Chakma leaders sent back empty-handed after talks

Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah led the government side while Jyotindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Shantu Larma led the PCJSS at the six-day talks.

“The process of preparing a draft of the agreement is satisfactory,” Abdullah told newspersons. Flanked by PCJSS leader Larma, the chief whip, in his brief statement, said “The date for next round of talks will be decided through future consultations.”

When asked to comment on the outcome of the talks, Larma declined, saying “At this stage I have nothing to say.”

The Chakma tribal guerillas have been waging bush war for last 22 years for regional autonomy in the Chittagong Hill Tracts comprising Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati hill districts.

Sources who attended the meeting, said the PCJSS have been demanding an autonomous regional council, withdrawal of Bengali settlers from the hill tracts and a guarantee to their land rights. The government was learnt to have agreed in principle on the regional council but is yet to agree on the power of the porposed council.

The two sides are yet to reach any agreement on the issue of land rights of the tribals in the hill tracts.

When contacted last night Kalpa Ranjan Chakma, an MP from Khagracchari hill district who joined the peace talks from the government side, said, “We are very close to an agreement with the PCJSS.” but he did not elaborate on the outcome of the talks.The issue of repatriation of Chakma and other tribes left their homes in the hill districts in late 70s in the wake of armed conflict between the govt forces and tribal guerillas.