Bangladesh rebels end Hill Tracts insurgency
05:21 a.m. Feb 10, 1998 Eastern
By Nizam Ahmed

KHAGRACHHARI, Bangladesh, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Tribal Shanti Bahini
guerrillas fighting for autonomy in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill
Tracts formally surrendered on Tuesday, ending a 25-year insurgency
that has claimed more than 8,500 lives.

The rebels laid down their weapons at a colourful ceremony at a
huge football stadium in Khagrachhari hill town.

Shanti Bahini chief Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, better known as
Shantu Larma, was the first to hand over his Chinese-made rifle to
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina gave him a bouquet of white roses, and said ``this day will
be forever remembered.''

After Larma, a total of 739 rebels handed their weapons to army
officers amid cheers and applause from some 25,000 spectators.

``I feel good. This day marks the end of Shanti Bahini,'' Larma
told reporters giving his immediate reaction.

Larma, who also heads the Parbatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity
(PCJSS), political wing of the Shanti Bahini, said: ``Peace is a
relative matter. We will try to keep PCJSS alive as a regional
political party.'' He did not elaborate.

Some 1,200 more rebels will surrender before the end of February
in response to a general amnesty offered in return for surrender
after the two sides signed a peace treaty on December 2, officials
said. The treaty also provides for giving sweeping powers to tribal
leaders in local administration.

The function was attended by ministers, diplomats, civil and
military officials.

The Shanti Bahini began an insurgency in 1973 over demands for
autonomy for the 5,500 sq-mile (14,200 sq-km) Hill Tracts bordering
India and Myanmar (Burma).

They also demanded expulsion of some half a million Bengali-speaking
settlers from the region.

Hasina said the insurgency had been fuelled during the past two
decades by ``wrong policies'' of past government.

``Sad happenings in the past had forced a section of tribespeople
to flee to India. Now we want to forget the past and look forward
to a bright new future,'' the prime minister said.

She also urged all people in the Hill Tracts to remain alert against
``conspiracies'' to foil peace and misleading propaganda to frustrate
development planned for the area.

Hasina said nearly 38,000 tribal refugees had returned to their homes
in the Hill Tracts and hoped the rest would return soon.

Officials said earlier some 55,000 tribespeople had fled the country
during the past decade.

``Any attempt to create violence will be dealt with with a heavy hand.
We want no more bloodshed, we want peace sustained in the Hill Tracts
and peaceful co-existence of its people,'' the prime minister said.

Hasina criticised opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
headed by her predecessor Begum Khaleda Zia, and its right-wing allies
who opposed the treaty and called a general strike in the Hill Tracts
on Tuesday.

``The peace treaty... in no way threatens the country's sovereignty
but opens up avenues for great development, including tourism and
investment,'' she said.

The day-long strike partially disrupted transport on roads leading
to the Hill Tracts but it had little impact on business and public
life, witnesses said.

Troops were deployed along highways to ensure safe passage for
guests going to Khagrachhari to attend Tuesday's ceremony, they
said.

Hasina said the government would spend 21.4 billion taka ($462
million) on development in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Later, Hasina released white pigeons and balloons while tribal and
Bengali artists danced and sang together.

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