Quebec/New Delhi, July 11: The CHT Indigenous Peoples Youth Federation on Friday sought interventions of the Government of Bangladesh, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the diplomatic community against paramilitary group Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Chief Santu Larma for kidnapping six indigenous villagers.
The Samhati’s armed cadres, Jumma Liberation Army (JLA), kidnapped the villagers from remote Rangapani Chhara village in Rangamati district on July 1.
The PCJSS cadres confirmed the kidnapping after they released their photo on Friday and have been demanding Bangladeshi Taka 600,000 (US$ 5,500) for their release.
“The PCJSS is a paramilitary force of the Government of Bangladesh because it holds the government of the CHT Regional Council established under the CHT Regional Council Act of 1998. The government of Bangladesh has allowed the PCJSS to hold the government of the CHT Regional Council without elections for the last 27 years, while further allowing it to keep its militia, which have been involved in kidnapping, extortion and murder of indigenous civilians. Bangladesh has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and Santu Larma as the President of the PCJSS has the command responsibility and is liable for the gross violations committed by his cadres, often under his instructions,” said Pragna Tapas Chakma, President of the CHT Indigenous Peoples Youth Federation.
