Rebuilding Damaged Communities: Support for Sustaining Peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts - Bangladesh Case Study Click on the following links for further information about this case study: Teacher's Notes Student Activities Background to the Conflict and Peace Accord The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are a hilly, wooded rural area located in the south east corner of Bangladesh where about half a million tribal people live. Collectively known as the Jumma people because of the type of shifting agriculture they practise, they comprise 13 groups of indigenous peoples who are said to be of sino-tibetan origin. After Bangladesh's war of Independence from Pakistan in 1971, some tribal leaders of the Chittagong Hill Tracts approached the new national Government to attempt to secure their rights to autonomy as indigenous peoples and their own system of Government. Their requests were denied. With a rapidly increasing population, limited amount of land and scarce resources, the previous Governments of Bangladesh targeted the more sparsely populated and resource rich CHT for settlement by non-tribal Bengalis. This strategy of bringing in settlers to the area was resisted by the tribals. They feared that they would become a minority in their own area and this would weaken their political position. This fear appeared to be confirmed. By 1991, official Government statistics put the Jumma people as only 51.4% of the CHT population whereas in 1947 they comprised 91% of the area's population. Clashes between tribals and Bengali settlers intensified over time and the Bangladesh army was used by the Government to assist and control unrest in that area. A resistance movement of the Jumma peoples emerged called Parbattya Chattagram Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) with its own army, the Shanti Bahini. As the conflict escalated, approximately 130,000 of the tribals, fearful for their safety, fled the country into the neighbouring Indian states of Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. Living poorly in refugee camps, without adequate housing, water supply, food rations and medical assistance, the Jumma people suffered immensely. They were prevented from establishing their own camp committees. The children couldn't get formal school certificates because they were not 'citizens' of India. It was illegal for them to work, so they could not get proper wages. Most were forced to support themselves by working for logging contractors. The CHT conflict continued for over two decades until a Peace Accord between a newly democratically elected Bangladesh Government and PCJSS was signed in December 1997. The peace treaty initiated the return of thousands of refugee families. Under the terms of the peace agreement returning families received food, cash, building materials and land from the Bangladesh Government. Australian Support for Peace Australia responded to an appeal by the International Federation of the Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS ) to support the Bangladesh Government and Jumma peoples in their commitment to keep peace in the area. The Australian Government, through Australian Red Cross, provided $500,000 to IFRCS for the resettlement program of both refugees and demobilised Shanti Bahini fighters. Food packages arrive every month and include pulses (lentils for making dhal), cooking oil and salt   Most of this Australian assistance (channelled by Bangladesh Red Crescent Society) was in the form of food support which supplemented the Government rice ration. This food 'top up' consisted of a monthly package of four kg of pulses (lentils for dhal), two litres of cooking oil and two kg salt. 10,426 returned families and 1,947 families of the former guerilla fighters were given this support initially for three months which was then extended due to seasonal floods. To prevent doubling-up of food supplies, thumb prints of individuals are taken once their family has received food   The provision of supplementary food packages has helped families overcome the hardships of returning empty handed to their homeland. It has also built confidence among families that their welfare is of concern. It is a tangible sign of international commitment to supporting peace in the CHT. Meeting Basic Needs is the Beginning The distribution of food and supply of other essentials is just the beginning of helping people re-settle and begin a process of living in peace. Families now urgently need means of generating income for themselves. Although land has been allocated for use by the returning tribal population, they now need guarantees of ownership of such lands. With a tradition of shifting cultivation, land title is crucial to their security. Without a sustainable means of keeping their families, the people are more likely to become demoralised and lose faith in the peace process. On-going support to achieve self-sufficiency and recognition of indigenous rights will hopefully overcome threats to this peace process. The Australian Government, is currently undertaking a feasibility study of how best to support the Bangladesh Government's efforts and local people's development needs in the CHT. Assisting the Jumma peoples to sustain their own development is a direct means for Australians to support and help consolidate their commitment to keep the peace.   Top © Commonwealth of Australia