alleges conspiracy
• Questions remain about Musharraf's policy: U.S. report
• Blair voices concern over trans-Atlantic divide
• Berlin gears up to tackle anti-Bush protests
• Setback to Musharraf move
• U.K. media for referendum in Kashmir
• Show restraint, China tells India, Pak.

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu