US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4354

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004354 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, BG, Rural Development 
SUBJECT: KHASIA INDIGENOUS LAND ISSUES IN MOULVIBAZAAR 
 
REF: DHAKA 3982 
 
Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Counselor David Renz, reasons 1.4(d) 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  In the wake of a recent attack on Khasia 
betel leaf crops, Khasia indigenous groups continue to try 
and resolve land claims with the government. Media reports 
may have exaggerated the scope of the attack. END SUMMARY 
 
2. (SBU) On August 27-30, Poloff visited the Moulvibazaar 
district, located in northeast Bangladesh in the Sylhet 
division, to visit indigenous groups in relation to report of 
a recent attack and forced eviction of a Khasia village and 
to follow up on the deaths of six people in a bordering 
village which police claim were Indian insurgents (septel). 
Poloff also met with government officials, local BNP and AL 
leaders, and journalists in the area. 
 
ATTACK ON KHASIA CROPS AUGUST 3 
--------------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Khasia leaders, Father Joseph Gomes, a Bengali 
priest involved in activism on behalf of indigenous groups, 
and Mahbub Morshed, a local Forestry Department official, 
each claim that Forestry officials and local Bengalis 
involved in the Forestry Department's "Social Forestry" 
project, destroying Khasia betel leaf crops on August 3. 
Khasia leaders recounted a group of 400-600 Bengalis and 
Forestry Officials who came with two elephants while Morshed 
said a group of about 30 with a few Forestry Officials 
destroyed the crops. 
 
4. (SBU) Poloff went to the specific village that allegedly 
came under attack and did not see much evidence of crop 
destruction along the way.  Leaders at the village were 
reluctant to show evidence of crop destruction saying it was 
further away and out of view.  When asked about other 
problems, leaders, only mentioned the need for a road 
connecting their village to the main road (currently an hour 
plus hike up muddy paths from the main road).  Contrary to 
press reports and previous statements from Father Gomes, none 
described any attack or forced eviction of Khasia villages 
(reftel). 
 
5. (SBU) Khasia leaders filed a court case after police 
refused to accept their formal complaint about the attack. 
Khasia leaders did report, however, that police were 
concerned about the well-being of the Khasias and sent 
security forces the following day for their protection. 
There are currently 8-10 people accused of the incident and 
their case is pending in court. 
 
KHASIAS STRUGGLING WITH BDG OVER UNRESOLVED LAND CLAIMS 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
6. (SBU) Father Joseph Gomes, provided background on land 
disputes between the Khasia and the government.  According to 
Gomes, the Forest Department initiated two Eco Park projects 
in 1999 on land where the Khasia people have lived and farmed 
betel leaf, their livelihood source, for generations.  One 
project was designed for 1,500 acres and the other for 800 
acres.  While the Khasia leaders have been able to delay the 
1,500 acre project through their protests and activism, the 
800 acre project is underway. 
 
7. (SBU) Morshed, told us that Eco Parks are designed for 
"conservation management for the benefit of local people." 
The BDG says that it will use the Eco Park to preserve 
ecosystems, plant new types of trees, and build 
infrastructures for research and training.  Khasia leaders 
claim, however, that there is plenty of other idle land in 
the area and only land which Khasias have traditionally lived 
and cultivated crops on has been targeted for Eco Park 
construction. 
 
8. (SBU) The land claimed by the Khasia is mostly 
unregistered and thus officially under government ownership 
according to Morshed, Gomes, and Nawab Abu Abbus, former MP 
and whose family previously owned all the land in the 
surrounding area.   While some Khasia leaders have titles to 
their land and claim to be paying land taxes, most do not 
have titles because they did not find the registration 
process necessary in the early 1950's when land registration 
began.  Traditional nomadic customs and collective ownership 
traditions further complicate Khasia compliance with land 
registration policies.  Forestry Official Morshed 
acknowledged the need for a permanent solution so that the 
indigenous groups could have full legal rights to their land 
and the BDG can "better protect the forest." 
 
9. (C) COMMENT:  The land disputes between the Khasia and the 
BDG has been a long-standing problem.  Some indigenous 
activists and politicians seem to be taking advantage of this 
protracted situation for their personal gain at the expense 
of the Khasia.  There is reason to believe that the scope of 
the recent attack has been exaggerated.  Viewed in this 
light, the attack on Khasia betel leaf crops can be read as 
an attempt by some to inflame this long-standing dispute for 
their own political gain.  END COMMENT. 
CHAMMAS