Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA1866
2006-04-04 10:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dhaka
how-toVZCZCXRO1540 RR RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #1866 0941017 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041017Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6656 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1060 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8475 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7382 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9005 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
UNCLAS DHAKA 001866
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KIRF BG
SUBJECT: CHURCH BURNING IN HILL TRACTS
UNCLAS DHAKA 001866
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KIRF BG
SUBJECT: CHURCH BURNING IN HILL TRACTS
1. (U) On April 2, local newspapers reported that arsonists
burned down a church in the remote village of Lambopara in
the Khagrachhari Hill District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts,
apparently in retaliation for the conversion of local
Buddhists to Christianity.
2. (SBU) Two Bangladeshi journalists, an area political
leader, and a field officer of a Bangladeshi intelligence
service confirmed to us this account. Within the last year,
they said, some 19 Lambopara families from the Buddhist
Chakma tribe had converted to Christianity, and on March 20
they had erected a tin-roofed church building. On March 30,
local leaders reportedly held a community gathering on March
30 to remonstrate with the converted Christians and their
action to build a church.
3. (SBU) The chairman of the Khagrachhari district council
told us there is disagreement on who owns the land where the
church was built, and that the Buddhist Chakmas had wanted to
build a pagoda on the site where the church stood.
4. (SBU) Christian missionaries based in Chittagong told us
that tribal communities frequently ostracize converts for
their perceived disloyalty to custom and family, but normally
the community ends up accepting the change, and the converts
reintegrate into community life. In this case, tensions
escalated, they noted, because of the dispute over the land
in question.
5. (SBU) The intelligence field officer told us that the
converted Christians, at the advice of local law enforcement,
have moved to the sub-district headquarters in Panchari for
personal security. He indicated they would likely return to
their homes soon.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KIRF BG
SUBJECT: CHURCH BURNING IN HILL TRACTS
1. (U) On April 2, local newspapers reported that arsonists
burned down a church in the remote village of Lambopara in
the Khagrachhari Hill District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts,
apparently in retaliation for the conversion of local
Buddhists to Christianity.
2. (SBU) Two Bangladeshi journalists, an area political
leader, and a field officer of a Bangladeshi intelligence
service confirmed to us this account. Within the last year,
they said, some 19 Lambopara families from the Buddhist
Chakma tribe had converted to Christianity, and on March 20
they had erected a tin-roofed church building. On March 30,
local leaders reportedly held a community gathering on March
30 to remonstrate with the converted Christians and their
action to build a church.
3. (SBU) The chairman of the Khagrachhari district council
told us there is disagreement on who owns the land where the
church was built, and that the Buddhist Chakmas had wanted to
build a pagoda on the site where the church stood.
4. (SBU) Christian missionaries based in Chittagong told us
that tribal communities frequently ostracize converts for
their perceived disloyalty to custom and family, but normally
the community ends up accepting the change, and the converts
reintegrate into community life. In this case, tensions
escalated, they noted, because of the dispute over the land
in question.
5. (SBU) The intelligence field officer told us that the
converted Christians, at the advice of local law enforcement,
have moved to the sub-district headquarters in Panchari for
personal security. He indicated they would likely return to
their homes soon.
BUTENIS