Calls for United Nations probe in Bangladesh
Guwahati, Oct 15: Two international bodies for protection of indigenous people and their rights have called upon the Bangladesh government to allow the United Nations to probe widespread atrocities on tribal groups in the northern hill region of the country during the recent turmoil thslat led to the ouster of the Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues chairperson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, and the special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, José Francisco Cali Tzay, on Tuesday called on the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Dr Mohammed Yunus, to invite the United Nations to investigate and report on allegations of human rights violations in the CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts), and to monitor the situation unhindered, in coordination with the interim government, Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and relevant stakeholders, with a view to strengthening Indigenous Peoples’ institutions and ensuring respect for their collective and individual rights.
The UN bodies for indigenous issues also urged the Bangladesh government to take decisive action against the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by the Jumma people.
The UN experts urged the interim government to take immediate action to address violent and indiscriminate attacks against the Jumma people, an Indigenous community in the CHTs. They called for an impartial commission of inquiry into the allegations of violence, stressing the need to end the culture of impunity surrounding these crimes.
The violence against the Jumma people is part of a larger issue of systemic discrimination, forced evictions, and the militarization of the CHTs. This has been a longstanding problem in the region, exacerbating the vulnerability of the Indigenous peoples who have suffered for decades without adequate protection.
The UN experts emphasized the role of social media in propagating hate speech and misinformation, calling on companies to take measures to prevent their platforms from being used to spread disinformation that exacerbates the discrimination against the Jumma community.
A crucial aspect of their call was for the interim government to implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accords, which are vital for ensuring the rights and security of the Jumma people. These accords align with both national laws and international frameworks, such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly Article 7, which ensures the collective right of Indigenous Peoples to live in peace and security.
Commenting on the statement, Director of the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), Suhas Chakma contextualized the joint statement as a step towards international recognition of potential acts of genocide and other forms of violence being committed against the Indigenous Jumma peoples. The emphasis on human rights and peace sets a crucial decision before Dr. Mohammed Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government. As Chakma pointed out, Yunus’s legacy—whether as a Nobel Laureate for peace or as someone associated with human rights violations—rests on how he responds to this crisis.
