Why Rock the Boat?
The broad outlines of the peace deal the press had picked up on the heels of the fourth round of negotiations between the National Committee on CHT and the PCJSS on May 15 bore testimony to the farthest point both sides could get in an unprecedented spirit of mutual accommodation. An adequately empowered Regional Council at the apex of three elected hill district councils, restoration of lands under occupation of the settlers to tribals, rehabilitation of settlers in government khas lands, folding up of the temporary Army camps and their return to garrison barracks, re-settlement of tribal refugees from India and rehabilitation of Shantibahini insurgents have all been jointly visualised. The agreed package revealed that even sensitive points were deliberated upon and addressed with the scale tilting towards the tribal point of view subject to the PCJSS's express and recorded commitment to upholding the Constitution and territorial integrity of Bangla-desh. This respect for the constitution of Bangladesh, continuing dialogue in the capital city Dhaka with the PCJSS coming all the way from their camp on the borders, extended cease-fires that by and large held, and quick disclaimers by the PCJSS of the occasional rocking of the boat by the militants have all provided sustenance to the peace process. But of primordial importance to the whole endeavour has been the qualitative sea change occurring in the political environment relevant to the tribal question as a whole. The positively inter-active governments of India and Bangladesh have been duly assisted by the Tripura state government in rendering the field situation congenial to the solution of the repatriation problem. Instead of harbouring the refugees, the Indian government has, in so many ways lately, driven the message that they want the tribal leadership to seek conciliation and not confrontation with Bangladesh. There is no human rights question to latch on to. Because, there have not been violations of these, going by the Amnesty International report. All eyes are now focused on the fifth round of negotiations between the NCCHT and the PCJSS which have got underway in Dhaka. Hopes are that whatever minor differences have crept into the scenario will be thrashed out as merely matters of detail rather than of principles. The new points that were raised on the first day of talks are centred on issues that have been discussed thread-bare many times over and a consensual position reached thereon after protracted negotiations. By asking that tribal repatriation be supervised by the UNHCR or ICRC they are reposing confidence in an international organisation rather than in a government with proven bona fides as far as the rehabilitation of the refugees goes. We urge the tribal leadership not to reopen issues but to seize the golden opportunity for peace on the hills with courage and far-sight.
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