BIPF Urged to Continue Resistance Against Enforced Migration and Forcible Eviction of Indigenous Peoples from Their Ancestral Lands

With the theme ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Migration and Movement,’ Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF) organized a press conference at Hotel Sundarban, Dhaka on 6 August on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, 9 August 2018. The main objective of the conference was to apprise citizens through media about enforced migration, and forcible eviction of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands in Bangladesh. Mr. Joytirindra Bodhipriya Larma (Santu), President of BIPF, and Chairman, Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council presented the press note while Mr. Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary, BIPF, moderated the event. The press conference was attended by Mr. Pankaj Bhattacharya, President, Oikyo NAP, Ms. Jannat-E-Ferdousi, Technical Committee Member, Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Dr. Gajendranath Mahato, Assistant General Secretary, BIPF and Ms. Chanchana Chakma, Member Secretary, Bangladesh Indigenous Women Network and among others.

Mr. Pankaj Bhattacharya said, indigenous peoples are, in fact, living cursed and inhumane lives who are always ignored by the state. They are victim of development politics. Security agencies, land grabbers, and different powerful forces are grabbing their lands in the name of development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Many of the evicted indigenous peoples are, therefore, victim of enforced migration. Mr. Bhattacharya urged to resist forceful migration of ethnic minorities in the pretext of development.

Sanjeeb Drong Said, Bangladesh should officially observe the International Day of the World Indigenous Peoples. He expects, someday, the country will celebrate the day officially and the Prime Minister and the President will address to the nation on that occasion.

According to the press statement, the history of indigenous peoples (IPs) is the history of enforced migration. They have fallen prey to forcible eviction from their ancestral lands in country to countries throughout the world. Formidable human rights violations have been mated out to the indigenous peoples. It is estimated that some 75% Garo indigenous peoples had to leave their birth place in Mymensingh and migrate to Meghalaya and Assam states of India since partition in 1947. From among the other microscopic indigenous peoples comprising more than 90% population belonging to Hajong, Koch, Banai, Hodi, Dalu, etc. had to leave the country and that they lost their homesteads and lands forever. The condition of indigenous Santal, Oraon, Munda and other ethnic groups is abjectly worst. The indigenous peoples in North Bengal have become foreigners in their mother land while losing all of their lands and homesteads.

The press note reads, many genocides have taken place in places dominated by indigenous peoples, especially in Chittagong Hill Tracts since Bangladesh was born in 1971. State-sponsored conspiracy of turning the indigenous Jumma peoples into a minority community by illegal settlement of more than 500 thousand Bengali Muslim population is yet continuing unabatedly.

Even after 47 years of independence, more than 3 million indigenous people in the country have been left deprived of human rights and basic freedom. The language, culture and lifestyle of the indigenous peoples have been pushed towards uncertain future. The rights to lands of the IPs are being snatched away systematically. Population transfer has brought in dramatic changes in demographic pattern in the areas once predominated by the indigenous peoples whereby the indigenous peoples have been turned into a minority population right in their lands. The regions where the indigenous peoples have lost their traditional lands are Chittagong Hill Tracts, Garo Hills, North Bengal, Madhupur Forest areas, Potuakhali-Borguna and Khasi region.

The press note also states that human rights situation of the IPs is not good. With a mean objective of forcible occupation of the lands and evict the indigenous peoples from their lands, the gravity of communal attack upon the indigenous peoples, forcible land occupation and eviction from their lands, rape, killing and abduction of indigenous women and girls etc. have got graphical height. Especially, in recent days, the frequency of violations against indigenous women has been going up alarmingly. Some days ago, one 10-year old Tripura girl was killed after rape in Khagrachari. No trial has been held on Longadu killing and communal attack so far. According to Kapaeeng Foundation, at least 500 indigenous families from Thanchi and Alikadam of Bandarban migrated to Myanmar due to lack of security. Many are leaving silently with families. Several hundred indigenous families from North Bengal obliged to migrate to India in the face of communal threat and attacks and in fear of land robbers.

On the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2018, the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum placed the following demands –

1. Introduction of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Protection Act in order to stop all forms of suppression and oppression upon the indigenous peoples;
2. Adoption of appropriate measures to stop forcible migration of the indigenous peoples while putting an end to the human rights violation of indigenous peoples;
3. Undertaking special measure for socio-economic development of indigenous peoples and to accommodate special grants for the indigenous peoples in the national budget;
4. Proper implementation of the CHT Accord with immediate affect and to that end to declare a time-line-based Work Plan or Road Map. Putting the Land Commission Act in place with immediate affect;
5. Endorsement and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 and implementation of ILO Convention 107 and ratification of ILO Convention 169.
6. Formation of Land Commission for the indigenous peoples living in the plains. Cancellation of Reserve Forest declared in the lands of Garo in Madhupur and in lands of Koch indigenous peoples;
7. Assertion of land rights of the Khasi indigenous people in Jhimai and Khasi Punji of Moulavibazaar and cancellation of lease of tea estate.
8. Adoption of special measures for security of the indigenous women and gilrs and having complete investigation on the incidents of human rights violations (such as, rape, gang rape, abduction, arbitrary torture, etc.) and bringing under exemplary punishment of all the perpetrators responsible for such heinous mischiefs.

 

The indigenous peoples of the country have been turned into a floating population day by day. They are being obliged to become all-round losers and migration bound with uncertain future. Various UN agencies and international communities and the democratic and progressive civil societies, human rights organizations, non-government organizations and media of this country are contributing multi-facet roles at their own in establishing rights of the indigenous peoples. But it is due to die-hard stand of the ultra-chauvinist, undemocratic and anti-humanity ruling class, their contributory role is incapable of exerting effective force in struggle for existence and preservation of rights of the indigenous peoples. Hence, to this day, the lifestyle of indigenous peoples is accursed with migration, disastrous and almost dying. Therefore, there cannot be any alternative but to strengthen the struggle of resistance so that no evil force can push the indigenous peoples towards forcible migration any more, said the press statement.

Full text of the press statement of the BIPF is given below:

Press Conference on the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

6 August 2018, Monday, 11:00 a.m. Hotel Sunderban, Dhaka

Dear Journalist Friends,

Do accept heartiest love and best wishes on part of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum. As usual, keeping the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples ahead, also this time, I would like extend my heartfelt congratulation to all of you present in the conference.

As you know, the forthcoming 9 August is going to be celebrated throughout the world as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples declared by the United Nations. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution 49/214 declaring the 9thday of August to be the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and called upon all the member countries to undertake proper initiative to that affect in 1994. Ever since then, many successes have been achieved at the global level during the last two decades. Of them, the worth-mentioning achievements are: Formation of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in 2000; Appointment of Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2001; Celebration of the 2ndDecade of the Indigenous Peoples affecting from 2005 – 2014; Adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007; Introduction of Expert Mechanism on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples in 2007; Holding of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples by the UN and adoption of the historic ‘Outcome Document’ in 2014; and adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030) in 2015. It is worthy to be mentioned that the issues of indigenous peoples contain in the SDG 2030. As you know, the principle aim of celebration of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is to arouse consciousness and garner support for the rights of the indigenous peoples, from among the member states, various other UN agencies, international communities, civil societies, media, and majority populations of non-indigenous origin, on lifestyles, fundamental rights and human rights, language & culture and right to self-determination of the indigenous peoples.

Dear Journalist Friends,

Likewise, more than 400 million indigenous peoples living in 90 countries, more than 3 million indigenous peoples of Bangladesh have also decided to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples declared by the UN on 9 August 2018 at national level. In consistence with the theme of the UN: “Indigenous Peoples’ Migration and Movement” in 2018, the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, also this time, has determined its theme titled: “Migration of Indigenous Peoples:Struggle of Resistance.” As it is known to you, the history of indigenous peoples is the history of enforced migration. The indigenous peoples have fallen prey to forcible eviction from their ancestral lands in country to countries throughout the world. Formidable human rights violations have been mated out to the indigenous peoples. In some places, the indigenous peoples have been extinct. In consequence to exploitation, suppression and oppression, the indigenous peoples have obliged to migrate to other countries – to move one region to another region. Some time, getting dispossessed of own lands and homesteads, the indigenous peoples, have set out for unknown shelter in quest of security and better life & livelihood in future. At present it is noticed that the indigenous peoples are leaving villages and flocking to the towns in search of livelihood earnings. They are struggling in the new environment of urban life while man-packing their families. It is lacking of security, threat to life, various forms of political and social pressure and uncertainty thereof, the indigenous peoples are leaving their homesteads. Climate change also forms another reason that obliges the indigenous peoples migrate to other places. In the areas predominated by the indigenous peoples, it is suzerainty and atrocities of the non-indigenous settlers that make the indigenous peoples abandon their homesteads and lands. The trend of heading for the towns is aptly increasing among the indigenous peoples all over the world. At this, the lifestyle, tradition, language and culture of the indigenous peoples have landed in a great threat. In Latin America, 40% of indigenous peoples now lives in the town. Even in some countries of Latin America 80% of the indigenous peoples are now living in the towns. Those from among the indigenous peoples who migrated to another places leaving own region in the hope of better life, in many cases, have become despaired while losing their own homes, homesteads and lands for ever along with which they also have lost their distinct identities, languages, tradition and practices. Not only this, the indigenous peoples are facing hard challenges in adapting themselves in the new environment contains with new social, economic and cultural order. They often get deprived of social and other services. The indigenous peoples who live in trans-border regions, in that case, events like social and cultural isolations are taking place.

Dear Media Friends,

The classic tune of the theme of the UN is highly significant to the indigenous peoples. So far the case of indigenous peoples of Bangladesh is concerned, the history of indigenous peoples of Bangladesh is a history of eviction from own lands; a history of forcible migration; and a history of cruel and enforced migration. The inexplicable plight of the indigenous peoples is to be seen in the regions of greater Mymensingh, Sylhet, North Bengal, Chittagong Hill Tracts and South-West region from where the indigenous peoples migrated at large scale. Some more than 100 thousand indigenous people fell prey to forcible eviction following construction of Kaptai-Hydro-Electric Dam in 1960 and of them more than 60 thousand people had to migrate to India and Myanmar where these people became stateless citizens. It is estimated that soon after the partition in 1947 some 75% Garo indigenous peoples had to leave their birth place in Mymensingh and migrate to Meghalaya and Assam states of India. From among the other microscopic indigenous peoples comprising more than 90% population belonging to Hajong, Koch, Banai, Hodi, Dalu, etc. had to leave the country and that they lost their homesteads and lands forever. The condition of indigenous Santal, Oraon, Munda and other ethnic groups is abjectly worst. The indigenous peoples in North Bengal have become foreigners in their mother land while losing all of their lands and homesteads. It is an exact fact that the history of these indigenous peoples is the history of forcible migration since the colonial era. Even after 47 years of independence of Bangladesh, the process of carrying out racial, economic and political suppression, oppression, exploitation and atrocities has not yet been put to an end. Many indigenous families are leaving the country in silence. The indigenous peoples of the country are so neglected that the continuity of their history of migration is untraceable. On this issue, the civil society and media always remain in silence or indifferent. Meanwhile, identities of some indigenous peoples have met extinction or almost at the brink of extinction while some other indigenous groups are striving hard to exist by some way or the other. The Hajong indigenous group may be cited as an illustration to have become almost traceless whereas, once upon time, this group had been an influential one. Many of them have left for India. Once, settlements of some 50,000 indigenous people of Rakhine people were to be seen in Borguna and Patuakhali districts. The population of the country has had a geometric increase by two times but the Rakhine population has gone down as many as 2,200 in contrast. Many have migrated to other countries or to other locations due to lack of security to life and property. It appears that the Rakhine population is never to exist after a few decades.

Dear Media Friends,

You are well aware as to why people opt for migration. Nobody volunteers to leave own birth place. The birth place is like a mother to a child. Even being so, the indigenous peoples have to leave their birth land. After independence, many genocides have taken place in places dominated by indigenous peoples, especially in Chittagong Hill Tracts. The state-sponsored conspiracy of turning the indigenous Jumma peoples into a minority community by illegal settlement of more than 500 thousand Bengali Muslim population is yet continuing unabatedly. It is owing to various reasons, thousands of indigenous peoples are now residing in cities like Dhaka and Chittagong. The Garo, Santal and other people of indigenous origin are heading for the cities. In this process of shifting of living places, especially for the indigenous peoples, both the ‘push factor’ and ‘pull factor’ are noticed to have been highly active. The areas of indigenous peoples are gradually getting seriously affected with financial and social catastrophe including lacking of security to life and property. The areas of indigenous peoples are affected with various challenges at the fronts, such as, employment, healthcare, education, etc. Again, those from among the indigenous peoples who are leaving for other countries at their own, their returning back is hardly probable. At this juncture, it may be said that ‘migration’ has stood to be a curse to the life of indigenous peoples.

Dear Journalist Friends,

The indigenous peoples of the world want recognition to their rights to own cultural identity, lands, territories, natural resources and status of citizenship. But it is the gradual increase of the conflicts and uncontrolled development in the areas dwelt by the indigenous peoples, the indigenous peoples are being compelled to abandon their territories. The trend of migration among the indigenous peoples is getting heightened due to human rights violations, genocides, threats, women violation, land occupation, disgrace and assaults upon them. We have received information that many indigenous peoples silently left the country following formidable human rights violations upon the indigenous Santal community in Gobindagaunj of Gaibanda district and also for holding no trial after killings. The Khasi indigenous people living in Nahar Punji of Srimangal and Kailin Punji and Jhimai Punji of Kulaura are still leading their daily life in the total uncertainty. There is every possibility that they may be evicted from their lands at any time. They are fighting against projected cases and harassment. The district administration issued notice to 85 Khasi families living in Nahar Khasi Punji. The administration is exerting this illegal action in favor of the tea estate owner violating the law and practices. The Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet division issued order to cancel the eviction notice after submission of a writ petition by the Khasi people. This time, though the Khasi indigenous people have had protection from eviction yet, the land problems with the Khasi and Garo people have not yet met permanent settlement of any form. More than 20,000 indigenous people living in uncertainty following declaration of reserve forest areas under Madhupur Gorh region.

Dear Media Friends,

As you are aware that even after 47 years of independence, more than 3 million indigenous people in the country have been left deprived of human rights and basic freedom. The language, culture and lifestyle of the indigenous peoples have been pushed towards uncertain future. The rights to lands of the indigenous peoples are being snatched away systematically. The population transfer has brought in dramatic changes in the population pattern in the areas once predominated by the indigenous peoples whereby the indigenous peoples have been turned into a minority population right in their lands. The regions where the indigenous peoples have lost their traditional lands are Chittagong Hill Tracts, Garo Hills, North Bengal, Madhupur Forest areas, Potuakhali-Borguna and Khasi region. It has become too tough for the indigenous peoples to retain distinct identity and existence with own culture, let alone establishment of status of humanity. Even after all of such odds, the indigenous peoples are forging ahead their struggle for establishment of their rights. Hence, by this time on the eve of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we call upon all the concerned to keep continuation of the struggle against forcible migration of the indigenous peoples.

Dear Journalist Friends,

The human rights situation of the indigenous peoples is not good. With a mean objective of forcible occupation of the lands and evict the indigenous peoples from their lands, the gravity of communal attack upon the indigenous peoples, forcible land occupation and eviction from their lands, rape, killing and abduction of indigenous women and girls etc. have gotten graphical height. Especially, in recent days, the frequency of violations against indigenous women has been going up alarmingly. Some days ago, one 10-year old Tripura girl was killed after rape in Khagrachari. No trial has been held on Longadu killing and communal attack so far. According to Kapaeeng Foundation, at least more than 500 indigenous families from the hills between Thanchi and Alikadam migrated to Myanmar due to lack of security. Many are leaving silently with families. Several hundred indigenous families from North Bengal obliged to migrate to India in the face of communal threat and attacks and in fear of land robbers.

The situation of Chittagong Hill Tracts is more critical. There has been an Accord signed with a great hope. But though it is painful yet it is a fact that the core issues of the CHT Accord have not yet been implemented even after 20 years of the Accord.

Dear Media Friends,

Even amid the tough unfriendly situation, the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh have kept their struggle for establishment of their rights lively in companionship with the democratic, non-communal and progressive forces and civil society of Bangladesh. The media of the country and journalist society have been exerting significant contribution in protecting and promoting the rights of indigenous peoples and in fostering mass consciousness at national level. Today, at this moment I would like to extend my heartiest thanks for your sincere assistance towards the cause of the indigenous peoples. The Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum is in strong belief that the indigenous peoples would definitely be able to establish their rights to self-determination through the struggle by some day. Keeping this aim ahead, likewise the other fellow indigenous peoples, the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh are going to celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This day is a day to get rejuvenated and united with new consciousness.

Keeping the Day at the front, also this time, the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum and other organizations have undertaken various programs. The followings are, among others:

· 7 August: day-long program of Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Peoples at SIRDAP auditorium;

· 8 August: Seminar on the main theme of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to be orgnised by ALRD and other organizations jointly at SIRDAP auditorium;

· 9 August: 10:00 a.m. the main event of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at Central Shahid Minar. The function contains Gethering, Rally and Cultural Display. The occasion will be inaugurated by Sultana Kamal, former Advisor to the Caretaker Government and graced as the Chief Guest by Hasanul Haque Inu, MP and Honorable Minister, Ministry of Information. Besides, Eminent citizens of the country will be present to express their solidarity.

Apart from this, in various districts and upazilas (sub-districts), such as, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Natore, Magura, Mymensingh, Tangail, Gazipur, Netrakona, Sylhet, Moulavibazaar, Sherpur, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachari, Chittagong, Chandpur, Cox’s Bazaar, etc. the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will be celebrated.

Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum cordially invites you all to take part in those programs to be organized on the occasion.

Dear Journalist Friends,

On the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum calls for:

1. Introduction of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Protection Act in order to stop all forms of suppression and oppression upon the indigenous peoples;

2. Adoption of measures to stop forcible migration of the indigenous peoples while putting an end to the human rights violation of indigenous peoples;

3. Undertaking of special measure for socio-economic development of indigenous peoples and to accommodate special grants for the indigenous peoples in the national budget;

4. Proper implementation of the CHT Accord with immediate affect and to that end to declare a time-line-based Work Plan or Road Map. Putting the Land Commission Act in place with immediate affect;

5. Endorsement and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 and implementation of ILO Convention 107 and ratification of ILO Convention 169.

6. Formation of Land Commission for the indigenous peoples living in the plains. Cancellation of Reserve Forest declared in the lands of Garo in Madhupur and in lands of Koch indigenous peoples;

7. Assertion of land rights of the Khasi indigenous people in Jhimai and Khasi Punji of Moulavibazaar and cancellation of lease of tea estate.

8. Adoption of special measures for security of the indigenous women and gilrs and having complete investigation on the incidents of human rights violations (such as, rape, gang rape, abduction, arbitrary torture, etc.) and bringing under exemplary punishment of all the perpetrators responsible for such heinous mischiefs.

Dear Media Friends,

The present government claims the country to have developed to a lower-middle income country. The Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum would like to express with emphasis that there is no reflection in the life of thousands of indigenous peoples living in the remote rural regions and that no truthfulness of the claim is to be seen there. The existence of indigenous peoples is under the grip of threat due to gross human violations, land occupation, suppression and oppression. The per capita income that is shown contains no reflection of the indigenous population. When the lacking of accountability, rule of law, democracy and transparency gets acute form, there came down unendurable situation in the life of poor and ordinary working people including the indigenous peoples. They are pushed further more marginal position by then. The present government has created crisis in the distinct identity of the indigenous peoples. The extent that the state behaves with the indigenous peoples has surpassed all other records in the past. In the Sustainable Development Goals or SDG, the UN has spoken about the development of the indigenous peoples. In contrast, the very existence of indigenous peoples is face-to-face with threat!

Dear Journalist Friends,

The indigenous peoples of the country have been turned into a floating population day by day. They are being obliged to become all-round losers and migration bound with uncertain future. Various UN agencies and international communities and the democratic and progressive civil societies, human rights organizations, non-government organizations and media of this country are contributing multi-facet roles at their own in establishing rights of the indigenous peoples. But it is due to die-hard stand of the ultra-chauvinist, undemocratic and anti-humanity ruling class, their contributory role is incapable of exerting effective force in struggle for existence and preservation of rights of the indigenous peoples. Hence, to this day, the lifestyle of indigenous peoples is accursed with migration, disastrous and almost dying. Therefore, there cannot be any alternative but to strengthen the struggle of resistance so that no evil force can push the indigenous peoples towards forcible migration any more.

Thanks a lot once again.

Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma

President

Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum

6 August 2018