UPDF to field candidates in 3 CHT constituencies
The Daily Star,December 16, 2006
United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), an organisation of indigenous people opposed to the CHT peace accord, yesterday announced that it would field candidates in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari constituencies in the coming election.
UPDF president Prasit Bikash Khisha will contest from Khagrachhari Jatiya Sangsad seat, its leaders announced at a press conference held at the Tribal Contractors Association office in Khagrachhari town. But they did not announced names of two other candidates in Rangamati and Bandarban.
The two names will be announced within a week by UPDF district committees in Rangamati and Bandarban, they said.
UPDF Khagrachhari district committee coordinator Ujjal Smrity Chakma, Pradipon Khisha and Pahari Chhatra Parishad (student front of (UPDF) leader Kahalaching Marma also spoke at the press confgerence.
"UPDF will contest in the coming election to ensure rights and privileges of indigenous and Bangalee people who are permanent residents of CHT", said Ujjal Smrity Chakma.
He said, the decision to field UPDF candidates in the three CHT constituencies was taken at a meeting held on December 10 in Chittagong. The meeting also formed a 101-member committee to coordinate party activities for the coming polls, he said.
This would be the second time that UPDF would e field its candidates in the three CHT constituencies in parliamentary election.
In 2001 election, Prasit Bikash Khisa got about 35,000 votes from Khagrachhari and ten thousand over votes from the Rangamati constituencies for the first time.
"We will work for welfare of indigenous people in CHT and to establish their rights" said Prodipon Khisha, member secretary of the newly formed polls co-ordination committee.
"We will try to ensure land rights of indigenous and Banagalee people who are voters from the area", he said.
"There are at least 50,000 fake voters in the present voter list, most of them Banglalees, while 30,000 to 40,000 indigenous people are left out", the UPDF leader claimed.
We urged the authorities to included those voters and update list. We will win in the coming election with at least one lakh votes if a correct list is prepared and election is held in a free and fair manner, he said.
Replying to a question, he said possibility of an electoral alliance with any major party or combine is most unlikely.
He however said UPDF may boycott the election if a congenial atmosphere is not created.
Asked about PCJSS, another indigenous platform, he said, "They are campaigning against us. We will resist them politically".
They also demanded security for their leaders including Prasit Bikash Khisha.
The Daily Star,December 16, 2006
United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), an organisation of indigenous people opposed to the CHT peace accord, yesterday announced that it would field candidates in Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari constituencies in the coming election.
UPDF president Prasit Bikash Khisha will contest from Khagrachhari Jatiya Sangsad seat, its leaders announced at a press conference held at the Tribal Contractors Association office in Khagrachhari town. But they did not announced names of two other candidates in Rangamati and Bandarban.
The two names will be announced within a week by UPDF district committees in Rangamati and Bandarban, they said.
UPDF Khagrachhari district committee coordinator Ujjal Smrity Chakma, Pradipon Khisha and Pahari Chhatra Parishad (student front of (UPDF) leader Kahalaching Marma also spoke at the press confgerence.
"UPDF will contest in the coming election to ensure rights and privileges of indigenous and Bangalee people who are permanent residents of CHT", said Ujjal Smrity Chakma.
He said, the decision to field UPDF candidates in the three CHT constituencies was taken at a meeting held on December 10 in Chittagong. The meeting also formed a 101-member committee to coordinate party activities for the coming polls, he said.
This would be the second time that UPDF would e field its candidates in the three CHT constituencies in parliamentary election.
In 2001 election, Prasit Bikash Khisa got about 35,000 votes from Khagrachhari and ten thousand over votes from the Rangamati constituencies for the first time.
"We will work for welfare of indigenous people in CHT and to establish their rights" said Prodipon Khisha, member secretary of the newly formed polls co-ordination committee.
"We will try to ensure land rights of indigenous and Banagalee people who are voters from the area", he said.
"There are at least 50,000 fake voters in the present voter list, most of them Banglalees, while 30,000 to 40,000 indigenous people are left out", the UPDF leader claimed.
We urged the authorities to included those voters and update list. We will win in the coming election with at least one lakh votes if a correct list is prepared and election is held in a free and fair manner, he said.
Replying to a question, he said possibility of an electoral alliance with any major party or combine is most unlikely.
He however said UPDF may boycott the election if a congenial atmosphere is not created.
Asked about PCJSS, another indigenous platform, he said, "They are campaigning against us. We will resist them politically".
They also demanded security for their leaders including Prasit Bikash Khisha.
posted by Ven. Pragya Jyoti at 8:56 PM
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