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| Collected photo of Santu Larma |
Sunayan Chakma
The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) was
formed in 1972. Santu Larma was arrested on September 26, 1975. The armed
struggle began in 1976. He was released on January 22, 1980. In mid-1981, he
rejoined the JSS. From then on, internal conflict began within the JSS,
culminating in the Larma–Badi civil war, which continued until April 29, 1985,
when the Badi group surrendered. After the Badi group’s surrender, the Larma
group established sole dominance.
From 1986, attacks against the Bangladesh Army and
settlers resumed and continued until August 9, 1992. On August 10, 1992, the
JSS declared a unilateral ceasefire, after which no further war took place. On
December 2, 1997, an agreement was signed with the government. Since then,
fratricidal conflict has been ongoing against the United People's Democratic
Front (UPDF).
In broad terms, this is the timeline of the JSS
“struggle.” Now, let us briefly discuss Santu Larma’s role in the armed
struggle and movement:
• He participated in the preparatory phase of the
armed struggle.
• However, due to being in prison, he had no role in
the initiation or main phase of the armed struggle.
• From 1980 to 1985, he played a major role in the
internal conflict and civil war within the JSS. He and Priti Kumar Chakma are
mainly blamed for this bloody civil war.
• After the civil war, under his leadership, the armed
struggle against the Bangladesh Army lasted only seven years.
• During the ceasefire period from 1992 until the
signing of the agreement, he led negotiations with the government.
• After the agreement, he initiated fratricidal
conflict and has continued it to this day. In this conflict, an estimated 500
to 550 Jumma people have reportedly been killed.
Conclusion
Santu Larma conducted armed struggle for only seven
years. In contrast, he was involved in civil war and fratricidal conflict for
34 years (five years of Larma–Badi civil war and 29 years of fratricidal
conflict). In other words, his “revolutionary” life has mainly been spent
killing members of his own ethnic community.
Whether the seven years he engaged in armed struggle
can truly be called an armed struggle in the real sense is a matter for serious
research. It would not be unreasonable to say that what he did in the name of
armed struggle amounted to childish disorder. Just as children treat valuable
items as toys and create chaos in a household, Santu Larma treated the people’s
movement in a similar manner.
Many may not know that the Jumma people were forced to
become refugees in India not only because of attacks by the army and settlers,
but also due to planned arson carried out by members of the Shanti Bahini. It
is claimed that the JSS forced people to seek shelter in India and set fire to
many homes for this purpose.
Many people can still recount bitter experiences from
that period. Stories still circulate about how some Shanti Bahini members
treated the cattle, goats, and gold ornaments of those who were fleeing as
refugees. In short, Santu Larma’s seven years of armed war were a terrible
period for the Jumma people.
Even after the civil war, rather than focusing on
fighting the Bangladesh Army, Mr. Larma was more preoccupied with political
vendettas. During this time, numerous individuals were killed, including Chabai
Mog; writer Suhrid Chakma; Shantimoy Dewan, father of Moniswapan Dewan; Ranjit
Dewan; Sudatta Khisa (Tikka); Panchari Upazila Chairman Raj Kumar Chakma; and
Sulil Kumar Chakma (former chairman of 2 No. Naniarchar Union Parishad and
elder brother of former District Council Chairman Nikhil Kumar Chakma), among
others. Sulil Kumar Chakma was reportedly killed under the leadership of
Satyabir Dewan. Additionally, it is reported that there was an attempt to
assassinate Prajnananda Bhante, founder of Moan Ghar in Rangamati.
At present, it is alleged that Santu Larma is
cooperating with the Bangladesh Army in efforts to destroy the UPDF, which is
described as a fighting force. Instead of mobilizing for the implementation of
the peace accord, he is accused of targeting those who are protesting land
dispossession and fighting for the rights of the Jumma people. He has not
provided any explanation for why he is engaging in what critics describe as
harmful actions against the nation. The public question remains: what kind of
struggle is this?
It would not be unreasonable to argue that the extent
of harm he has caused and continues to cause to the Jumma nation surpasses that
inflicted by any collaborator—or even enemies—in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
With a “revolutionary” and “Jumma-lover” like him, do the Jumma people even
need enemies? Because of him, the Bangladesh Army and settlers have been able
to remain secure and undisturbed since the Peace Accord, while Jumma people
continue to die in large numbers.
Therefore, it can be firmly stated today that the
Jumma people might have been better off had Santu Larma not engaged in such
“struggles.” In short, what he did in the name of armed struggle was childish
disorder; what he did in the name of movement was hypocrisy; and what he has
done and continues to do in the name of implementing the agreement amounts to
serving the ruling military elites. For this reason, the ruling army in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts favors him and has kept him in the position of Regional
Council chairman for the past 27 years.
Source: Collected from a Facebook post by Sunayan
Chakma.
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