Sunday, May 25, 2008

Bits of information on Sajek attack

1. Distance / location
Distance between Rangamati and Sajek is 129km by road through Khagrachari district. There is direct bus link between Rangamati to Baghaichari. Sajek is nearer to Khagrachari district HQ than to Rangamati and people of Sajek and Baghaichari usually to Rangamati via Khagrachari after construction of road link between Dighinala and Baghaichari. Sajek is 73km north east of Kahgrachari.

2. Population
In 2001, the number of Bengali voters in Sajek Union was merely 879 whereas Jumma voters accounted for over 14 thousand.

3. Security camps:

A. There are a total of seven army camps in Sajek. These are:
1) Laxmichari army camp (sub zone) headed by a Major,
2) Bodogichara camp (this camp was set up two years ago after joining Hajachara and Korollyachari camps together) headed by a captain,
3) Majalong camp (earlier this camp was situated at Mandirchara and relocated here in 2005) headed by a Major,
4) Baghaihat zone headed by a Commanding Officer of the rank of Lt. Col.
5) Tiger Tila camp at Gangaram headed by a Warrant Officer
6) Gongaram Mukh ECB camp
7) Majalong ECB camp.


B. There are three police camps in Sajek:

1) Number 10
2) Baghaihat
3) Majalong

C. There is one Ansar Battalion camp at Sajek situated at Baghaihat.

D. There are three Bangladesh Rifles camps in Sajek:
1) Ruilui camp commanded by a Subedar or Warrant Officer
2) Lonkor camp commanded by a Captain, and
3) Old Lonkor commanded by a captain.


4. Villages:
There are 123 villages under 9 Wards in Sajek Union. The villages that came under attack on 20 April lies in Ward No. 4. There are a total of 26 villages in this Ward. Main villages are Noapara, Golakmachara, Depupara, Dojori Haglachara, Hazachara, Adam No. 10, Bamey Baibachara, Badalhat chara, Daney Baibachara, MSF Para, Purbopara, Bhidirey (or Inner) Retkaba, Retkaba Mukh, Gongaram Mukh, Uluchara, Langolmara.

Bengali village:
In this Ward, there are 9 villages for the Bengalis: these are Segun Colony, Forest Colony, Dubai Colony, Para No. 6, Masjid Colony, Muslim Colony, BFIDC Colony, KPM Colony and Baghaihat Bazaar.

5. Four Jummas were injured.

1) Ratan Bikash Chakma. He got injury in his head with blood coming out. He was hit with stone thrown by settlers. He did not go to hospital; treated with traditional Bonoja medicine.

2) Sonadhan Chakma. He was hit in the legs with stone thrown by settlers.

3) Sadhan Chakma (28) of Bamey Baibachara; He fell on the ground while running away and got his legs sprained.

4) Ananda Chakma of village Badalhatchara; He too fell on the ground while running away and got one of his leg sprained. He could not walk for more than one month.

6. Attempted Rape

Victim: Ms Gurimila Chakma (22), d/o Gobinda Chakma, Vill: MSF Para.

On the morning of 21 April, after the incident the night before, she came back to their village along with her 12-year old brother to take stock of the extent of the damage. At that time, one Shaha Alam (38) from Mariam Nagar village (settled in 1999 originally from Rangunia) caught her and tried to drag her behind the bushes. When she resisted, the settler punched her in the face. He also pointed his dao (a kind of knife) at the neck of her brother and threatened him with death.

Later, Gurimila and her brother were able to extricate themselves from him and ran away.

After that, Jumma elders - Sneha Chakma (36), Kalachogha (50), Jotshna Rani Chakma, a UP member and Swapanika Chakma, UP member of Ward No. - 4 went up to Sajid Md. Imtiaz, CO of Baghaichari zone to complain about the incident and seek justice. The victim was also presented before him. But noting came out.

7. About relief
a. On 22 April, Rangamati District Council distributed Taka one Lakh among 78 Jumma victims and 89 settler families. Each of the victimized families received 500 Taka.

b. On 22 April, Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati gave Taka 5 thousand to Rev. Purnabas Bhante at Moitreepur Bana Vihara at Baghaihat.

c. On 22 April, Baghaihat zone commander gave Taka 500 to each of the Jumma victims. Maximum amount of his relief money went to the settlers.

d. The Baghaihat traders collected relief of 1,000 Kg of rice and then distributed it among the victims on 24 April. Each of the Jumma victims received 8 kgs.

e. On 29 April, Army Chief Gen. Moeen U Ahmed distributed Take 500, rice 5kg, potato 2 kg and pulse 1 kg to each of the victims including Bengali settlers. Only 58 Jumma victims out of 79 Jumma families received the relief money and goods.

f. Rangamati district administration allocated a total of 8 metric tonnes (8,000 kgs) of rice for the victims. This is to be distributed in three phases. The first and the second phase took place in the first week of May and on 21 May respectively and 3 metric tonnes were distributed during each phase. A total of 103 settler families and 78 Jumma families received 15 kg each. The third phase is yet to begin.

g. On 21 May, Sultana Kamal, ex-adviser of the interim caretaker government and Executive Director of Ain-O-Salish Kendra, distributed Take 500, Chidol (fish paste) 1kg and clothes to each Jumma families and gave Take 20 thousand to the Bengali settlers.

h. On 26 April, individual Jummas from Dighinala gave 5kg of rice and 1 kg of fish paste to each Jumma victim families.

i. In the last week of April, United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) distributed Taka 1,000 and 50 kg of rice to each of the victim families.


8. Where do the Jummas live now?
After the incident, took refuge in the jungle, in Banani Biswa Moitree Buddha Vihara and in the house of their relatives in other villages of Sajek and Dighinala. At present 10 - 15 families are taking shelter at Banani Biswa Moitree Buddha Vihara. Three victim families stayed with Swapanika Chakma, a UP member, for a month. Later, they moved to other villages.

So far, only a few of the victims could reconstruct their houses. Others could not, because they belong to the poorest section of the CHT.

The settlers stopped building houses. They have not reconstructed their burnt houses so far.

However, Shaha Alam (38), who attempted to rape Gurimila Chakma, has built a dam to create an artificial lake on the land of Pathor Muni Karbari (45) in the village of Purbopara. Alam did this while Pathor Muni Karbari was away to Gongamara Chuk area for Jum cultivation. When he came back to the village, he was surprised to see the dam on his land.

He lodged a written complaint with the Baghaihat zone commander, but to no avail. Shaha Alam told him: "it is our Bengali people's land. So, you must not go there. Otherwise, we will chop you off"


9. Fear of arrest
On 13 May, CO declared that he would arrest the "terrorists" in the area. By terrorists he actually meant those who spoke against Bengali settlement and army atrocities and those who took part in the press conference in Dhaka.

Most of the male members of the Jumma families went into hiding for fear of arrest and harassment. Some of them are:

1) Binoy Chakma (30) of village Dane Baibachara. He took part in the press conference held on 27 April at Reporters Unity, Dhaka. He read out a written statement accusing Sajid Imtiaz and Golam Mawla for the 20 April attack. He has two small children: one boy (5), one girl (7).

Army personnel raided his house on two successive nights on 12 and 13 May.

2) Ananda Chakma (30) of village Bamey Baibachara. He was one of those who complained about military atrocities and Bengali settlement when Debasish Roy visited Sajek in February.

The army raided his house trice on 30 April, 1 and 2 May. On 3 May, settlers came to his house along with the army and looted away everything movable down to a broom.

3) Nilomoy Chakma (30) of village Gangaram Mukh. He was also present at the Dhaka press conference.

4) Sadhan Kumar Chakma (34) s/o Dharma Ratan Chakma of village Bamey Baibachara.

5) Shanti Muni Chakma (27) s/o Monu Ranjan Chakma of village Bamey Baibachara.

6) UP member (Ward No. 7) Ms Jotshna Rani Chakma's husband of MSF Para village.

7) Gyanendu Chakma (55) of village Retkaba. He was also present at the Dhaka press conference.

8) Rupom Chakma (24) s/o Pathor Muni Chakma of village Purbo Para.

9) Nibesh Shanti Chakma (24) of village Depu Para.

10) Bilash Karbari (45) of village Gongaram Mukh.


10. Land grabbing continues after the attack
Liakot Ali, a settler from Baghaihat, forcibly grabbed one acre of land (?) belonging to Boli Chakma (75) in Bamey Baibachara. Before the 20 April attack, settlers built a house on his land. On 28 April, the settlers burnt it down to create a pretext to arrest Nobel, Sunil and Ratan Bikash Chakma. They were arrested from their hosues.

On 1 May, Liakot Ali and his family members went to Boli Chakma's orchard and cut the banana plantation taking away 4 bunches of bananas.

On 3 May, One Amin Driver's son Jakir took away stored firewood from the house of Boli Chakma and bunches of banana and jackfruits from his orchard. Jakir also threatened Boli's wife to kill like sacrificial cows.

On 4 May, a group of settlers including Rafiqul, Liakot Ali and Rafique measured Boli's land and distributed it among themselves. The same day Kamal, another settlers, declared in front of Lalon Bihari Chakma that he would take Boli Chakma's land under his occupation. And in doing so, if required, he was ready to kill Boli's entire family.

On 5 May, Liakot Ali's wife and 10 other settlers prevented Boli Chakma's wife and eight other Jummas from harvesting in his own land. Liakot's wife said it was their forefather's land.

On 9 May, Liakot took away all the banana bunches from Boli Chakma's plantation.

On 11 May, Liakot cleared shrubs in Boli's land for constructing a house.

Another case of land grabbing:
After the incident, Solieman (65), a settler from Baghhaihat bazaar, captured 1 kani (40 decimal) of first class arable land belonging to Borpeda Chakma (40) of MSF Para village. Solieman has harvested the paddy planted by Borpeda Chakma claiming that the land was sold by Borpeda to him.

11. Bazaar boycott
The Jumma people of Sajek continue to boycott Baghaihat bazaar in protest against the 20 April attack. The boycott began on 23 April. The Jummas are wholeheartedly avoiding Baghaihat bazaar.

This decision to boycott hit the Bengali traders hard and they decided to retaliate. On 8 May, Sajid Imtiaz threatened the Jummas, specially the victim families, to come to Baghaihat bazaar regularly. He gave one week for them to end the boycott, otherwise he would take actions against them.

On 10 May, they declared that they too would stop selling anything to the Jummas. The same day, on orders of Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz, a group of settlers armed with sticks and knife and army personnel in three vehicles blocked the Jummas who were on their way to Boalkhali bazaar (Natun Bazaar). They seized the goods and produces of the Jummas and forced them back home.

Again on 10 May, Sajid Imtiaz ordered the Bengali traders of Baghaihat, Karengatoli and Machalong bazaar neither to buy anything from the Jummas, nor to sell the daily essentials such as rice, pulse and edible oil to them.

12. Attempt at winning the heart of the Jummas
In an interview with the ACHR representative on 22 May at Baghaichari Duor, Dighinala, Mrs. Jotsna Rani Chakma, a member of Sajek Union Council representing Ward Nos. 7, 8 and 9, spoke of the sustained army conspiracy to rehabilitate the settlers in Sajek.

She said he had just returned from a meeting called by Sajid Md. Imtiaz, CO of Baghaihat zone. The meeting was held at the office of Sajek Union Council. The meeting lasted from 10 am to 2 pm. About 200 persons both Jumma and Benglai settlers were present. An AC of police was also present at the meeting.

She told that the CO urged the Jummas to end their boycott and resume transactions at Baghaihat bazaar.

But Mrs. Jotsna Rani Chakma and other Jummas demanded that the settlers must be withdrawn from Sajek. They told the meeting that the problem started when the settlers began to forcibly occupy Jumma's lands. They said the only solution to the present crisis was withdrawal of the settlers.

Golam Mawla, one of the masterminds behind the attack, said "I have been living here for 29 years" to stake a claim to the Jumma's land. To this, Jotsna Rani said "We are living here from time immemorial."

In an apparent effort to placate the aggrieved Jummas, Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz termed what the settlers did as an act against humanity. He said he had come to this conclusion after visiting the place of occurrence more intensely. He said he fully shared the view of the Jummas that the settlers should be withdrawn.

But beneath the thin layer of sympathetic words lied his real intention, which was to weaken the resistance of the Jummas and seek ways to resettle the Bengalis. This became clear when he proposed to constitute a so-called Peace Committee comprising 10 Jummas and 7 Bengalis.

However, Mrs. Jotshna Rani said she and other Jummas present at the meeting had resisted the formation of the committee and said there was no need for such committees. "We told them that there is no need for a Peace Committee. The present crisis will come to an end if our demands are met, if the settlers are taken back, if land grabbing is stopped and the grabbed lands are returned to us" she said.


13. Fake demonstration
Sajid Imtiaz is desperate to absolve himself of all blame for the 20 April attack. On 12 May, he made a failed attempt to get the Jummas to a programme to form a human chain in support of "peaceful co-existence between Jummas and settlers". When no Jumma came to take part in it, he got the settlers to wear black badges and paraded them before a handful of hired local journalists.

14. Cases
Following the incident, on 21 April, a case was filed by Anu Chakma with the Baghaichari police station. (GR. No. 122/08. Case No. 03, date: 21/4/08, under section 143/144/323/427/436/34 of Bangladesh Penal Code.) A settler named Md. Nurul Alam filed a counter-case the same day. (GR. No. 121/08. Case No. 02, date 21/4/08, under sections 143/144/323/324/427/436/34 of Bangladesh Penal Code).

In the complaint or (First Information Report (FIR), Anu Chakma stated:

"On 20/04/08 at around 21:45 I was at home. Hearing shouts I came out of my house and saw some unidentified 100 / 150 Bengali people armed with dao, chisel, stick etc. I ran away in fear of my life. The unidentified Bengalis set fire to my house resulting in the burning down of my belongings worth about Taka 50,000 inside the house. The unidentified Bengalis also set fire to about 53 houses, big and small, of the hill people in the villages of Daney Baibachara, Bamey Baibachara, Balughat, Retkabachara, Langol Mara and MSF Para resulting in the burning down of properties worth about Take 3,000,000 (three million). The age limit of the accused will be between 18 and 40 years."


In his complaint Md. Nurul Alam stated the following:

On 20/04/08, at around 9:45 pm, I was at home. Suddenly, hearing call and shouts I came out of my house and saw about 300/350 unidentified hill people. They were armed with brick, dao, chisel, stick, arrow, catapult and homemade guns. The unidentified hill people then shouted at me: 'catch the bastard' and burnt down my house. I came running towards Baghaihat bazaar in fear. As a consequence of the fire, all my belongings inside the house were burnt down resulting in the loss of property worth about Taka 100,000. The unidentified tribals also set fire to about 79 houses, big and small, belonging to the Bengalis in the villages of Simanachara, Gangaramchara,, Natunpara, Daney Baibachara, Bamey Baibachara, Balughat, Retkabachara, Langol Mara and MSF Para. This resulted in the burning down of property worth about Taka 4,000,000 (four million). They also injured 8/9 Bengalis after chopping and beating. The unidentified accused were wearing black pants and shirts and Lungi and Gengi, and their age limit is between 18 and 45 years. Both Bengalis and tribals know that the tribals have committed this act out of hatred as a result of construction of new houses and settlement of Bengalis in the village of Natun Para of Gangaram Mukh."


15. Interview:

Bimal Kanti Chakma (29) s/o late Anudas Chakma, village: Bamey Baibachara, Sajek.
Interviewed: 22 May 2008, Thursday; from 4 to 5:30 pm; at Baghaichari Duar, Dighinala.

Many years ago, my father used to live in the village of Mattyachadara under Rupakari Union of Baghaichari. His forefathers also lived there. As a result of communal attack and military repression in the seventies, our family was forced to leave the village. We drifted to Egojjyachari and Malumkaba areas falling back on Jum cultivation. In 1986, the situation once again became tense and we had to move to an area in Sajek bordering Mizoram state of India. We lived there until 1993 when we finally settled in the village of Bame Baibachara that came under attack on 20 April.

When the settlers were burning down houses in our village, I ran into jungle for safety. Since then I have been hiding. Many of our village and other villages have gone in to hiding too. My house was not burnt. But there is fear of further attack. He (Sajid Imtiaz) is arresting those who dare to speak out. There is no alternative for us than to be careful.

About 10 to 12 days after the incident, I went back to my village. I stayed 3 days in the village and planted some turmeric in my land. But as military operation increased, I felt insecure and left the village again.

I had grown paddy sapling to plant in about one acre of land. But these are still lying unused.

Now the settlers have built houses near my house and settled down. Over the last one and a half years the settlers have built many houses after occupying our lands and they have established a small village near our village. They call their village Masjid Colony. Approximately 20 - 22 settler families live here. They came from Muslim Block and Korengatoli in Marishya (Baghaichari).

Three of those who were involved in torching houses on 20 April come from this village. They are Tofazzal (36), Mamun (28) and Harun (30). Mamun and Harun are brothers. They built houses near Liton Chakma's house in Bamey Baibachara village after forcibly occupying his land.

The settlers could not have attacked us and burnt down our houses without support of the army. There is an Ansar Battalion camp within one hundred yards of my house and the Baghaihat army camp within half a kilometer.