The peace accord, which ended a two decade long bush war between the indigenous guerillas and members of army, was signed on December 2, 1997. The accord brought a new sense of hope to the hill people for the first time in years. But in reality they received neither peace nor developments after signing the peace accord.

Now the government and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), which signed the peace accord, have taken a face-to-face position over its implementation.

"The Awami Legue government did sign the accord but could not implement it. But now the coalition government has been violating the accord, even somewhat working against the accord," said Jotirindriya Bodhiprio Larma alias Santu Larma, the president of the PCJSS.

Santu Larma became the chairman of the CHT regional council by the clause of the accord. The government also formed three hill district councils but the regional council is remaining almost inactive, as they do not have power to work because of government's policy.

"Without a secular and democratic government, the CHT accord would not be implemented. The coalition government does not want to implement the treaty for sure," said Santu Larma.

The accord was a major achievement that recognises indigenous people's rights, and had draws acclamation from leaders of human-rights movement all across the world.

But unfortunately the accord could not bring any exemplary development of the situation except the halting of regular fighting between the state security forces and the indigenous guerrillas. PCJSS alleged that the basic terms of the peace agreement were not implemented in the last eight years and the incumbent government completely suspended the implementation process of the CHT peace treaty.

The government, however, said it is not true that they have halted the implementation process of the peace treaty.

Implementation of an agreement is a continuous process and it is going on. But a qualitative change in the political culture of the country is necessary to implement the treaty properly.

PCJSS sources told The Daily Star that the anti-peace treaty activities of the present coalition government include keeping the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs under the Prime Minister instead of appointing a full-minister to the ministry, appointment of a non-hilly Bengali person to the post of chairman of CHT Development Board, not bringing the Board under the Regional Council, not activating the advisory committee of the concerned ministry and formation of cabinet committee instead of Treaty Implementation Committee.

In a press conference held in the Jatiya Press Club on November 30, on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the signing of the accord, the PCJSS alleged that the government has been carrying out several other anti-peace accord activities. Those activities include continuation of military operations in the hill region, not allocating sufficient funds to the Regional Council and District Council, encouraging outsider Bengalis to settle in the hills with the assistance of the administration, provocation to create communal conflict among the people in the region, security forces obstructing the implementation of the peace treaty through Bengali settlers.

As the government has not implemented the accord, the Bengali settlers are trying to form a movement against the peace accord. The Parbtya Chatttagram Samo-Odhikar Andolon, the forum of the settlers' Bengali people staying in the CHT region is still demanding a cancellation of the accord.

At a meeting held yesterday at the Muktangon, Samo-Odhikar demanded a combing operation of the army.

The PCJSS leaders alleged that the Bengali settlers have been torturing and depriving the indigenous people with the support of army.

Moni Swapan Dewan, deputy minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, said at a roundtable meeting recently that the problem in Chittagong Hill Tracts region is a political and national problem.

"It needs to be solved in the light of the peace treaty. But a qualitative change in the political culture of the country is required in this regard," he said.

The deputy minister said he took initiatives to create a congenial environment in the political culture of the hill region despite having many limitations.