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Review needed to remove weaknesses

Says Sultana Kamal

Shahnaz Parveen
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord needs renewing as the population ratio and political and economic aspects in the districts have changed, said Sultana Kamal in an interview with The Daily Star.
The co-chair of CHT Commission added, "Adivashis no longer hold position at decision making level. Bengali settlers now have economic interests, as they own large areas of land and invested in various businesses. Considering these significant changes, a review of the accord is plausible."
"The review can help remove some of the major weaknesses of the accord," she said adding, "Time limit for withdrawal of military camps, which is one of the key components of the accord, is not meiwiitol."-
"Tile * aVcxmF'lacks work plans fo । ^nffll^9M®B|)ll(^ and implementing traditional community ownership of land," said Sultana Kamal who is also the executive director of Ain O Shalish Kendra.
"It also lacks legal protection for the CHT Regional Council and related laws.
There are no provisions for legal steps or compensation for those who were killed, tortured and discriminated against," she pointed out.
However, none of these would bring meaningful changes without constitutional recognition of the indig-enous community of the country, she said.
The constitution of the country is based on Benj^ak nationalism, which alienates ethnic communities', fWflff ued Sultana Kamal.
Constitutional protection and positive discrimination to ethnic minorities can establish formal equality, she observed.
On land dispute she said the origin of all dire straits in the hill Tracts is its vast land and resources. She observed that existing land disputes should be settled before the cadastral survey begins and it requires decisions on rehabilitating Bengali settlers.
About discontinuation of military-led Operation Uttaran and arguments on deterioration of law and order in the hills she said, "1 see no rsecurity risks ^bringing an end to Operatiuh Uttaran Besides, cfrT saw a rise of Islamic militancy in the area even with the presence of the military camps."
She stressed the removal of temporary military camps from the hill districts saying that presence of military in a community obstructs democ-
racy as well as normal lives of people.
Sultana Kamal, former adviser to a caretaker government, recommended empowering the CHT Regional Council and Hill District Councils along with holding elections of the councils with alternative electoral methods and reviewing the voter list of the districts.
She said, "The CHT Peace Accofd '0^ved the Way' for peace in the region. The government has to be careful in restoring the accord and should take visible measures as promised in their election manifesto."
She also urged the opposition party to take a logical stand regarding the issue.