DHAKA, February 7: Bangladesh government has declared general amnesty for the armed cadres˙of the tribal rebels in south-eastern Chittagong hill tracts (CHT) who are to lay down their arms and˙ammunition this week.The official announcement to this effect came yesterday ahead of scheduled surrender˙of weapons by former tribal insurgents at Khagrachari hill district stadium on February 10 marking˙the end of a 23-year-old insurgency in the hill tracts.
Under the landmark peace treaty signed between the Bangladesh government and the rebels mainly from Chakmas in the CHT on December 2 last, the rebels were asked to lay down their˙arms in exchange for an amnesty.
The general amnesty becomes effective from the date of the surrender of the arms and ammunition, the announcement said.It said that under the amnesty, criminal cases filed and˙arrest warrants issued against members of˙the Parbattya Chhattagram Jana Sanghati˙Samity (PCJSS), the political wing of the Shanti Bahini guerilla outfit in CHT would bewithdrawn.
There will also be exemption of punishment against armed members who have been convicted in absentia following their trial. Legal steps would be taken for release of those members who are still˙in prison. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with dignitaries, politicians and diplomats will witness the surrender of weapons.
Official sources said that arms surrender ceremony would see the rebel Shanti Bahini which fought a bush war with Bangladesh security forces for two decades, officially disbanded. Led by PCJSS supremo Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Shantu Larma, the first batch of 600 former tribal insurgents would surrender their weapons on February 10.
The remaining 1,400 rebels will submit their weapons at three other different venues in the hill tracts on February 16, 22 and 28 respectively. Giving details, the announcement said that along with the members surrendering their arms, amnesty will also be applicable to all those permanent residents of CHT involved in PCJSS activities ontheir return to the normal life.
It said that under the amnesty, no cases would be filed, no arrest warrant would be issued nor any punishment would be given to any member only on charges of his/her involvement with PCJSS activities after his/her surrender of weapons and return to normal life.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
