Questions that need to be answered
by Muktasree Sathi Chakma (Sep 24, 2012)
While my 68 years old father and my 65 years old mother remained awake for the last two days in fear that some of the Bengali settlers (who can kill people only for the reason that you are indigenous) would attack our house, I am attending a Human Rights training and learning how to be a human rights activist. What an irony, isn’t it?
Despite residing in a place just next to police barrack, my parents remain awake. They do not feel safe although they are living next to at least 100 police who are supposed to support them if any riots/ violence took place. Why do they not trust the law enforcers? Why do they remain awake in their old age?
When some of my Bangladeshi and Bangali friends do not bother with what I am going through (just for being a part of the population who they like to call ‘minority’), while I am flooding my Facebook wall with posts expressing my worry and helplessness, what is the necessity of having them as FRIENDS?
When the constitution of Bangladesh says, ‘All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law’ ( article 27) my friends from Chittagong Hill Tracts Area told me with fear and anxiety, the recent curfew was only forcible against indigenous peoples, not against the Bengali peoples who live in the same area. What does it mean?
Again in the same constitution in article 28. (1) says-The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Communal clashes took place in my country where I was born, which I love. Who to blame? Why a portion of the citizen hold such hatred for the minorities who are comparatively powerless? Did the state ever take initiative to make them ‘minority friendly’?
When the indigenous-friendly people who respect our culture and custom, who express their solidarity with our rightful demands make Facebook cover photo asking the government why the dead body of the previous Chakma King (who was a supporter of the Pakistan government in 1971) will be in Bangladesh for his funeral, but forget to make cover photo asking the government why none of the violence against indigenous women cases see the light of justice after 40 years of independence, what to say? How to react? How long should be our sigh is?
What is the necessity of signing a Peace Accord if it takes more than 15 years to be implemented?
Why the indigenous peoples of CHT are divided into so many political parties? Even when they almost reacted in a same way when any sort of communal clashes and violence took place over the indigenous peoples? Can’t we be united? Can’t we say something TOGETHER? Wouldn’t the voice be louder if all these parties merge?
Why I can’t enjoy my rights holding my multiple identities? As a women, as a indigenous person, as a Bangladeshi and as a human being? Why my options have to be always narrow?
I don’t want to be lost in these frustrating questions. I need peace and justice. I don’t want peace and justice just as words in the laws, in the accords and in the constitution.
I want the authority to be the responsible one, not biased one. I want them to stand up with accountability, saying- what we are doing it’s wrong. We are sorry. Let’s respect each other. Let’s be with other. Let’s ensure justice to the sufferer. Let’s make a wonderful country. Is it possible?