Military still dominate hills, alleges Santu Larma

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Chairman of CHTRC and Chief of PCJSS Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma speaking at a press conference in Rangamati Monday.

Our Correspondent
RANGAMATI, Dec 1: Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council (CHTRC) Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma has alleged that military rules are still prevailing in CHT in the name of Operation Uttaran.
Invisible power has always dominated everything in the hill areas, he added.
Mr Larma made the allegation while addressing a press conference organised marking the 12th anniversary of signing of CHT Peace Treaty here Monday.
About implementation of peace treaty, Mr Larma alleged that the process of execution of Peace Accord was in deadlock during the past four-party alliance as well as the caretaker governments.
The rulers violated the accord during the seven years, he alleged.
Expressing his optimism about full implementation of the treaty, Mr Larma said I hoped the present Awami League-led government would implement it fully within its tenure.
Lauding the steps taken by the present government for implementing the deal, Mr Larma said the government reconstructed the Peace Implementation Committee, Land Commission and CHT Refugee Affairs Taskforce. All these are positive signs, he opined.
He, however, accused the government of violating the deal by appointing a state minister in the CHT Affairs Ministry instead of giving a full pledged minister as per the provision of the accord.
Mr Santu also accused the government of not activating the CHT Regional Council, approving the 'Rules of Business' of the council, which are awaiting approval.
Election in the CHT Regional Council could not be held until today as the elections of three hill district councils were not held as per the agreement, he pointed out.
For successful implementation of the accord, Mr Larma made some recommendations as well.
The recommendations include-finalising the procedure of "Rules of Business" of CHTRC, activating rules of business for the staffs of CHTRC, implementing the project of construction of CHTRC Complex, allocating fund for building office of CHTRC in Dhaka, approving the 'Rules of Business' of three district councils, handing over the authorities of law-enforcing agencies, police (local), land, land management, environment, youth development and local tourism, preparing separate voters' lists and enacting voters' lists rules, withdrawing all remaining makeshift security camps and rehabilitating repatriate and internally displaced Jumm refugees to the district councils.
Among others, member of the CHTRC and leaders of Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) Goutam Kumar Chakma and Ushatan Talukder were present at the conference.