HHUMANUMAN RRIGHTSIGHTS RREPORTEPORT 20152015 R H ONON INDIGENOUSINDIGENOUS PEOPLESPEOPLES EPORT 2015 EPORT About Kapaeeng Foundation UMAN ININ BANGLADESHBANGLADESH Kapaeeng Foundation as a human rights orgnisation for Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh was established on 1 April 2004 with the view to working for promotion and R protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in the IGHTS country. The term ‘Kapaeeng’ is derived from indigenous Khumi language, meaning ‘Rights’. Kapaeeng Foundation is duly registered with the Office of the Registrar of Joint INBANGLADESH ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Stock Companies and Firms of Commerce Ministry, Government of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. Vision: The vision of Kapaeeng Foundation is to establish a society based on the values of justice, equity and freedom where human rights and fundamental freedoms of Indigenous Peoples are ensured. Mission : The mission of Kapaeeng Foundation are, among others, to promote and protect the human rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the country and to conduct advocacy, lobby and campaign programme for the same at local, national, regional and international level; to establish a strong network and partnership with national, regional and international organizations and individuals working on promotion and protection of human rights as well as Indigenous Peoples rights and to raise the capacity of the Indigenous Peoples in promoting and protecting the human rights. ISBN 978-984-34-0664-4 Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh First Edition January 2016 Human Rights Report 2015 Copyright © Kapaeeng Foundation on Indigenous Peoples Published by in Bangladesh Kapaeeng Foundation House # 23/25, Salma Garden, Road # 4 PC Culture Housing, Block # B, Mohammadpur, Dhaka-1207 Tel: +88-02-8190801 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.kapaeeng.org Supported by Oxfam House 4, Road 3, Block I, Banani Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh Editor Tel: +88-02-8813607-9 Prof. Mong Shanoo Chowdhury Web: www.oxfam.org.uk Pallab Chakma Cover Photo: Titu Chakma Inside Photos : Joel Chakma, Titu Chakma, Himel Chakma, Manik Soren, Suvash Chandra Hembrom Printed by Tangsree Color System Price Taka 200 US $ 10 ISBN ISBN 978-984-34-0664-4 Disclaimer: Oxfam is not responsible for any comments, contexts and subjects of this report. Kapaeeng Foundation 02 Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh 01 III. SITUAION OF THE RIGHTS OF LAND AND NATIURAL RESOURCES 00-00 At A Glance: Land-related incidents and casualties of Indigenous Peoples in 2014 00 CONTENT Land-related Incidents in the CHT 00 Land-related Incidents in the plain lands 00 EDITORIAL Media Reports 00 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IV. SITUAION OF THE RIGHTS OFINDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS 00-00 I. INTRODUCTION 00-00 At A Glance: Violence Against Indigenous Home Ministry's restriction on foreigners visit to Women (VAIW) 2014 00 CHT & their meeting with the tribals 00 Killed / Killed After Rape 00 HPWM's directive to execrcise caution in letting out public Rape 00 premises for use to hold functions ovserving ‘indigenous Gang Rape 00 peoples’ demand’ 00 Attempt to Rape 00 Pourasabha election 2015: seven councilors win the election in CHT 00 Kidnapping / Attempted Kidnapping 00 Establishment of Thega land port and initiative for Molestation/ Physical Assault 00 construction of spacious road network connecting to the port 00 Follow-up: Case Study 00 Housing for the Jumma peoples under Ashrayan Project Media Reports 00 ignoring the provisions of the CHT Accord 00 Media Reports 00 V. SITUATION OF THE RIGHTS OF YOUTH, CHILD AND EDUACTION 00-00 II. SITUATION OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS 00-00 CRC urges to end violence and discrimination against At A Glance: Human Rights Violations on Indigenous indigenous children 00 Peoples in 2014 00 Education in mother tongue not even due in 2016? 00 Massive Communal Attacks 00 16,000 primary students’ academic life at stake as donor Attack, Torture and Intimidation 00 funding ends 00 Arbitrary Arrest and Detention 00 Controversial RUST and RMC start in Rangamati 00 Killing and Other Cruel Treatment 00 Teacher shortage hampers education in two indigenous areas 00 Religious Persecution 00 Media Report 00 04 Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh 03 Education hampers as communal violence spread in Chirakuta 00 300 students have no access to school 00 Parakendras,hope for indigenous peoples 00 Media Reports 00 ACRONYMS VI. CHT ACCORD OF 1997 00-00 ADP Annual Development Programme Present State and Challenges toIts Implementation 00 AIPP Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact BCS Bangladesh Civil Services VII. CLIMATE CHANGE 00-00 BGB Border Guard Bangladesh Tobacco cultivation expanding in Bandarban 00 CAT Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman Illegal Logging rampant in Bandarban’s reserved forests 00 or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Loggers feast on forest 00 CBD Convention on Biological Diversity They live in the land surrounded by forest but they do not have the ownership of that land 00 ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Flash flood in Khagrachari inundates 5000 families 00 CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Rain triggers landslide, floods in Bandarban 00 Discrimination against Women Dehydration stalks deforested hill districts 00 CESCR Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights CERD Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination CHT Chittagong Hill Tracts CHTDB Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board CHTRC Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child DC Deputy Commissioner GoB Government of Bangladesh HDC Hill District Council IDPs Internally Displaced Persons 06 Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh 05 ILO International Labour Organisation IPO Indigenous Peoples Organisation IPs Indigenous Peoples JAP Jatiya Adivasi Parishad MoCHTA Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs MP Member of Parliament NHRC National Human Rights Commission OC Officer-in-Charge PCJSS Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper SAD Special Affairs Division SP Superintendent of Police UN United Nations Contributors UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNDRIP United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Anurug Chakma: Lecturer, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Indigenous Peoples University of Dhaka, [email protected] UNO Upazila Nirbahi Officer Bablu Chakma: Project Coordinator of Kapaeeng Foundation, [email protected] UNPFII United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Manik Soren: Information and Research Secretary, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, [email protected] VAIW Violence Against Indigenous Women Silvia Khyang: Project Officer of Kapaeeng Foundation, [email protected] Parboti Roy: Member of Bangladesh Indigenous Women’s Network, [email protected] Mong Sing Neo: former Coordinator, Kapaeeng Foundation, [email protected] Mangal Kumar Chakma: Advisor of Kapaeeng Foundation, [email protected] 08 Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh Human Rights Report 2015 on Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh 07 urban areas. We often come across with incidents involving indigenous peoples who are treated, without any compunction, excluded as untouchables and kept segregated from the mainstream community. They are not allowed to have food, take tea, breakfast or use the common crockeries in hotels and restaurants. A section of mainstream population still bubble with avidness to grab landsof indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups in the country by not only making false Editorial and fabricated documents but also through intimidation and threats, and law enforcing agencies, based on these false documents without verifying their authenticity, evict indigenous people from their ancestral Bangladesh is a blessed land with a rich cultural heritage and ethnic land. They face discriminations from all quarters because they are diversity with over 54 groups of indigenous communities, covering about indigenous peoples and minorities in Bangladesh. The prevailing two percent of the total population, have been living in the Chittagong Hill circumstances that indigenous peoples are forced in to live with, has Tracts and in different pockets in the plains along with Bengalis, the developed a kind of interpretation in their minds to think, right or wrong, majority population of the country. Indigenous communities, with their that courts, police, administration, local government representatives, distinct languages, traditions, cultures, values, and customs, contribute land officials, service sectors all are biased against them as they continue significantly to the beauty, development, and sustainability of the country. to be robbed off what they possess, especially lands the only means of However, like other parts of the world, indigenous peoples in Bangladesh their survival, and denied of their rights as indigenous peoples, instead of are the most disadvantaged, neglected and vulnerable people in the getting them redressed or protected. country. The Bangladesh government has yet to develop formal policy for the development of indigenous populations. Indigenous peoples have As a matter of fact, it is really disturbing to note