Free and Impartial Election: Army prevents construction of UPDF offices in Kawkhali

Rangamati, January 12, 2007: The army is feverishly trying to prevent the construction and opening of election campaign offices of the United People’s Democratic Front and disrupting its democratic activities in various places of Chittagong Hill Tracts.

UPDF fielded its president Prasit Khisha in the three CHT constituencies for the January 22 national parliamentary elections, now being boycotted by major political parties of the country. UPDF has also announced that it would boycott the election and withdrew the nomination papers. However, the party has kept up its election campaign and has decided to go for vigorous movement to materialize its 7-point demand for holding the election in CHT in free, fair and impartial manner.
On 26 December 2006 UPDF members began constructing an election campaign office at Kachukhali in Kawkhali of Rangamati district. But an Army officer from Kawkhali zone and police sub-inspector Aminul came to the site of the construction and threatened the UPDF members to stop the construction and said no election campaign offices can be erected without permission of the Deputy Commissioner. Therefore, UPDF brought the matter to the notice of the office of the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner and a district magistrate informed that no permission is required. Yet, the army refused to stop its conspiracy.

In a meeting with Thana Nirbahi Officer (TNO) UPDF agreed to shift the office to another place. On 3 January construction of the office began at the new site. About 200 Jumma volunteers took part in the construction work.

The construction remaining incomplete, a group of army men picked up Aung-chi Marma, a Union Council member and a supporter of UPDF, from his home at Kochukhali at 9 p.m. He was taken to the Kawkhali army camp and was subjected to coercion. Major Yasin yelled at him and said: “we have information that you have contracted to build the UPDF office. Whose bullet do you want to hit you – JSS or our’s? I warn you not to go too far or else my men will shoot you in the head and send your brain into the air. We will also burn your house to ashes.” The major also warned him not to tell anything of what he had said to him to the UPDF.

The army also picked up Swarna Banshi Chakma, brother of the landowner, at about 6 a.m. on 4 January and took him to the army camp. He was beaten up and was brought to bear enormous pressure to put his finger print on a piece of blank paper.

The same day the TNO invited UPDF leaders to a meeting at his office. Major Yasin was also present. He argued that if the UPDF office was constructed in Kawkhali it might come under JSS attack thereby putting public security at serious risk.

UPDF leaders refuted his arguments and said it is the duty of the law enforcing agencies to protect the rights of the citizens and take appropriate actions against those who disrupt democratic activities of any lawful organisation.

The army major refused to accept the point that UPDF has every right to have open offices at any place in the country and insisted that UPDF must dismantle its incomplete office at Kawkhali.

UPDF leaders rejected the idea out of hand and said “if you insist that we dismantle the office, first give us a written statement that we (UPDF) have no right to have the office.” Hearing this, Major Yasin became furious and called this demand of the UPDF outrageous.

However, his tactic of intimidation failed and the UPDF leaders refused to cow down. The fight for democratic rights will continue. That is for sure.