HWF begins its 7th central council in Chittagong
chtnews.com
News No. 206/2009, November 20, 2009
The Hill Women’s Federation has inaugurated its seventh central council with a call to resist repression of Jumma women and speed up the struggle for full autonomy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The inaugural ceremony was held at Islamabadi Memorial Hall of Kadam Mobbarak High School with the hoisting of the national, UPDF and HWF flags.
The hall was packed with participants, who spilled over on to the school ground.
Advocate Bhulon Bhowmik inaugurated the council at 11:30am to the thunderous applause. In his inaugural address Mr. Bhowmik said it was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who had set and initiated the repressive policies on CHT. “The Pahari people have their own land laws which are based on customs, but the Bangladesh state does not recognise them.” he said and demanded that this just right be recognised and protected.
Presided over by HWF president Sonali Chakma, the inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Mamun, General Secretary, Ganotantrik Front Chittagong Unit; Md. Anwar, convenor, Jatiya Chattra Dal Chittagong Unit; Sumi Chakrabarti, central committee member of Paribrajok Progoti Dal and a Masters student of Chittagong University; Rakib Uddin, a leader of Naya Ganotantric Gano Morcha; Mithun Chakma, General Secretary, Democratic Youth Forum, Ricoh Chakma, president, Hill Students’ Council and Shanti Dev Chakma, organiser, UPDF Rangamati District Unit.
HWF president Sonali Chakma expressed her solidarity with the Ghilachari women who have been enforcing road blocks, demanding punishment of an army man for attempting to rape a Jumma woman.
She said the Jumma women have become more vulnerable to sexual violence then ever. “They are nowhere safe in the CHT” she said adding, their safety and dignity can be ensured only if the army and settlers are withdrawn from CHT.
She demanded constitutional recognition to the Jumma people and their traditional land laws.
Shanti Dev Chakma said when it comes to the issue of Chittagong Hill Tracts there is no difference between the ruling national political parties such as Awami League, BNP, JP and Jammat.
“UPDF has been oppressed under all the previous governments and continue to be oppressed under the present government.” he said.
“This is because in the CHT the real government is not AL or BNP, but the army; it is the army who rule the roost, they are the final authority.” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the struggle of the Jumma people, Mamun emphasized the need for linking the struggle against national repression to the struggle against feudalism and imperialism.
“Until the struggle against imperialism and feudalism is won, there will be no let up in national repression”, he sad.
He also condemned the killing of UPDF leader Rui Khoi Marma in Laxmichari.
Md. Anwar said Bangladesh is a multi-national country. “It is not possible to find a solution to the national question under the existing state structure.” he said.
Supporting the demands of the Ghilachari women, Sumi Chakrabarti said the message of their resistance should be spread all over.
Rakib Uddin said the ruling class has ruined the country and the Jumma people should not expect much from this government.
Mithun Chakma narrated his experience of his recent visits to Panchari, Laxmichari, Naniachar and Jurachari, and said the army is the greatest threat to peace and survival of the Jumma people in CHT.
He described how Lt. Col. Sharif in Laxmichari has formed a terrorist gang -- the so-called CHTNF (Chittagong Hill Tracts National Forum) which is popularly known as Borkha Bahini or Veiled Force as its members cover their faces with Muslim veils during their actions.
Ricoh Chakma said full autonomy is the only solution to the CHT problem.
Rally
The inaugural ceremony was followed by a procession which marched to the Chittagong press club on Jamal Khan road.
An estimated 750 Jumma women took part in the procession, holding banners and placards and waving UPDF and HWF flags. They came from all over the CHT including Bandarban and belong to almost all the Jumma nationalities.
In addition, 50 Bengali sympathizers and 100 PCP and DYF members and supporters also took part in the programme.
Discussion
Later in the afternoon, a discussion on the role of women in the resistance against repression in Chittagong Hill tracts was held at the same hall room with Sonali Chakma in the chair.
The speakers included professor Mohammad Hossain Khan, joint convenor, Committee Against Fascism and Imperialism, Chittagong; professor Ferdous Ara Alim; Arup Barua, member, Bangladesh Lakhok Shibir Chittagong unit; Sadaf Nur-e-Islam, Associate professor, department of anthropology, Chittagong University; and Shanti Dev Chakma, a UPDF leader.
Professor Ferdous Ara Alim said the way the Jumma women have built up their movement is most appreciable. “My head bends down with respect when I think of it” she said.
Justifying the struggle of the Hill Women Federation, Mrs Ferdous said the Jumma women are regularly assaulted. She cited the example of Kalpana Chakma who was kidnapped by Lt. Ferdous in 1996.
Chittagong University teacher Sadaf Nur-e-Islam said “Kalpana Chakma is a symbol of resistance in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Once we tried to name a place after Kalpana Chakma on Jahangirnagar University campus, but the university authority refused to give us permission.”
She went on to say, “We – Paharis and Bengalis -- live side by side. When I hear the news of human rights violations in CHT it reminds me of the incidents of Ekattor (Liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971).”
Arup Barua shared his experience of his visits different parts of CHT and narrated how the Jumma people are subjected to repression and inhuman and degrading treatment.
He said the movement initiated by HWF is of different kind; it is born out of resistance against repression.
Professor Hossain Khan stressed the need for a simultaneous movement in the Hills and in the plain.
News No. 206/2009, November 20, 2009
The Hill Women’s Federation has inaugurated its seventh central council with a call to resist repression of Jumma women and speed up the struggle for full autonomy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The inaugural ceremony was held at Islamabadi Memorial Hall of Kadam Mobbarak High School with the hoisting of the national, UPDF and HWF flags.
The hall was packed with participants, who spilled over on to the school ground.
Advocate Bhulon Bhowmik inaugurated the council at 11:30am to the thunderous applause. In his inaugural address Mr. Bhowmik said it was Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who had set and initiated the repressive policies on CHT. “The Pahari people have their own land laws which are based on customs, but the Bangladesh state does not recognise them.” he said and demanded that this just right be recognised and protected.
Presided over by HWF president Sonali Chakma, the inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Mamun, General Secretary, Ganotantrik Front Chittagong Unit; Md. Anwar, convenor, Jatiya Chattra Dal Chittagong Unit; Sumi Chakrabarti, central committee member of Paribrajok Progoti Dal and a Masters student of Chittagong University; Rakib Uddin, a leader of Naya Ganotantric Gano Morcha; Mithun Chakma, General Secretary, Democratic Youth Forum, Ricoh Chakma, president, Hill Students’ Council and Shanti Dev Chakma, organiser, UPDF Rangamati District Unit.
HWF president Sonali Chakma expressed her solidarity with the Ghilachari women who have been enforcing road blocks, demanding punishment of an army man for attempting to rape a Jumma woman.
She said the Jumma women have become more vulnerable to sexual violence then ever. “They are nowhere safe in the CHT” she said adding, their safety and dignity can be ensured only if the army and settlers are withdrawn from CHT.
She demanded constitutional recognition to the Jumma people and their traditional land laws.
Shanti Dev Chakma said when it comes to the issue of Chittagong Hill Tracts there is no difference between the ruling national political parties such as Awami League, BNP, JP and Jammat.
“UPDF has been oppressed under all the previous governments and continue to be oppressed under the present government.” he said.
“This is because in the CHT the real government is not AL or BNP, but the army; it is the army who rule the roost, they are the final authority.” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the struggle of the Jumma people, Mamun emphasized the need for linking the struggle against national repression to the struggle against feudalism and imperialism.
“Until the struggle against imperialism and feudalism is won, there will be no let up in national repression”, he sad.
He also condemned the killing of UPDF leader Rui Khoi Marma in Laxmichari.
Md. Anwar said Bangladesh is a multi-national country. “It is not possible to find a solution to the national question under the existing state structure.” he said.
Supporting the demands of the Ghilachari women, Sumi Chakrabarti said the message of their resistance should be spread all over.
Rakib Uddin said the ruling class has ruined the country and the Jumma people should not expect much from this government.
Mithun Chakma narrated his experience of his recent visits to Panchari, Laxmichari, Naniachar and Jurachari, and said the army is the greatest threat to peace and survival of the Jumma people in CHT.
He described how Lt. Col. Sharif in Laxmichari has formed a terrorist gang -- the so-called CHTNF (Chittagong Hill Tracts National Forum) which is popularly known as Borkha Bahini or Veiled Force as its members cover their faces with Muslim veils during their actions.
Ricoh Chakma said full autonomy is the only solution to the CHT problem.
Rally
The inaugural ceremony was followed by a procession which marched to the Chittagong press club on Jamal Khan road.
An estimated 750 Jumma women took part in the procession, holding banners and placards and waving UPDF and HWF flags. They came from all over the CHT including Bandarban and belong to almost all the Jumma nationalities.
In addition, 50 Bengali sympathizers and 100 PCP and DYF members and supporters also took part in the programme.
Discussion
Later in the afternoon, a discussion on the role of women in the resistance against repression in Chittagong Hill tracts was held at the same hall room with Sonali Chakma in the chair.
The speakers included professor Mohammad Hossain Khan, joint convenor, Committee Against Fascism and Imperialism, Chittagong; professor Ferdous Ara Alim; Arup Barua, member, Bangladesh Lakhok Shibir Chittagong unit; Sadaf Nur-e-Islam, Associate professor, department of anthropology, Chittagong University; and Shanti Dev Chakma, a UPDF leader.
Professor Ferdous Ara Alim said the way the Jumma women have built up their movement is most appreciable. “My head bends down with respect when I think of it” she said.
Justifying the struggle of the Hill Women Federation, Mrs Ferdous said the Jumma women are regularly assaulted. She cited the example of Kalpana Chakma who was kidnapped by Lt. Ferdous in 1996.
Chittagong University teacher Sadaf Nur-e-Islam said “Kalpana Chakma is a symbol of resistance in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Once we tried to name a place after Kalpana Chakma on Jahangirnagar University campus, but the university authority refused to give us permission.”
She went on to say, “We – Paharis and Bengalis -- live side by side. When I hear the news of human rights violations in CHT it reminds me of the incidents of Ekattor (Liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971).”
Arup Barua shared his experience of his visits different parts of CHT and narrated how the Jumma people are subjected to repression and inhuman and degrading treatment.
He said the movement initiated by HWF is of different kind; it is born out of resistance against repression.
Professor Hossain Khan stressed the need for a simultaneous movement in the Hills and in the plain.
posted by The Indigenous Jumma Peoples Movement in North America @ 4:07 PM
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