Date: 01.03.10
Source: The Daily Star
CHT Violence
Dhaka
Terms EU Claims Baseless
The government on Saturday outright rejected the
observation of the European Union in a statement issued on recent incidents of
Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Terming the observation of the EU as baseless and
unfounded, a release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said such statement
would not help the process of implementing the CHT Peace Treaty, reports BSS.
Rather, such statement would encourage those who
chose to instigate instability in the CHT, the ministry said adding
Saying the EU statement as an unfortunate one,
the release said, the initial consideration of the EU (prima facie), it is not
based on any actual fact-finding exercise on the part of EU or any consultation
with the government of
As such, it does not offer any corroborating
evidence in support of the allegations raised.
The EU in its statement said the EU is aware of
allegations that the incident involved army personnel and labourers employed by
army.
The government draws attention to the fact
that--it was the Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in
her previous term, that took the bold step to conclude the CHT Peace Accord in
order to bring back peace, security and stability in the area, said the foreign
ministry release.
The present government, after assuming office in
January last year, made no delay in resuming the process of full implementation
of the accord.
As part of this process, a good number of
military camps were withdrawn from the hill districts, the functioning of the
CHT Land Commission was reinvigorated, and more power and tasks were
transferred to CHT local councils.
The government attaches special emphasis on the
socio-economic development of the people living in the CHT, with particular
focus on the marginal and vulnerable groups, specially the ethnic minorities,
it said.
Cases have been lodged and police have arrested
suspected perpetrators following the incidents of February 19 and 20.
The government has also provided house-building
and other relief materials for affected families as well as cash allowances.
The government has taken steps to promote harmony
and understanding between the communities in the CHT following which several
widely participated solidarity rallies were also held in the hill districts, it
said.
The release said the government expects full
understanding and cooperation from the friends of
The government is committed towards the full
implementation of the CHT accord, it added.