Families of UPDF men killed since '97 agitate
Hundreds of family members of the deceased leaders and activists of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), who were killed allegedly by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) cadres in the last 14 years, yesterday formed a human chain demanding trial of the killers.
Sources said, at least 228 UPDF men were killed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) after signing of the peace treaty in 1997.
The protesters also urged PCJSS chief Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma to stop, what they said, fratricide in CHT and join hands with UPDF to ensure rights of the hill people.
Holding placards with the slogans like 'try my husband's killers', 'I want justice for my son's killing', 'stop fratricide in CHT,' 'we want peace' they gathered at Shanirbar under Sadar upazila of the district to participate in the human chain organised by UPDF, Khagrachhari district unit.
Minti Chakma, widow of Animesh Chakma, a central committee member of UPDF killed in Jurachhari of Rangamati on May 21, 2011, read out a written statement at the programme.
The PCJSS cadres killed 228 men in the last 14 years for joining UPDF, but as a citizen of a democratic country, any person can be a member of any political party, she said.
Besides, no one of the victims is getting justice due to the mysterious role of police and local administration, Minti alleged.
The families of the victims are passing days amid worries as they are still threatened by PCJSS when they try to seek police support, she said.
The participants placed a four-point demand. They are immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the killers of 228 UPDF men, stopping fratricide in CHT, rehabilitation of the 228 victims' families and full autonomy of CHT as proposed by the UPDF.
Contacted, assistant information secretary of PCJSS Sajib Chakma refuted the charges of killing the UPDF men.
PCJSS believes in democracy. It works for establishing peace in the CHT and ensuring the rights of the hill people while the UPDF only creates barriers to achieving those, he said.
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