HILL TRACT CONFLICTS
Brief political history of the hill tracts conflict
also known as Montagnard resistance.
The problem in this region first erupted
when Pakistan began a campaign supporting India's Naga dissidents from secret CHT
base. Naga National Council chief, Angami Zapu Phizo was smuggled into CHT. The resistence
was financed and helped by the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). By 1966
CHT became a sanctuary for Mizos until 1971. The ISI advise and assistance to the
Naga guerrillas was to creating a conflict to began struggle against the Delhi authority
in the Naga hills. A. Z. Phizo's Naga National Army began their struggle and used
CHT for covert operation since 1956. The help lasted until the birth of Bangladesh.
The main purpose was to break India without risking direct confontrations.
Which latter after the independence the tribals got split on the question of Independence.
Raja Tridiv Roy,The Chakma chief fled to Pakistan to become a member in Bhutto's
cabinet. The Chakma and Marma leaders opposed independence and sided to Pakistan
due to that they were promised to have a full autonomy.
1666 The Mughals captured
this area and their dominance continued till 1760.
1760 The area ceded to the
British East India company by the Bengal Nawab Mir Qasim Ali Khan.
1777 The Kuki-movement
started under the leadership of Rona Khan and Chief Sherdaulat Khan stopped payment
of taxes.
1860 The area was separated from Chittagong largely because of administrative
crisis.
1863 The Chittagong Hill Tracts area was demarcated.
1900 Chittagong
Hill Tracts Regulation was passed and the region was declared 'Non- regulated Area'.
1920
Under the Chittagong Hill Tracts (amendment) Regulation, CHT remained exclusively
under the jurisdiction of the Governor General as an 'excluded area'.
1935 Government
of India act brought CHT under the ministry of state and frontier regions in Pakistans
central government.
1946 Tribal Chiefs formed 'The Hillmen Association' and proposed
a princely state status.
1947 The Radcliff Commission made CHT a part of Pakistan.
But Sneha Kumar Chakma, opposing it, hoisted Indian flag at Rangamati on the 14th
August. At the same time, the 'Marmas' hoisted Burmese flag at Bandarban.
1955
The provincial administration in Dhaka decided to strip CHT of its special status,
integrate it with the province, extend its control.
1956 The first Pakistani constitution
retained the 'excluded area' status of CHT and it, for the first time, gave the tribals
the right to franchise.
1962 The new constitution promulgated by Ayub Khan changed
the administrative status of CHT from the 'excluded area' to that of 'tribal area'.
1964
The status of 'Tribal Area' was abolished and the Regulation of 1900 reintroduced.
1965
The High Court of East Pakistan declared Rule 51 of the Regulation 1900 as ultra-vires
of the constitution and as a result the deputy commissioner could not expel any non-political
person from the CHT.
1966 Tribal Student Organisation was formed in Dhaka and
Chittagong headed by M N Larma.
1970 Rangamati Communist party (RCP) was launched.
1971
The tribals got split on the question of Independence. Raja Tridiv Roy,The Chakma
chief fled toPakistan to become a member in Bhutto's cabinet. The Chakma and Marma
leaders opposed independence and sided to Pakistan which triggered off anger among
the freedom fighters and they allegedly committed excesses there. The freedom fighters
plundered the area 2 days before the victory, 200 houses were burnt, 22 tribal people
were killed in the Kukichhara shelter trench and another sixteen were sloughtered
near by jungle.
1972 On the 29th January, a delegation was formed to meet PM
Shiekh Mujibur Rahman demanding regional autonomy. 15th February M. N. Larma led
a delegation to the PM with a charter of demands. It failed when PM advised M. N.
Larma's delegation to accept integration by becoming Bengali.
1973 Mujib's response
to their demands rising tribal insecurity facing the prospect of even more danger,
the tribal members of the Civil Armed Forces, who fled to deep forests, gradually
reorganised themselves. Following this encounter, M. N. Larma and his younger brother
Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma ( Shantu) established the PCJSS the political wing of
the Shanti Bahini.
1974 The Shanti Bahini sought help from India. But India,
instead, conveyed it to the Bangladesh government.
1975 The Shanti Bahini split
the Hill Tracts into different parts for the convenience of their guerrilla war.
In November, after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, M N Larma started
open insurgency which got clear support from India.
1976 Shanti Bahini executed
their first attack on some police personnel, following which Santu Larma was apprehended
by the Army. In the same year Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board was formed
headed by the GOC of Chittagong.
1976-80 Was marked by massive Shanti Bahini
insurgency spreading panic throughout the country.
1981 Santu Larma was released
to facilitate a dialogue with the government. After the killing of Ziaur Rahman on
the 30th may, be went in hiding.
1985 Chittagong Hill Tracts were divided into
three districts : Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban.
1986 Large number of people
were forced to leave their houses and take shelter in Tripura refugee camps.
1989
Parbatya Chattagram local government council was formed.
1992 Shanti Bahini declared
cease-fire. Interestingly they declared peace for 34 times and broke it. Lastly,
cease-fire got the extension till 30th September '97.
1992-96 A number of dialogues
took place. But to the utter disappointment of all every effort went in vain.
1996
Separatist tribal rebels have extended a truce until end of October. The truce, has
been unilaterally extended by the Parbatya Chhatragram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS),
the political wing of rebel Shanti Bahini (peace force). 1997 Dialogue starting on
the 14th July continued for quite some days without any conclusive outcome.
Thus
it is amazing how a fabulous region of beauty slowly and gradually turned into an
unholy region marked by exploitation and hostility. With the signing of the peace
treaty on the 2nd December between government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati
Samity (PCJSS) peace and tranquillity once again is likely to come back in this region.
