CHAKMA BUDDHISTS PROTEST AGAINST BANGLA ATTACKS

By Suman Chakma

The Buddhist community MOSTLY CHAKMA in Mizoram, who are confined to the southern tip of the state bordering Bangladesh, on Tuesday organised a peaceful rally in protest against the recent attacks on Buddhists in the neighbouring country Bangladesh.
Thousands of Buddhists joined the procession held at Kamalanagar, the headquarters of Chakma autonomous district council (CADC) in southern Mizoram, and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh through the Bangladesh High Commission, New Delhi.
The memorandum, submitted in the names of Mizoram Bhikkhu Sangha and Mizoram Buddhists Association, demanded :
(1) reconstruction of Buddhist and Hindu temples and reinstallation of images burnt/destructed by the miscreant during the recent incident at different places;
(2) provision for adequate compensation for the loss of lives and property;
(3) proper rehabilitation of displaced families;
(4) judicial enquiry and punishment to the culprits under the law of the land; and
 (5) protection of the minorities to safeguard their peaceful and dignitary living.
The memorandum stated that the “well-organised” atrocities on September 29, causing destruction of several Buddhist and Hindu temples and attack on religious minorities in Ramu and in some other minority domain places under Cox’s Bazar district were against the natural justice and a gross violation of humanity.
“It shocked not only the world Buddhist community but also the entire human race in the globe. The incident on religious minorities, once again proved the breach of the pious Constitutional provisions in the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh,” it said.
Buddhism, having 70,494 followers, is the second largest religion in Mizoram, next to the dominant religion Christianity which has 7,72,809 followers. It is the dominant religion among the Chakmas who dominated the Chakma autonomous district council in southern Mizoram.

Media coverage:
1. http://www.demotix.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvSpUuvUHH8news/1509512/buddhist-monks-protest-outside-bangladesh-embassy-against-mob-attacks
2. http://in.news.yahoo.com/video/national-22564751/buddhists-hindus-protest-bangladesh-attack-30839327.html
3. http://elevenmyanmar.com/politics/890-myanmar-buddhist-monks-protest-against-bangladesh-attacks
4. http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=233989&cid=2
5. http://www.indianexpress.com/videos/national/6/buddhists-hindus-protest-bangladesh-attack--/12784

CHAKMA BUDDHISTS CLAIMS SECOND MAJORITY IN MIZORAM

Aizawl, Monday, July 02, 2012 (PTI):
More than 70 thousand Buddhists live in Christian-dominated Mizoram and they constitute the second largest religious group in the state, Statistical Abstract of Mizoram, 2011 said.

Recently approved by the Centre, the report says that a total of 70,494 Buddhists live in Mizoram.

State Economics and Statistics department officials said that Buddhists were mainly Chakmas inhabiting the western belt of the state.

They mostly live in the south western part of the state where Chakmas were given a separate Autonomous District Council in 1972, sources said.

The population was based on the Census 2001 in which the number of Christians was placed at 7,72,809.

Buddhist community was followed by Hindus at 31,562 and by Muslims at 19,326, the report said.

There were 326 Sikhs, and 179 people following Jainism and 3,105 classified as others.

PTI

Media coverage here http://zolengthe.net/2012/07/02/more-than-70000-buddhists-live-in-mizoram/

http://www.newsreporter.in/more-than-70000-buddhists-live-in-mizoram

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/more-than-70000-buddhists-live-in-mizoram/1019135.html

http://zeenews.india.com/news/north-east/more-than-70-000-buddhists-live-in-mizoram_785035.html

A MOTHERLY DEED BY ARUNACHAL's GOVERNMENT:: The 185 Chakmas have been rescued

Compiled by Suman Chakma

ITANAGAR, Jun 28: An Indian Air Force(IAF) team rescued 185 chakma villagers from Bijoypur I and III today. Additional deputy commissioner K Riba,  WRD Executive Engineer BK Karki and Kishore Kumar Chakma assisted the IAF team, which came in a Chopper, in safely airlifting all the stranded villagers to the relief camp.Changlang Deputy Commissioner Opak Gao was constantly monitoring the situation from Bordumsa and Bijoypur.

Meanwhile, ADC Riba, who has pulled up his sleeve to work out the post flood management strategies like control of gastro intestinal diseases etc, informed that the Noa Dehing river has started to recede gradually. Medical team has been positioned round the clock in the relief camp to look after the sick flood victims with sufficient medicines.

The Dharmapur area of Kharsang circle remained cut off from rest of the world. There have been reports of extensive damages to flood control structures. Meanwhile rains over the past couple of days and the devastating rainfall on June 20 midnight have caused flashflood and landslide at many locations of Tuting sub-division washing away roads of Tuting town. Torrential rains-triggered landslide and flashflood swept almost all corners of the sub-division damaging public and private properties. Surface communication between Migging and Gelling village is completely cut off.

The torrential rains has caused extensive damages to Sipo and Sikut hydel project and water supply etc. To the worst, it completely swept away the farm lands of the sub-division.

Even thought departmental men and machineries are making all possible efforts to restore the damaged road, incessant rains is giving them a tough challenge. The restoration work may take many days.

However, with the initiatives of  Tuting ADC, social services are being conducted by the Govt. staff, Meenakshi Hydro Power Private Ltd. and public for the temporary restoration of water and electricity supply.Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today demanded the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to depute a central team to the state to assess the damage caused by flood.

The flood, caused by incessant rain, damaged roads and property in several districts.

Source: http://www.arunachaltimes.in/28/6/12

Baneswar Chakma: An Unsung Hero

Compiled by Suman Chakma

Baneswar Chakma, son of Phaireia Chakma was born on 12th June 1929 at a village called Kakparyya under police station Longudu in CHT in then undivided India (now in Bangladesh). He passed the 9th standard but could not complete his 10th class. In those days, majority Chakmas used to be illiterate and people who studied 3rd standards were considered to be qualified enough to grab lucrative government jobs. But Baneswar Chakma chose a path to serve the country and his community in particular. He took active part, at local levels, in the freedom movement of India. He worked with freedom fighters like Smt Kalpana Dutta (who is famous for her active role in armed resistance movement led by Surya Sen which carried out the Chittagong armoury raid in 1930) and Loke Nath. Baneswar Chakma was one of the jewels who fought to bring the Chittagong Hill Tracts under the territory of India.

In 1947, he represented along with Sneha Kumar Chakma (in Tripura) and Ganeshyam Dewan (in Bangaladesh) demanding inclusion of CHT into India. Unfortunately, the Boundary Commission headed by Cyril Redcliff gave away CHT, the Chakma kingdom, to Pakistan. Chakma leaders continued to fight for CHT’s inclusion into India. In 1957, Baneswar Chakma was the Secretary of the Tribal Union (Regional Party) which demanded CHT’s inclusion in India. In 1967, he was one of the representatives which met Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Delhi on the CHT issue.In 1959, Baneswar Chakma taught as a teacher at the Primary School at Ugudasury (near Haulong Sora), Mizoram. Baneswar Chakma had a long and luminous leadership. The first political delegation to Shillong, then capital of Assam, demanding Chakma Regional Council in Mizoram was made by the Chakmas in 1952. The first delegation to Shillong was
led by Kristo Mohan Chakma, and the other member was Gura Nitai Chakma. They met Assam Chief Minister Bishnu Ram Medhi in Shillong, which was then under Assam in 1952. That was when Mizo District Council (1952) and the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council (1953) were being created. Subsequently, three other delegations to Shillong were made by Kristo Mohan Chakma who was accompanied by Hari Kristo Chakma, Satya Priya Dewan and Baneswar Chakma in the second, third and fourth delegation respectively. They demanded Chakma Regional Council with headquarters at Demagiri. Baneswar Chakma was appointed as Presiding Officer in Tablabagh Village Council Election in 1963; served as the General Secretary, Block Congress Committee, Demagiri in 1967-1972 at the time of Lushai Hill District Council; as
President, Chakma District Congress Committee in 1983; and as Senior Adviser, BJP, CADC in 1999.
He served as Senior Judicial Officer in CADC during 1974-1977. He was Secretary to the Honorary Organiser,

Chakma Affairs, Demagiri in 1970-1997:
As a community leader, Baneswar Chakma tirelessly fought for the rights of the Chakmas and against injustice. He was part of the delegation that met Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India demanding adequate compensation for the Chakma families evicted from the Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary in Mamit district of Mizoram in 1989-90. It is undeniable that Baneswar Chakma has done so much for us, but what have we done for him in return? Today, he remains unknown, unsung and uncared for. He lives not very far away from the political capital of CADC, but no leader has ever visited to take stock of his situation. Indeed, it is high time we recognized his contributions for the society. Perhaps, he is the only Chakma who has fought for the freedom of India to be alive today. Yet, it is apparent that we Chakmas have deserted him and are not willing to give due recognition to this great leader. Today, it is tragic that he lives a forlorn life. The Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) takes this opportunity to salute this great leader who has devoted his life to translate the tears of the Chakmas into happiness.

For his details refers to http://www.mcdf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/baneswar-chakma:-an-unknown-hero-at-our-backyard.pdf