1 Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) Statement on the Role of Language and Culture in the Promotion and

Protection of the Rights and Identity of Indigenous Peoples Agenda Item: 5 The 5th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, 9-13 July 2012 Madam Chairperson and distinguished delegates, I am representing Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), which is the political party of the indigenous Jumma people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), in Bangladesh. It is pertinent to note that PCJSS signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord (CHT Accord) in 1997 after being forced to wage a decades-long armed struggle for the rights of the indigenous people of the CHT. Madam Chair, 1. I welcome the decision of the Human Rights Council to request the EMRIP to carry out study on the role of language and culture in the promotion and protection of the rights and identity of indigenous peoples. I appreciate the members of the EMRIP for shaping a very convincing and quite comprehensive study report, which evidently has entailed a lot of hard work. Certainly, it is critically important to understand that the enjoyment of rights relating to language and culture is inseparably linked with the enjoyment of other rights of the indigenous peoples. In the report, it has been rightly pointed out that, for very valid reason, the relation between indigenous peoples cultures and their rights to their lands, territories, and natural resources has been clearly recognized by international standards and jurisprudence. Instruments for Jumma traditional houses and weaving instruments for colorful dress of our indigenous women are directly collected from natural forest, for instance. In addition, it is absolutely a compelling point that right to self determination is the central to all of other rights, including rights relating to language and culture. 2. We know that 21 February is observed as the International Mother Language Day around the globe. Originally, 21 February has been observed as national Mother Language Day in my country Bangladesh, in commemoration of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in movement for their mother language in 1952. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh there is no arrangement by the government to protect and promote languages and cultures of the indigenous peoples of the country. In the contrary, alarming cultural aggression by the mainstream Bengalis over indigenous cultures continues to happen in different forms, for instance, distortion or renaming the original name of local places by the Army and Bengali Settlers. The most unfortunate concern is that the government of Bangladesh even does not recognize any existence of indigenous people of the country. Very recently, the government has issued an official order to the government and elected people representatives, not to attend any programs on observation of the World Indigenous Peoples Day, as the day 9 August is approaching. 3. However, the CHT Accord of 1997 guarantees a semi-autonomous status, ensuring to a significant extent of right to self-determination, with a range of rights for the indigenous

2 Jumma people. For instances, the Accord stipulates provisions regarding: recognition of the CHT as Tribal Inhabited Region and protection that Special Character; recognition of traditional administration system; a new setting of special administration system with the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, and three hill district councils; status of permanent resident; local police; restoration of land rights of Jumma people; and demilitarization of the region. In fact, some specific rights relating to language and cultures of the indigenous people of the CHT are guaranteed by the Accord, under the provisions of power and functions of the Regional Council and hill districts councils. But it is irony that the CHT Accord has not been implemented, even after some nearly fifteen years of signing the Accord. Obviously, in relation to the indigenous people of the CHT, implementation of the CHT Accord is urgent and imperative to ensure their rights relating to language and culture, and other inseparable rights. I therefore recommend to the EMRIP: (1) To address or add another point in the study report, in terms of the points of the challenges faced in relation to this issue, with a sub-title: Non-implementation of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements by the governments; and (2) To encourage the states concerned, including Bangladesh, to implement treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements, beside other arrangement to ensure rights relating to language and culture of the indigenous peoples. (3) To encourage the states concerned, including Bangladesh, to recognise the indigenous peoples of the countries concerned. Thank you for your attention. Bidhayak Chakma Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh E-mail: bidhayakchakma@yahoo.com