News No. 132/2011, June 11, 2011
ELECTED public representatives, Headmen, Karbaris and teachers have appealed to Santu Larma, chairman of the CHT Regional Council and president of PCJSS, to stop the ongoing fratricidal conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
A total of 892 prominent persons including 75 elected public representatives, 33 Headmen, 131 Karabris or village heads and 64 teachers signed the appeal.
Signatories included, among others, Sorbottam Chakma, chairman of Panchari Upazila, Sona Ratan Chakma, chairman of Mahalchari Upazila; Supriya Chakma, vice chairman of Dighinala Upazila; Shatarupa Chakma, lady vice chairman of Dighinala Upazila; Milon Chakma, vice chairman of Laxmichari Upazila; Thui Hla Aung Marma, vice chairman of Mahalchari Upazila; Sagarika Chakma, lady vice chairman of Baghaichari Upazila, Swadesh Priti Chakma, general secretary of Khagrachari District Headman Association; Sudhangshu Bikash Khisha, president of Mahalchari Upazila Headman Association and Ronik Tripura, president of Khagrachari District Karbari Association.
In a statement they said, "We are deeply concerned over the recurrence of violent incidents including the killing of four persons including UPDF's central committee leader Animesh Chakma on 21 May in the village of Midingachari under Subolong Union of Barkal Upazila in Rangamati district.
"In the last 13 years the ongoing fratricidal conflict has claimed the lives of hundreds of people including members of both UPDF and JSS, rendered hundreds of families destitute, made many widows and crippled many others.
"We want an immediate end to this conflict, which is harmful for the interest of the peoples of the CHT.
"We do not want to see any more bloodshed in the hills. We do not want to see any more deaths."
They said the United Peoples' Democratic Front (UPDF) had earlier agreed to stop the fratricidal conflict and pledged to provide full support to the Jana Samhati Samiti and the government to implement the CHT accord.
"This support of the UPDF is encouraging", they said and added: "In this context we appeal to Mr. Santu Larma, president of Jana Samhati Samiti and chairman of the Regional Council, to stop fratricidal conflict and direct all his attention to the implementation of the CHT accord in the greater interest of the people."
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