Khagrachari (Bangladesh), Jan 20: Police fired tear gas to disperse brick-throwing tribal demonstrators today at the start of a two-day general strike called to demand food rations for former tribal refugees, police said. At least one policeman was wounded by a brick during the clash in downtown Khagrachari, a hill town, about 180 kilometres southeast of the National Capital, Dhaka, policeman Matiur Rahman Sheikh said. The demonstrators also damaged four parked vehicles. No one was arrested.

The strike was called by an organisation of former tribal refugees who returned home from camps in India after signing a peace treaty in 1997 ending a 25-year insurgency in the region. The former refugees have been demanding food rations until they are all rehabilitated. The strike, which continues through tomorrow, forced most vehicles off the roads and shut shops and schools. Extra police and soldiers were deployed in the hill district to prevent further violence.

Today's clash ensued when police tried to prevent a procession of strike supporters from marching toward a rally of non-tribal settlers opposing the shutdown. Meanwhile, the main tribal group, who negotiated peace with the government, put up road barricades today on highways throughout the hill region to demand full implementation of treaty conditions. The Parbatya Chhatragram Janasanghati Samity wants the government to resettle former tribal refugees, withdraw security forces from the area, appoint a tribal leader to head a regional development body and form a full-fledged ministry to deal with tribal affairs.

Bureau Report