AIZAWL: The Kuki-Chin Human Rights Organisation (KCHRO) has alleged that people belonging to the Kuki-Chin community are being persecuted in Bangladesh.
The KCHRO, headquartered in Aizawl city of Mizoram, has issued an appeal to the British Red Cross, highlighting the “dire situation faced” by the Kuki-Chin community in Bangladesh.
In a letter, the organisation described a series of arrests by the Bangladesh army, which have instilled “widespread fear and insecurity” among the community members.
“Many of our people have been unjustly detained, leaving behind families and loved ones without any means of support,” the letter stated.
This situation, the organisation states, is “both distressing and unacceptable”.
The organisation further stated that persecution of the community in Bangladesh has forced the Kuki-Chin people “to flee their homes and seek refuge in the state of Mizoram”.
Others remain displaced within Bangladesh, some even hiding in the jungle, living in constant fear for their lives, the KCHRO claimed.
The organisation further alleged that around 137 Bawm villages are under threat, urgently needing protection to ensure the safety and security of their residents.
The Kuki-Chin Human Rights Organisation has called on the British Red Cross to intervene into the matter.
The organisation's letter stated that the British Red Cross’s expertise in humanitarian assistance and commitment to upholding human rights, making it a vital ally in alleviating the suffering of the Kuki-Chin community.
The appeal includes specific requests:
Provide emergency aid: The organisation urges the British Red Cross to deliver essential food, shelter, and medical supplies to displaced Kuki-Chin individuals.
Advocate for village protection: The British Red Cross is asked to work with relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of the 137 Bawm villages currently under threat.
Condemn arbitrary arrests: The organisation calls for the British Red Cross to denounce the arbitrary arrests and human rights violations by the Bangladesh army, advocating for the immediate release of the unjustly detained, especially women and children.
It may be mentioned here that over 100 people belonging to the Bawm community, including a pregnant woman and children, have been arrested since April 07 during an ongoing military operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
This crackdown followed the alleged robbery of two banks and the hostage-taking of a bank manager by the armed group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) on April 02 and 03.
Those arrested face charges of alleged sedition under Section 15 of the Special Powers Act, along with various other offences under the Penal Code, including robbery and kidnapping.
Despite these serious accusations, police documents refer to the detainees collectively as “130-150 armed terrorist robbers”, without naming any individuals.
The arrests have sparked concern among human rights groups, who argue that the authorities' broad-brush approach unfairly targets the Bawm community.
