THE Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, popularly known as the ‘Peace Accord,’ was signed on December 2, 1997, between the government and the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti. It has been widely discussed locally and internationally. The accord ended the 20-year-long, violent conflict and set the stage for inclusive, peaceful, and integrated coexistence between Bengalis and indigenous people. It promised to protect indigenous rights, promote infrastructure development, resolve land disputes, and improve local government for lasting peace in the region. However, the ineffective land commission, bureaucratic obstacles, the continued presence of some armed groups, and the unending delay in withdrawing the temporary army camps have hindered the process of implementation.Ìý
The accord of 1997 has mainly helped to deescalate the long-standing ethnic armed conflict, providing a relatively stable environment for the inhabitants of the area. The accord has opened the path for several local developmental projects. Establishing schools, colleges, and training facilities in the educational field has raised the literacy rate and given indigenous children better access to education. The healthcare sector has also seen some rather essential changes.ÌýNew roads, bridges, and power supply have improved the communication system.Ìý
The accord created expectations that the political conflicts in the region will come to an end. However, a crisis of trust, a lack of political will in the implementation of the accord, has left the region unstable 27 years after the signing of the accord. Main clauses of the accord remain unenforced. For instance, the Land Commission’s activities have been constantly hampered, which is a significant impediment to the defence of indigenous people’s land rights. The failure to remove temporary army camps from the region has also contributed to growing frustrations among the indigenous communities.Ìý
Although the treaty promised regional peace, the disagreement within the indigenous political leadership over the accord created new forms of political tensions. The Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti signed the treaty, but a section of indigenous communities opposed the treaty and considered it as acting against the interest of their people. This difference eventually led to the formation of a new political party, the United People’s Democratic Front, in 1998 and set the path for fresh strife. The split within the JSS and the rise of the UPDF was a new chapter of carnage and internal conflict in the mountainous region. In the subsequent years, many smaller groups are formed, making the region more politically unstable. Frequent conflicts and bloodshed between several JSS and UPDF factions cause uncertainty and anxiety in the indigenous lives. Apart from making the inhabitants insecure, these violent disputes also affect their social, cultural, and economic spheres. Furthermore, the growing complexity of the interaction between the indigenous and Bengali populations raises doubts about the aim of the agreement and the initiatives for peace establishment.Ìý
In this context, the accord remains far from the desired success. The indigenous and Bengali residents of the CHT have long-standing mistrust and estrangement. Even with the accord, hegemonic attitudes and disrespect for indigenous culture and history have made the situation in the hills worse. The Indigenous people have been enraged and disappointed by the constant rejection of their social and cultural identity. Concurrently, many Bengalis’ predisposition to regard the CHT as a venue for realising their hegemony has hindered social peace. The indigenous people are thus struggling to protect their unique cultural traditions. An inclusive approach is necessary to close social and cultural gaps. Establishing peace mostly depends on an environment of intercultural communication and mutual respect between the indigenous and Bengali people.
While the growth of the tourism industry has opened financial opportunities, it has also destroyed the natural and cultural legacy of the local people. Natural forests have been destroyed under the pretext of development, and traditional jum cultivation methods have become increasingly difficult. To make things worse, the cultivation of rubber and tobacco is encouraged and incentivised, which has compromised the scope of traditional modes of cultivation and resulted in environmental damage. The expansion in tourism has led to more land acquisition in many areas, dispossessing indigenous communities from their ancestral lands. Many times, projects involving the growth of tourism are planned and executed without any consultation with the local people. Establishing inclusive policies for the local population and ensuring the preservation of their livelihoods and surroundings could make a difference in this regard.Ìý
How might the CHT come to embrace peace? Restoring peace can depend on three main elements: full implementation of the accord, confidence building, and inclusive development. Every clause of the agreement should be implemented judiciously. The land commission and land dispute resolution should be a policy priority. In addition, plans must be developed for the people who were forced to leave their ancestral land because of armed conflict and political instability in the region. Furthermore, it is crucial to ensure the regional councils and other administrative systems are effective so the inhabitants of CHT can properly obtain their rights and opportunities.
Awareness campaigns and inter-community dialogue are crucial to building trust between Bengalis and indigenous people. Indigenous people should be actively involved in development planning and execution. The first focus should be on safeguarding the environment and the legacy of Indigenous people. To ensure the sustainability of development projects, it is crucial to consider the opinions of the indigenous people and arrange to safeguard their livelihoods. Properly implementing these steps will help bring harmony between indigenous people and Bengalis and peace in the CHT— a ‘tribal populated region,’ which is officially recognised in the accord.
Though the accord ended the ‘counterinsurgency period’ and presented the possibility of a peaceful future, peace is still elusive because of its delayed implementation or non-implementation. Establishing peace requires both political will and inclusive development and a comprehensive strategy to foster mutual trust. Peace is the endeavour to create a safe, fair, and just society, not merely the absence of conflict. This helps one to realise that peaceful coexistence between indigenous peoples and Bengalis is not unattainable given mutual understanding and cooperation.
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Dr Ala Uddin is a professor of anthropology at the University of Chittagong.
