Sultana Kamal & Ranglai Mro, Peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Time: 2009 Sep 15 15:00 - 16:00
Summary:

PRESS CONFERENCE
Sultana Kamal & Ranglai Mro
Peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Language:

The speech and Q & A will be in English and Bengali with English interpretation

Description:

The Chittagong Hill Tracts of south-east Bangladesh suffered a low-intensity conflict for decades until a peace treaty was signed between the government of Bangladesh and the militant insurgents in 1997. The conflict displaced thousands of ethnic minorities and disrupted the lives of millions more. Despite the signing of the treaty, progress in peace and reconciliation was painfully slow after a change of the government in 2001. The ethnic minorities' leaders blamed the government for not meeting the provisions of the peace deal by keeping a heavy military presence that encouraged land-grabs by new settlers. Human rights groups also accused the government of widespread violations of minorities' rights. The situation has changed once again after a new government was formed in Bangladesh earlier this year and a gradual withdrawal of the army is now under way.

Much of the conflict has gone on beyond the sight of the international media, as a strict travel ban made it virtually impossible for journalists to visit remote regions. Two of the activists who played a key role in bringing the issue to the attention of the rest of the world are in Japan to speak about the conflict, as well as the chances of finding peace.

Sultana Kamal is a leading Bangladeshi human rights activist. She was an adviser to the caretaker government of Bangladesh and took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Kamal completed her LLB at Dhaka University in 1978 and received a Masters in Women and Development Studies in the Netherlands. She worked as a UN legal consultant for Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong and is presently involved in providing legal services to the poor and underprivileged.

Rangali Mro is a leader of the Mro, the fourth largest indigenous community in Bangladesh. He was arrested in February 2008, although no case was lodged against him. He was later sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment in connection with a case involving weapons. During detention, he was severely tortured and could hardly stand when he appeared in court. He was released on bail on January 13.