chtnews.com
News No. 10/2014,
Thursday, May 15, 2014
SANTU group and the
local administration are alleged to have colluded to obstruct a protest
demonstration against pervasive land grabbing by outsiders as well as local
powerful Bengali elites.
Leaders of
Nakyongchari Land Protection Committee told chtnews.com that
they called a protest demonstration in Nakyongchari town today to demand an end
to illegal occupation of land and forcible eviction of the Jummas.
“But a local leader of
the Santu group, Mong Mong Marma, has got in the way of it. He said they would
not allow the Jummas to stage any protest demo in Nakyongchari.” Shuvo Chak,
one of the organizers said.
However, Santu group’s
ex-president of Nakyongchari Unit, Neocha Aung Marma, expressed solidarity with
the organizers, which earned him ire from Santu Larma himself.
When Santu Larma
ordered him to oppose the programme, Mr Neohcha Aung reportedly told him that
the organizers are not doing anything illegal and that they have every right to
do this.
“Santu Larma phoned
Neocha Aung while we were holding a meeting with him. And we overheard Santu
Larma telling him to oppose the demo.” A. C. Mong Marma, another organizer of
the protest, told chtnews.com.
In the meanwhile,
Nakyongchari UNO, Shaha Belal Ahmed, in sync with the Santu group, refused to
give permission to hold the rally.
The Land Protection
Committee leaders have expressed outrage at the conduct of both the UNO and the
Santu group leaders.
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