Recent sexual violence against Jumma women in CHT
By
Military forces and Bengali settlers
With an aim to uproot the indigenous Jumma people of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh from their ancestral land, the Bangladesh military forces and Bengali settlers have been committing a horrible legacy of violence, rape, loot, murder, arson, abduction, sacrilege of religion and forcible occupation of Jummas' land and property as well as gross violation of human rights. Very recently this ethnic cleansing programme of the government have been intensified. Particularly rape has been used to create terror among the Jumma people for the same. The Jumma women have been subjected to victim of sexual violence by the security forces and Bengali settlers in CHT as they are the unsafe section of the community. Few recent incidents of sexual violence are given below:
1. One Jumma widow raped by army in Baghaichari
On 10 April 2006 at around 11.30 a.m. one Subedar Kobad Ali of Dwi-Tila army camp under Baghaihat army zone raped an innocent Jumma widow named Rupali Chakma (26 years) w/o late Dhana Bikash Chakma, village of Hazachari, Baghaihat under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati district. On that day the victim was coming back home from Baghaichari UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer) office by a passenger bus. When the bus reached at the Dwi-Tila army camp, the military personnel ordered all the passengers including victim to get down from the bus for checking. During checking, the military personnel find the widow allowance book of victim and detained her on the passenger shed. On the other, they ordered the bus driver to leave the place along with other passengers.
It is notable that two Ansar (Islamic Guard – para-military forces) personnel were also present during checking. No sooner had the bus left with other passengers, Subedar Kobod Ali ordered the Anser personnel to leave the check post and they (Anser) left the spot accordingly. Few minutes later, Subedar Kobod Ali forcibly took the victim to a room of the camp and raped her there inhumanly. After an hour, the Subedar boarded her in a passenger jeep. The victim was threatened that she would be killed if she disclosed the incident to other. The Parbatya Chattgram Mahilla Samiti (CHT Women Association) and Hill Women's Federation strongly condemned this heinous act and demanded immediate action against the army personnel involved in the rape and termination of Operation Uttoron from CHT.
The victim lodged general diary with Kotowali police station in Rangamati district. She applied for medical test to Rangamati hospital. But medical test was done almost 72 hours later and result was reported negative. On the other, the security intelligence personnel kept continuous vigilance upon her during staying at Rangamati hospital. They tried to harass and interrogate her in the hospital. Due to military interference, the medical test was done lately and result was reported negative.
2. Innocent girl raped by Bengali settler in Manikchari
On 7 April 2006 at 4.00 p.m. a Bengali settler named Md. Alamgir, s/o Md. Babod of Badnatali under Manikchari upazila raped an innocent Jumma girl named Domra Ching Marama (16 years) d/o Mong Chai Marma, village of Lepya Para, Badnatali under Manikchari upazila in Khagrachari district while she was collecting drinking water from a mad well near the village. Later, the victim was sent to the Khagrachari General Hospital for medical test but the report has not yet provided. A case has been filed against the culprit with the Manikchari police station. But the police authority did not take any necessary measure so far. On the other, reliable sources alleged that Dr. Tozammel Haque Zoarder, Resident Medical Officer of Khagrachari hospital intentionally destroyed some symptoms of raping and protesting to it, one nurse refused to include herself as a member of the medical board.
3. Two Jumma girls raped by Bengali settlers during Maischari communal attack
On 3 April 2006 two Jumma girls, namely, Ms. Thuimrajai Marma (16) d/o Mamong Marma and Ms. Krajaima Marma (20) d/o Riprue Marma were raped at Maischari area under Mahalchari upazila in Khagrachari district during the communal attack committed on Jumma people by Bengali settlers. Despites it, at least 50 above Jumma persons also received injuries in this attack. Among them, 11 villagers including two raped were admitted to Khagrachari district hospital. One of them was transferred to Chittagong Medical College hospital with serious condition. About 100 Jumma houses were looted and household goods broken down. The attack was occurred relating to land grabbing by Bengali settlers.
Medical test was also done at Khagrachari hospital two days back and result was reported negative. But the doctors mentioned that they found injuries on different parts of their bodies. On the contrary, relatives of the victims alleged that there was tremendous pressure from military forces on the doctors to be found negative.
4. Jumma girl raped and killed by Bengali settlers in Nakkhyangchari
On 20/02/2006 a Jumma girl named Ms. King Chaiye Marma (14) s/o late Kyafa Mrama of Dhaman Para of Baishari union under Nakkhyangchari upazila in Bandarban district was raped and killed by employees of Humayan Jabir Chowdhury Rubber Factory, namely, (1) Belal s/o Siddique Ahmad, (2) Joynal s/o Nazir Ahmad, (3) Md. Kamal, (4) Md. Abdullah, (5) Md. Akhter, (6) Shah Alam, (7) Md. Alam and other 4/5 persons of Thoigya Karta of Gajania union under Ramu upazila in Cox's Bazar district. On that day at 5.00 p.m. Ms. King Chaiye Marma was returning home from Magya Para under Lama upazila. While she reached nearby area of Humayan Jabir Chowdhury Rubber Factory, she was kidnapped by the culprits mentioned above. In connection with this kidnapping, uncle of victim Mr. Mong Owang Marma s/o Namey Marma of Sadhu Para of Baishari union under Nakkhyanhchari upazila lodged general diary with Nakkhyangchari police station (GD no. 881, dated 27/02/2006). Later main culprit Belal s/o Siddique Ahmad was arrested by the police and according to his confession, the dead body of victim was recovered on 15 March 2006 at 3.00 p.m. from Humayan Jabir Chowdhury's rubber plantation area. On 16 March her dead body was taken in Bandarban district headquarter for post mortem. Other culprits have not been arrested so far.
5. One Jumma woman tried to rape by army person in Naniarchar
On 06/02/2006 one Subedar (name was not available) of Bagchari camp of 28 Bengal under Naniarchar zone in Rangamati district tried to rape one Jumma women named Ms. Kalindi Rani Chakma (19) d/o Mano Ranjan Chakma of Bagchari Jouta Khamar village under Naniarchar upazila in Rangamati district.
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Published on 17 April 2006 by Information and Publicity Department of PCJSS (Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti) from Kalyanpur, Rangamati-4500, Chittagong Hill Tract, Bangladesh, Tel+Fax: +880-351-61248, E-mail: pcjss.org@gmail.com, pcjss@hotmail.com , please visit: www.pcjss.org
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PCJSS
(Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti)
Kalyanpur, Rangamati-4500, Chittagong Hill Tracts
Bangladesh
Tel+Fax: +880-351-61248
Website: pcjss.org