Gunfire Exchanged Between Security Forces and Blockaders in Sajek; Tourists Stranded Again
An exchange of gunfire has taken place between security forces and blockaders in Sajek, Rangamati. Tourists have been stranded in Sajek once again after the clash, which occurred amid the third phase of an indefinite blockade.
The blockade had been under way on the Baghaichhari-Sajek road since Thursday morning. In this situation, gunfire was exchanged between the security forces and the blockaders. No confirmed information about casualties in the incident was yet available.
Thursday was the day the third phase of the Sajek blockade began. Activists of the Sajek Karbari Association and the Sajek Gonoodhikar Rokkha Committee have been observing an indefinite blockade programme since Thursday over a three-point set of demands. A convoy carrying tourists out of Sajek Valley had already been stranded because of their protest.
According to local sources, at around 9:30am on Thursday the protesters stopped the convoy at Ujobazar. Demonstrations with tyres set ablaze were taking place at several points on the road, and tyres were also reported set on fire at a few places including Shuknachhara in Baghaihat, Sajek.
Citing security concerns, the district administration had announced a temporary halt to tourist entry into Sajek at 7pm on Wednesday. Under its directive, all tourists staying in Sajek were told to return safely to their destinations by 4pm on Thursday. But the blockade cut off that very route back — and now an exchange of gunfire has been added to the situation.
Yasin Arafat, lineman of the Sajek Jeep Association, had said that by Wednesday afternoon more than 150 vehicles — large, small and private — had entered Sajek. Vehicles were scheduled to leave Sajek at 8am on Thursday.
Rahul Chakma John, organising secretary of the Sajek Resort-Cottage Owners' Association, had said the tourist escort left Sajek at 9am and was then blocked by the protesters at Ujobazar, where the tourists remained.
The two protesting organisations said they resumed the blockade because their three demands had not been met. From 16 to 21 October the programme had been kept suspended for the Sharadiya Durga Puja, at the request of the Baghaihat and Machlong Bazar Durga Puja celebration committees and out of respect for the Hindu community.
The protesters allege that the JSS armed group's company commanders Chinu Marma and Simon Chakma are leading open armed activity in various villages of Sajek. Many people have been forced to leave their homes because of intimidation and death threats, they claim.
Leaders of the protesting organisations have said their programme will continue until the safety of the area's ordinary people is ensured and the armed activity stops. In other words, without progress on the demands, it cannot be said how long the blockade will last.
Earlier, on 11 October, the indefinite road blockade over the three demands began for the first time. The programme was withdrawn for 48 hours on the local administration's assurance, but alleging that the promises were not implemented, a blockade was called again on 15 October. It was then kept suspended for Durga Puja, and the third phase began on Thursday.
The exchange of gunfire in this third phase has heated the situation further than before. To the blockade, the stranded tourists and the questions over implementation of the administration's assurances has now been added a deterioration of the security situation.
Bringing the stranded tourists back safely is now the most urgent matter. They were due to return by Thursday afternoon under the district administration's directive, but the blockade and the clash have made that schedule uncertain. All eyes are now on whether any understanding is reached between the administration and the protesters to normalise the situation, and on the full account of the gunfire incident.
