Ex-combatants go to the 19th floor

Ms. Reneta L.Dessallien, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative reiterates her commitment to start the implementation of the CHT ex-combatants on last 19th. This reiteration comes in a meeting with Mr. Rupayan Dewan, focal person of the ex-combatants and also a Councillor of the CHT Regional Council at 15.15 hrs at 19th floor, IDB building in Dhaka.

Ms. Reneta had directed the Project Director, UNDP-CHTDF, Mr. Patrick Sweeting to receive Mr. Dewan and discuss on the issue and start the rehabilitation. Mr. Dewan, accordingly, had sat with Mr. Patrick Sweeting and Mr. Prasenjt Chakma, Chief, Policies and Confidence Building the same day at 16.30 hrs. at 7th floor, the office of the UNDP-CHTDF. There has been a very positive discussion which yielded a positive initial plan and the actual plan would be concretized in September.

In response to a question of the CHT Ex-Combatants Mr. Dewan replies “Now I am confident on the fielding of the rehabilitation programme by UNDP. Of course, the voice of the ex-combatants is a requisite condition to get quality rehabilitation.”

A journey of an ex-combatant: from Sijak jungle to old home and then to temple

“We’ve sacrificed our lives for a noble cause, have deposited our arms and ammunitions as per Peace Accord. But now neither the government nor the UNDP is honouring their commitments for our cherished rehabilitation and no body cares our unbearable difficulties."
__ Sraman Paramananda


Bimal Chakma (71 yrs), an ex-combatant turns to Sraman Paramanada by taking Buddhist robes due to his helplessness. He comes from Sijak jungle to Rangamati town for coming close to leadership and concerned quarters to monitor the progress of promised rehabilitation. Because of his old age he gets a seat at BOSHIPUK, the lone old home at Rangamati town, runs by a generous industrialist from Dhaka.Recently imposed strict discipline at the old home bars his communication with outer world and hence, has decided to take robe as Samanera, first stage of Buddhist monkship at Parami Buddhist temple, Tribal Adam, Rangamati. He visited us in the evening to enquire about the progress of UNDP rehabilitation programme and expressed his unhappiness for not getting any response from the UNDP.

He believes that in the present context the serious commitment of the leadership and the CHT Ministry can rehabilitate the ex-combatants without any delay. He is also alarmed that the UNDP project which commits for his rehabilitation expires in September 2009. And hence, demands the immediate fielding of this project by the UNDP and draws the attention of the UNDP head in Dhaka. In this regard, he also draws the kind attention of the concerned donors for their involvement.

Ex-Combatants send memo to UNDP

A two-member team of ex-combatants visited UNDP-CHTDF Rangamati on last 10th to hand over a joint memo addressed to the Chief, Policies and Confidence Building of UNDP-CHTDF, Dhaka. The ex-combatants have handed over the memo for failing to get any response of their earlier memos from the Chief, Policies and Confidence Building. In their memos they have requested to start the rehabilitation and give them time for meeting at Rangamati, as they have not been receiving any reply of earlier memeos. The Chief, Policies and Confidence Building visits Rangamati but does not show any indication of meeting. The team will again visit the UNDP-CHTDF Rangamati to discuss the issue.

The ex-combatants are now desperate for the promised rehabilitation which expires in September 2009. Hence, they're planning to take up greater initiatives for being rehabilitated as promised by the UNDP. The Resident Representative was very repeat very positive in February and March and accordingly gave start of initial activities under the component No. 4.10, most unfortunately, it has been snapped without any explanation.

65 yrs. old former JSS activist starves

Amalendu Chakma Tapesh (65)

He visited us on April 3, 2008 with a hope of getting rehabilitated through UNDP-CHTDF programme. He owns 10 acres of land in Feni valley and unfortunately, these are under the control of settlers, he claims. He served the JSS for many years as a civil worker under the Family Welfare Department and was on long leave due to health ground when the list for return to normal life was preapared. He helplessly complains that his name was not enlisted for coming to over ground through the Peace Accord and thus he does not get government free ration, and claims him as a victim of carelessness of his concerned superiors.

He is now completely helpless without any land and source of sustenance and starves when he cannot sell his labour.

Ex-Combatant Moung mortgages ration for unlimited period

Moung Ghyong Marma (35), an ex-combatant from Khagarachari Hill District now survives with three children and wife by selling rice wine produced at home. Though taking of wine is permitted in the Jumma society but it is not considered as an honourable source of income.

To negotiate his wants he has been forced to mortgage his ration (100 kgs rice per month from the government) for 30,000 taka (equivalent to 508 US dollars) until he can give the money. He even has been compelled to sell his home and the tiny plot and now lives at a rented home.

He visited us for UNDP-CHTDF rehabilitation for two times since April this year.

Ex-Combatant mortgages ration for son's education

Mukto Bikash Chakma (55), an ex-combatant can’t work and walk well with his bullet hit injuries in ankle, knee and right trunk. He has been forced to mortgage his government safety net ration (100 kgs rice per month) to send his son to school and sit for S.S.C. examination for 23,000 taka (equivalent to 333 US dollars) for two years. He has no any alternatives for which has been forced to mortgage the lone source of hard survival.

His son passed S.S.C. examination in last April and secured GPA 3.5. The result deserves appreciation, as he could not buy books and provide other supports for his son. He has been frustrated for not getting the promised rehabilitation neither from the government nor the UNDP. Since last January 2008 he at least visited us five times from remote area of Dighinala Upazila to enquire about the promised rehabilitation.

On July 10, 2008 he cried for our support to secure his son’s college education and a secured livelihood through UNDP-CHTDF rehabilitation programme.