Write a letter for the Jummas

The eleven tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, collectively known as the Jummas, have suffered from both displacement by settlers and violence from the Bangladesh military.

Although a peace accord was signed in 1997, arrests and intimidation of activists, rape of Jumma women and other human rights abuses remain rife. Land continues to be stolen from the Jumma tribal people by both the army and by settlers.

How you can help

Please write to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh expressing your concern about the government’s failure to implement the 1997 peace deal.

Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Old Sangshad Bhaban
Dhaka – 1215
Bangladesh

March 12, 2010

Dear Sheikh Hasina

I wish to express my grave concern at the current situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh. In the eleven years since the peace accord was signed, there has been a catastrophic failure to implement the accord’s terms, and human rights violations increased dramatically when Emergency Rule was declared in January 2007.

More than fifty indigenous activists have been arrested since January 2007, often on false arms charges. Many have been tortured and given long and unjust prison terms, and two Jummas have died in police custody.

As you will know, despite the promises of the peace accord, almost all the army camps in the CHT remain in place. Returnee refugees have still not had their homes and lands returned to them. Land continues to be stolen from the Jummas by both the army and settlers. Intimidation of activists, rape of Jumma women and other abuses of human rights remain rife.

I urge your government to honour its manifesto promise to fully implement the peace accord – to withdraw the army camps, to restore land stolen from the indigenous Jummas, to put an end to human rights violations in the region and to ensure that those responsible for these violations are brought to justice.

Yours sincerely,

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How you can help