VZCZCXRO0290
RR RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1254/01 3420804
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070804Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7861
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2485
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0965
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9984
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8745
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2696
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1591

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001254 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BG
SUBJECT: USG DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN CHITTAGONG HILL 
TRACTS TO ADDRESS SIMMERING ETHNIC TENSIONS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) Political and civil society leaders in the 
strategic Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) described to 
Ambassador Moriarty simmering ethnic tensions that 
continued to plague the region. Land disputes remain 
the main area of contention between local tribal 
groups and Bengali settlers. The campaign for the 
December 29 Parliament elections could further 
polarize the communities given the disparate views of 
local leaders of the major parties. In inaugurating 
the first development project fully funded by USAID in 
the region, the Ambassador strongly signaled the U.S. 
GovernmentQs desire to help mitigate underlying local 
problems that fuel the ethnic tension. Stability in 
the Chittagong Hill Tracts is important to ensure 
terrorists from neighboring India and Burma do not use 
the region as a safe haven. 
 
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USG LAUNCHES INAUGURAL PROGRAM IN THE CHT 
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¶2. (SBU) On November 18, Ambassador Moriarty launched 
the Integrated Protected Area Co-management project, 
the first U.S. Government program in the region since 
Bangladesh independence in 1971. This program, with a 
total value of USD 13 million, will focus on 
sustainable natural resource management and 
biodiversity conservation, while promoting equitable 
economic growth and environmental governance. These 
development issues are at the heart of the land 
disputes between indigenous tribes and Bengalis who 
have moved to the Hill Tracts from elsewhere in 
overpopulated Bangladesh. 
 
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A LONG HISTORY OF LAND RIGHTS DISPUTES 
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¶3. (U) The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 
13,180 square kilometers in southeastern Bangladesh 
and borders India and Myanmar. About half the regionQs 
1.5 million people belong to indigenous ethnic groups 
that mainly follow Theravada Buddhism. Bengali Muslims 
account for most of the rest of the population. Many 
of the Bengalis arrived from densely populated regions 
of Bangladesh as part of a massive government 
resettlement drive in the 1970s and 1980s. The state 
gave the settlers title to local land, leading to a 
resistance movement led by the Shanti Bahini guerilla 
force. The Government deployed more than 80,000 
security personnel during the 1970s, turning the 
region into a militarized zone. The military presence 
remains strong. 
 
¶4. (U) The Government of Bangladesh and tribal 
communities signed a Peace Accord in 1997 but it still 
has not been fully implemented. The Accord stipulated 
the transfer of all government offices to minority-led 
District Councils, but the critical Forest Department 
and the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation 
offices are among several remaining outside the 
councilsQ control. The government still appoints 
members of Regional Councils and District Councils, 
although the Accord calls for their election. 
Additionally, a Land Commission established in 2001 to 
determine ownership of CHT land has yet to be formed. 
 
¶5. (U) Another land issue stems from the migration of 
indigenous communities to remote Hill Tracts areas in 
fear of attacks by Bengali settlers. Many tribal 
groups have moved into reserve forests and other 
protected areas, where they live under constant threat 
of eviction by the Forest Department. Illegal logging 
by the military, traders, government officials and 
Bengali settlers also have pushed indigenous farmers 
deeper into the countryside and even into neighboring 
countries. The degradation of the rain forest poses a 
clear threat to the itinerant hillside cultivation 
practiced for generations by the indigenous 
population. 
 
DHAKA 00001254  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) During his visits to indigenous communities, 
Ambassador Moriarty heard several accounts of Bengali 
settlers grabbing land farmed by tribesmen. Cultivable 
land is scarce in the hilltops, and tribal villagers 
with titles to their land recounted how Bengali 
settlers showed up with documents claiming ownership. 
Villagers acknowledged that in a number of recent 
cases, judgments have gone in favor of the indigenous 
population when the disputes were brought to court. 
 
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NATIONAL ELECTIONS COULD EXACERBATE LOCAL TENSION 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The stark political differences in the Hill 
Tracts were on display during a November 19 dinner 
among the Ambassador and local leaders of the 
countryQs two major parties, the Awami League, and the 
Bangladesh National Party (BNP). Rangamati District 
BNP President Zahir Ahmed, a Bengali Muslim, supported 
equal access to local land and government positions 
for settlers. Dipankar Talukdar, a former Member of 
Parliament for the Awami League who is from a local 
tribe, advocated equal rights with protection of 
minorities. He acknowledged that his relatively 
moderate views were unpopular among indigenous people. 
Both politicians displayed considerable anger and 
resentment at how QunfairlyQ their supporters were 
being treated by the other side.  Nurul Alam Siddique, 
representing the JamaQat party was also present at the 
dinner but he was silent for most of the discussion. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Ethnic tension could increase should 
campaigning further polarize the Bengali and 
indigenous populations before the December 29 
Parliament elections. Among those preaching calm is 
Sadhanananda Mohathera, popularly called the QBono 
Bhante.Q The wizened 88-year-old is revered by all 
people of the Hill Tracts regardless of their 
religious faith. He preaches the Buddhist philosophy 
of non-violence and is an important stabilizing force 
in the region.  He told the Ambassador that the 
indigenous people of the Hills had to figure out a way 
to live with the Bengalis: Qwe have no choice. 
 
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COMMENT: U.S. PRESENCE CAN HELP THE CHT 
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¶9. (SBU) The Chittagong Hill Tracts is a land in 
conflict. The divide among Bengali settlers and tribal 
hill-people can easily flare given the regionQs 
extreme poverty and disparate views over fundamental 
rights and access to land.  The new USG presence 
through USAID-funded development activity should help 
tribal communities bring about long-lasting change 
that will strengthen their fragile livelihoods. 
Embassy personnel will make regular trips to the 
Chittagong Hill Tracts to monitor the new development 
work and to encourage all sides to settle differences 
peaceably and through respectful negotiations. 
Creating a more stable environment will discourage 
both domestic and international terrorists from using 
the Chittagong Hill Tracts as a safe haven. 
 
PASI