Orissa Burning

"I Thought I Might Not Even Get a Burial": Fr. Digal

2008-09-11T15:43:00.000+05:30

Priest Recounts Close Brush With Death In Orissa

Father Bernard Digal, one of three Catholic priests who escaped death during anti-Christian violence in Orissa state, wondered if he would even get a burial after being beaten and left to die.

UCA News reports:

Father Digal, treasurer of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese, was visiting Sankarakhole parish when the violence began on Aug. 24. He narrated his close brush with death to UCA News.

On Aug. 23, the priest and his driver Sisir Pradhan left the archdiocesan headquarters in the state capital of Bhubaneswar, 1,745 kilometers southeast of New Delhi. They reached Sankarakhole at around 10:30 p.m.

"We had dinner. As we were preparing to go to bed after a tiring day, we received a call" saying Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a Hindu leader based in the state's Kandhamal district, was shot dead. "I could not believe it. We went to bed," he recalled.

He recounted that he woke up the next morning hearing anti-Christian slogans and people "yelling outside," saying they wanted to kill missioners.

Father Alexander Chandy, the parish's 65-year-old pastor, Pradhan and Father Digal remained inside the church compound the whole day and moved to a forested area at night.

The situation "got worse" on Aug. 24, Father Digal continued. "We kept getting information on attacks and killings in villages. We got stuck in the forest and survived on dry food."

Father Chandy was sick and could not walk far. To provide him better shelter, the younger priest and his driver went to the house of another priest's brother in the village. They wanted to use his motorcycle to go to a safer place.

Father Digal said they saw the entire house, including the motorcycle, on fire. The two of them then went to see the priest's sister in the village. She urged them to go to a safer place as people had threatened to destroy her house.

The two went to nearby Dudukangia village, where 15 Christian families lived. But the Christians refused them shelter, saying they too had received similar threats.

By then, night had fallen. Since returning to their hiding place in the forest was risky, the two decided to sleep in the village church that had already been torched. "It had only walls standing. We thought the mob would not come, and we were tired of walking all day. Our legs were swollen."

At 11:30 p.m., however, people came to the demolished church. "Seeing the mob, we ran," shared Father Digal. "Pradhan ran fast, but I was caught. The mob shouted to each other to kill me. I pleaded for my life, but they ignored me."

The mob then hit him with crowbars and sticks. "The beatings came like heavy rain. They stripped me naked and asked for mobile phones," the priest recalled.

He said he managed to run some distance but was caught. "I fell to the ground and they continued hammering me. Soon I saw blood flowing from my head and lost consciousness. They thought I was dead and left me."

In his semi-conscious state, the priest said he thought he heard wolf cries and feared the animals would feed on him. "I thought I might not even get a burial. I prayed to the Lord."

Later, two villagers came. By then, the priest's body had become numb because of the wet ground and a cold night breeze.

The villagers brought the church's broken door and helped him lie on it. They also brought him some water. "I was feeling a bit better," he said, "and the villagers left me alone."

His driver came looking for him in the morning, and later informed the police. Along with a few villagers, the police took Father Digal to a public health center in the village and later moved him to the district hospital.

After much pressure, the state administration brought Father Digal to a better hospital in Bhubaneswar. "There is no place left in my body where I was not beaten," said the priest, who is now receiving treatment in a hospital in Mumbai, western India.

VIDEO: Orissa's Religious Violence Explained

2008-09-11T15:29:00.001+05:30

A Video Explaining the Anti-Christian Violence in Orissa

In the video, Umasankar Acharya, Bajrang Dal summarizes the motive of the anti-Christian violence thus:

"We will get the whole Hindu nation together and whoever stands against the rights of Hindus, we will finish them... India has always been, is and forever will be a Hindu nation."

The video:

Orissa Archbishop Says His Life is in Danger

2008-09-11T14:59:00.005+05:30

Archbishop Cheenath Says His Life is Under Threat in Orissa

Normalcy Still a Long Way Off for Christians Living in Fear

Only a Ban on Hardline Groups Can Bring Lasting Communal Peace

Deccan Herald reports:

Monsignor Raphael Cheenath, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar says his life is under threat in Orissa and normalcy is still a long way off for Christians living in fear and in hiding in the violence hit areas.

He’s had to cancel his return to Bhubaneshwar twice because of fears that there could be an attack against him, he told Deccan Herald from Mumbai.

Bishop Cheenath also disputes the assessment that things are getting back to normalcy in Kandhamal.

“Things are apparently quiet because there is nothing left to destroy. As far as I know normalcy has not returned. How can it, when people are mortally afraid to return to their homes and priests and other religious are being hunted down and are still in hiding?”

Disturbed by the reports he has received from the volatile region, Bishop Cheenath says Sangh Parivar groups have begun a systematic campaign in the last few days to compel tribal Christians to swear they have been converted under the threat of death.

“Six or seven groups are going from village to village terrorising Christians in this manner,” he said. He refused to see the recent communal flare-up as an outcome of a deep divide between Hindus and Christians in Orissa.
“It is purely the handiwork of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal,” he said.

“The vast majority of Hindus have good relations with us and many Hindus helped and sheltered Christians and even threatened those responsible for the December 2007 riots. Unfortunately, moderate Hindus are being ‘cowed down by the sangh today’, he said.

In Orissa, Christian institutions have been open to all and benefited Hindus equally.

There are more Hindus than Christians in church-run schools. Responding to the VHP’s allegations of forced conversions in tribal areas the Bishop says such accusations only “belittle the tribals as lacking in judgement”.

The bishop says only a ban on hardline groups like the VHP and the Bajrang Dal can bring lasting communal peace to the area.

“There cannot be a long term solution under the present conditions with the Sangh persisting with its hidden hate campaign which poisons the mind’s of people,” he said.

FIACONA Demands Ban on VHP

2008-09-11T14:28:00.003+05:30

Federation of Indian American Christian Organization of North America

Press Release

09-11-08

Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA) seeks an immediate ban on Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), as the VHP has openly established itself as an anti-Christian organization of militant characteristics. The militancy is nowhere short of terrorism and it neither reflects the thoughts of the majority Indian Hindus nor does it represent them. The violence against Christians in Orissa was perpetrated by Hindu radicals, allegedly by the VHP. Hindus are a peace-loving community who follow Ahimsa (non-violence). President of FIACONA, Reverend Bernard Malik says, "Since VHP does not follow Ahimsa, it has no right to represent Hindus, it has become a militant organization that most of the Hindus do not identify with, and thus in the interest of the Hindus and in the national interest of secularism, FIACONA demands an immediate ban on the VHP." Mr. Titus Mathew General Secretary said, "Because of its bloody track record VHP should be disowned by all Indians and particularly by Hindus for misrepresentation of true Hindu values."

Congress seeks ban on VHP, Bajrang Dal. The Congress sought a ban on the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, saying they were involved in "activities detrimental to the unity and integrity of the country...These organizations should be banned," Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said. Slamming the BJP-Biju Janata Dal ruling combine in Orissa, where communal violence has claimed several lives, Tiwari accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of being ineffective and of "succumbing to the pressure of BJP to become a party to political polarization".

Left urges President to ban VHP, Dal. A delegation led by senior CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat and comprising CPI leaders D. Raja and Gurudas Dasgupta and CPI (M) MP Suresh Kurup, asked President Pratibha Patil to direct the Orissa government to rein in the saffron outfits which are involved in "killing" number of Christians in the state.

Shri Paswan seeks an immediate ban on the VHP. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan demanded a ban on the Rashtriya Swyamasevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal for alleged violence against Christians in Orissa, as he says, "If the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has to be banned, then why not VHP, Bajrang Dal or RSS".

Swami Agnivesh demands ban on VHP and Bajrang Dal. Social activist and World Council of Arya Samaj President Swami Agnivesh demanded a complete ban on the activities of VHP and Bajrang Dal in the country. "There is enough evidence to put a ban on these two organizations ... Bajrang Dal in fact is emerging as a 'terrorist' organization in the country," Swami Agnivesh remarked while expressing concern over the communal violence in Orissa allegedly unleashed by the members of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.

Noted social activist Teesta Setalvad seeks a ban on VHP. She says, "The violence by VHP and Bajrang Dal against religious minorities in Orissa shows that these are violent terror outfits…It is part of a greater conspiracy to spread communal tensions. SIMI is banned for the same and hence Bajrang Dal and its affiliates should also be banned".

Other social activists also demand a ban on the VHP. The social activists, who included among others Ms Meenakshi Ganguly from Asia Division Human Rights Watch, National Integration Council member Shabnam Hasmi, National Dalit Movement for Justice general secretary Dr.Sirivella Prasad and AIDMAM National Convener Vimal Thorat, urged the Orissa state government to arrest all those responsible for attack on the Christians, launch comprehensive relief and rescue operation to bring the displaced to safer places, involve NGOs and Civil Society in relief and rescue operation, punish the officials who failed in their job to protect the lives of the people and deploy adequate central Para military forces to contain the violence.

Dr. Victor Joseph Chairman of Government Relations said, “As is evident from the above, the majority of Hindus do not follow the ideology of the VHP that has become a militant organization.” Mr. Abraham Mammen the National Vice President said, “FIACONA condemns the alleged role of the VHP in the Orissa killings of innocent Christians and demands an immediate ban of the VHP.”

Kandhamal Christians Will Be Wiped Out: VHP Vows

2008-09-11T00:51:00.000+05:30

The Christians Will Be Wiped Out From Kandhamal: VHP Vows

Dhirendra Panda writes:

I am born of a hindu Brahmin family. My father and other relatives being devotedly religious persons used to tell me that sanyasis are symbols of love, care, truth, justice above earthly hatred-ness, jealousy, violence. We were told about the stories of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Param Hansa, Sri Chaitanya, Jayadev, Aurovindo.

During my childhood, it would have been quite difficult to digest that sadhus and saints engaged for spreading hate and violence. Similarly there would be many people to disbelieve that sadhus are campaigning for votes to a particular party and using religion for political ends. So nobody should get surprised if they call for wiping out the Christians from Kandhamal.

On 6th August 2008 there were 144 in and around Swadhinata Sangrami Sadan Ground. Considering the announcements and assurance given by the Police Officers and others, it was thought the government will not allow any rally or meeting of VHP. But the VHP had its Sraddhanjali sabha (Tribute paying meet) and along with sadhu (ascetic holy man) sanths (saints), BJP leaders such as Suresh Pujari (President,Orissa BJP), Prasanna Mishra, Panchanan Rout, MLA Pratap Sarangi and Subash Chouhan, Bajranga Dal leader were present in the Meeting.

Please read some of the statements given in the meeting

Mahant Swami Satchidananda Maharaj, presiding over the Meet:

Sacrifice of Swamiji will be meaningful once the cow-slaughter and conversion is totally stopped in the state. In each village committees will be formed to actualize the dreams of Swamiji. If the villagers get awareness, these will be stopped automatically.

Tridandi Swami Bhagwan Das:

Now the Hindus have become minority. There is an international conspiracy behind it. The Christians, majority in 186 countries have not only killed Laxmanananda, but also doing this; they have challenged the entire Hindu Society.

Swami Arupananda Maharaj:

Attack on Swamiji is the same as attacking the 'Hindu Religion'. All the saints/sadhus need to counter-attack unitedly otherwise the entire India will be converted into a Christian nation.

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati:

Once the Englishmen came for trade and commerce had occupied our country. Now Christians in the name of 'the minorityism' have come again to take away our 'independence'. If the attack continues like this, the Hindu community will be wiped out one day.

Swami Satyapriya Maharaj, Arya Samaj:

The Government is like a eunuch that could not give protection to Swamiji, but continue in giving protection to murderers.

Abinash Baba, Joranda:

This is a country of saints and sadhus and the country is 'functioning' for them only. The Government should provide security and protection to mathas and temples.

Ramacharan Das Maharaj:

Limiting ourselves in mere blaming the Government will not serve the purpose. We have to realize and decide that whoever will be able to understand the Hindu religion and respect the saints and sadhus can sit on the throne. If this happens, all the problems will be solved.

Swami Chanmayananda Maharaj:

The Hindus occupying 85 % of total population are screaming, but the government pays no heed to it. The situation is like this only because we are not united. If we unitedly put all our votes for one party, everything will be set aright. Shankaracharya should be entrusted with the responsibility to decide whom to vote for and issue 'whips' to cast all our votes accordingly. By this whichever party comes to power will be compelled to respect our words.

Ashok Sahu, President, Hindu Jagaran Samukhya (former DG, Police Assam):

[Archbishop] Raphael Cheenath, President, Loka Sangram Dalit Manch and John Doyal have hands behind the murder of Laxmanananda.

Gouri Prasad Rath, General Secretary, VHP:

Now Orissa is run under demonic prowess. The sadhus and sanths were arrested for no reason. They were not allowed to have darshan (see) to Sri Ram temple. The Police should beg apology for insulting the Hindu community in Orissa by arresting the sadhus and saints. As we were not allowed to hold condolence (sradhhanjali) rally, henceforth we'll never allow anybody to hold peace rallies here. Unless the killers of Swamiji are arrested, there will be no peace in Orissa.

Ashok Tiwary, VHP's Akhil Bharatiya Dharma Jagaran Pramukh; Ramanuj Das Moharaj, Chintamani Parbat Maharaj, Mahanta Raghubir Das Maharaj, Mahanta Ram Charan Das Maharaj, Mahant Ramakrishna Das Maharaj, Sankarananda Maharaj, Mahant Narayan Baba, Brahmachari Jiban Chaitanya Maharaj, Swami Prana Swarupananda Maharaj have taken vow – The Christians will be wiped out from Kandhamal.

27 Year Old Man Beaten & Buried Alive!

2008-09-10T20:01:00.003+05:30

How 27 Year Old Rajesh Digal Was Buried Alive by the Mob

Rajesh Digal (27 Yrs), Christian was buried alive near Paburia, under Tikabali Police station in Kandhamal district.

Kamal, brother in law of Rajesh Digal narrates the chilling incident.

Rajesh Digal and and Tunguru Mallick work in Chennai.

On 24th August 2008 they were coming to Bataguda on a home visit but were held up at G. Udaygiri. They could not get any public transport to reach their village Bataguda (situated about 60 km from G.Udagiri) because the VHP had called a Bundh, on account of the death of their leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. Finally, the two decided to walk it out.

As they had reached Paburia the mob stopped them and asked their identity. They told about themselves but the mob identified Rajesh as a Christian. When they checked his bag, they found a Bible. Thereafter, they started beating him as they pleased and Rajesh fell down.

While Rajesh was being beaten, some others started digging a pit. When they completed digging the pit, they proceeded to bury Rajesh who was still alive.

"Why are you burying me? I am still alive" Rajesh asked.

"Call your Jesus. He will save you" they replied and buried him alive.

Then they caught hold of Tunguru who was watching everything. They poured kerosene on him and set him on fire. But he somehow escaped and ran for his life and reached village where he narrated whatever happened to the villagers and to Mr. Kamal.

Tunguru, who had a narrow escape from being burnt alive, still bears the burn marks on his body.

Rajesh Digal who was buried alive, leaves behind two young girls and an aging mother. The family is in the refugee camp and could not lodge even an FIR to the police.

No Relief for Christians Even in Relief Camps

2008-09-10T19:29:00.001+05:30

Orissa: No Peace for Christians Even in Refugee Camps

Even in the camps, the faithful find fundamentalists who coerce them to convert to Hinduism. Priests also threatened and abused.

AsiaNews reports:

There is no end to the tension in Orissa, where for two weeks a pogrom has been underway against Christians. Many of the faithful who have taken shelter in the refugee camps after their homes were destroyed and burned have found themselves threatened in the camps as well, where they should be protected by the police.

The threats come from the Hindu radicals of the VHP (Viswa Hindu Parishad) and of the RSS (Rastriya Swyamsevak Sangh), who force the tribals to convert back to Hinduism, or suffer new violence. Some of the priests and their relatives have also been threatened, and as a sign of their "reconversion", they are shaved bald like sadhus (Hindu ascetics).

According to accounts sent to AsiaNews from Bhubaneshwar, the fundamentalist groups are also spreading through the villages and forcing the Christians to sign papers saying that they are "freely" returning to Hinduism. Those who refuse are beaten, and their homes are burned.

Sometimes - sources tell AsiaNews - as a sign of their "new life", they are forced to burn the churches and homes of other Christians.

And the destruction itself is becoming more "intelligent". Sometimes, instead of burning homes, the fundamentalists content themselves with taking all of the furniture and objects out of it, and destroying them. In this way, they say, they make the families poor and exclude them from reimbursement by the government, which has promised money for those who have had their homes burned. This method is also useful in case the fundamentalists are arrested by the police: arson is punishable with years in prison, but the distraction of objects with only a few months.

Orissa Refuses CBI Probe into Kandhamal Riots

2008-09-10T19:01:00.003+05:30

Orissa refuses to hand over Kandhamal riot case to CBI

Says CBI Has Lost Its Credibility

Orissa's BJP led state government has rejected the opposition's demand for a CBI probe into communal violence in Kandhamal.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) established on 1 April 1963, is India's premier investigating agency, responsible for a wide variety of criminal and national security matters.

"CBI had lost its credibility by giving clean chit to Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, an accused in the Bofors case" Orissa's Excise Minister Debi Prasad Mishra told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

The Minister also claimed that the Orissa police was effectively investigating into the killing of VHP leader Laxmananda Saraswati and communal violence thereafter.

More in this report.

Violence Will be Met With Violence: VHP Chief

2008-09-10T18:35:00.003+05:30

Violence Will be Met With Violence, Warns VHP Leader Praveen Togadia

Claims VHP Not Involved in Orissa Violence

On India's National Newspaper:

NEW DELHI- Unfazed by the criticism his group has faced over the violence in Orissa, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia has said that violence against Hindus will be met with violence.

Even as he denied the involvement of the VHP, the radical Hindu group, in the attacks on the Christian community and churches in the state, he insisted that Hindus had the right to retaliate.

"If a violent religion is targeting a section of Hindu society, there would be a violent reaction," Togadia, a surgeon by profession, told IANS in a telephonic interview.

<...>

VHP supporters and tribals went on the offensive against the killings, attacking and torching Christian homes and churches in remote rural areas, leaving at least 16 people dead and many injured.

Thousands of poor Christians fled their homes and villages. As the bloodshed raged for days, the community frantically urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene to end the mayhem.

But Togadia insisted that Maoists did not kill Saraswati and that Christians were to blame.

"Maoists have nothing to do with this. The Orissa government is trying to save Christians in the area by releasing all this fake (information)," he said. He added that the media was wrongly blaming him and his organisation unnecessarily.

"Don't blame me or my organisation for what is happening in Orissa. It is for the police and the judicial system to pinpoint who is to blame. In Orissa, it is a fight between tribals and Christians."

You Can Live Here Only As Hindus, Christians Told

2008-09-10T18:24:00.007+05:30

Kandhamal Christians Under 'Threat' to Convert

Aditi Tandon writes from Kandhamal on The Tribune

The anti-Christian flame in Kandhamal may have become dimmer for a while, but it is far from blown out. Fuelling it is the issue of conversion, which has become a determinant of people’s lives in this part of the country.

Several Christians in 11 blocks of the tribal districts are said to have been “forcibly converted” as Hindus in the past 17 days of mayhem; the rest say they are facing a choice between life and faith.

“The radicals have told us that we can live here only as Hindus. They are giving deadlines to people to convert or be prepared to face the worst. They asked my family to fall in line by 8 pm on September 3. When we did not agree to convert, they razed our properties,” Jitender Digal, a refugee at Bijaya High School camp in Raikia block, told The Tribune.

In Kandhamal, minorities furnish proof of how “force and fear” is being used to deter people from their faith. Lalu Naik of Balliguda block shows this correspondent a letter whose text, he says, the radicals have framed for the Christians to follow. Signed by Lalu’s father Babulal Naik and 10 members of his family, the letter reads: “Shrijukta Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) mahodaya (Respected VHP official), I was a Christian until now, but I voluntarily want to embrace Hinduism.”

The sample, claim refugees, is meant to facilitate Christians’ conversion to Hindu religion. Such letters have been floating around for a fortnight, with covert but stern messages to Christians to convert. The first targets in this “war” of conversion are pastors, now hiding in the relief camps by thousands. Three of them - Samuel Naik, Akhar Digal and Dibya Digal from Raikia and Udaygiri blocks - have already lost their lives in the recent violence. In each case, the killers first asked the victims if they were ready to become Hindus, say relatives.

Samuel Naik’s son Ramesh, who witnessed killings of his father and grandmother, recounts, “They gave three warnings to my father. When he refused to abandon his faith, they slaughtered him. My grandmother met the same fate.” Ramesh is now hiding at the G Udaygiri camp, while his mother Upojini Naik is at the Raikia relief camp, where over 200 pastors are seeking refuge.

Among them are Subodh Naik, Bijay Pradhan, Subodh Digal and Ulkeshan Naik, who claim being on the radicals’ hit list. “They want us to join them and prove our loyalty by attacking churches and killing Christians. They have threatened to eliminate us if we don’t listen to them.” Many pastors are missing or feared dead.

As for forcible conversions, they are mostly reported to be happening in G Udaygiri, Raikia, Tikabali, Chakapad and Balliguda blocks, with Christians now demanding a separate district. Ashok Behera, a camper at Tikabali, says, “We want a district with a Christian collector, a Christian SP and a Christian block development officer. We have lost faith in the system as close to 2,000 Christians have been converted.”

VHP leaders for their part remain adamant as ever, claiming they will “do everything possible to protect the Hindu faith in Orissa.” Kabi Chandra Nath, who assumed charge of the Jalaspeta ashram after Laxmananda Saraswati’s death, goes to the extent of defending the radical stand, saying, “We are not converting anyone. We are simply bringing misguided followers back to the fold.” Never mind the cost.

"I Will Die. But I Won’t Stop Being a Christian"

2008-09-09T23:58:00.002+05:30

The Plea for Deliverance on the Lips of Fleeing Christians

WHEN THEY came for Narmada Digal, she wasn’t there. She had fled, five children and mother-inlaw in tow, to the safety of the jungles a kilometre away. So, they set about what she left behind. A framed picture of Jesus, a Bible in Oriya, utensils in the kitchen, some clothes, and linen.

By the time Narmada tiptoed back, her home was gone. What was left was still hot from the ashes, and smoking. The neighbours came to commiserate. Narmada took a good look, stood erect, and pulled her sari over her head. She began to pray.

“Lord, forgive us our sins. Jesus, you are the only one. Save us from our misfortune. Free us, Lord.” The words are tumbling out.

Narmada’s children have joined her. She is weeping as she pleads for deliverance. So is everybody else. It’s a simple bond that no human wrath can sever, a woman and her God. “I will die. But I won’t stop being a Christian,” Narmada says.

Full article (with pictures): In the name of God

Fr. Thomas Pally's Kandhamal Visit Report

2008-09-08T22:21:00.001+05:30

Fr. Thomas Pally, Who Visited Kandhamal and Came Back September 7 Reports - To Break the Shackles of Fear

(I know it is not good to begin with excuses. There is no time to edit this report. I have to take the train to Mumbai. If I wait, this report will have to wait till 13th September)

Introduction:

Let me make one thing clear at the outset. This visit was not a fact-finding visit. Of course we kept our eyes, ears, mind and hearts for facts and for a general assessment of the mood of the people. We took notes, did digital documentation. But more than all that for me it was an attempt to break the Shackles of Fear. Fear, yes, fear with in me and with in so many like me both in the religious and secular circles I moved in Bhubaneswar. I had been in Bhubaneswar since 26th. I would not have forgiven myself if I had not gone to Kandhamal. It is true every one advised against it. But the risk had to be taken. If anything happened to me then we would know that the danger is for real. If I returned safe then we could all make a start in reaching out to those out there. It was a risk worth taking.

12.30 hrs 5th September 2008

We - Bibhuti, his friend Mrutyunjai, Tapan the driver and me - left Bhubaneswar by 12.30 hrs on 5th September. We drove towards Berhampur. At Kalighat took the road to Daringbadi. We were in Daringbadi by 21.00 hrs. The town was completely deserted as there was a night curfew in place. The security seems to have trusted the people there. There was not even one security in sight. We spent the night at Jagruti, an NGO. (They are now engaged in relief work in Raikia)

06.30 hrs 6th September 2008

We left Daringbadi after interacting with people at the tea shop at the town centre. There were no signs of any tension. People seemed to be going about their normal activity. We were heading towards Baliguda, via Nuagam. Daringbadi block was not much affected by the riot more so the town of Daringbadi .

03.08.00 hrs Simanbadi 6th September 2008-09-07

Simanbadi did not seem normal only for the reason there were gun toting CRPF personnel on the road. As we got down one officer came forward and wanted to verify our identity - the only time an official asked for it. He was polite and told us that one company was posted in and around that area. The people were friendly. I am told that is an area which has majority Christian population. There was no disturbance in the area.

09.00 hrs Kudupakia (Sirtiguda) 40 km from Daringbadi

The first signs of violence were evident there. There were burnt houses along the road. There are around 50 families out of them 12 only are Hindus. But the attack was done egged on by those that gathered from Sirtiguda. On the main road the Hindus and Christians were together in talking to the team and seemed comfortable with each other. This was a surprise to me. Away from the crowd Christians told that they fear renewed attack. There was no sign of any police personnel any where near by.

09.30 hrs K.Nuagam

This was the place where Fr.Thomas Chellan was dragged out of house where he had taken shelter after the pastoral centre was attacked. He was the director. He was dragged out beaten very cruelly, stripped and kerosene was poured over him to burn him. This was also the place where Sr.Meena who helps in the centre was also assaulted, allegedly raped and taken half naked to the nearly police station. "We checked the facts with people who came around. They said all that is true. One redeeming thing in the whole incident is that it is not the police that saved them. When some almost lit the match stick to set fire to Fr.Thomas some good Hindus stopped them from that heinous crime. We asked if it is safe for Fr.Thomas to come back. They said "the good people may not be always around!!"

We could not enter either Jana Vikas, the diocesan Social Action Centre nor the Pastoral centre as the gates were all locked from inside and outside. The building from outside do not give a vandalised look. But knowing the way the fanatics work the interiors all will be burnt out. In front the pastoral centre and by the side of Jan Vikas we could see the burnt out four-wheeler.

Two churches - one small and another large were both vandalised and the roof completely done in. Houses were in the interior area and we knew there would not be time to reach out to the interior area.

10.30 hrs Balliguda

Balliguda had seen the vandalsation of three very important and big Catholic institutions during the last violence. This time the damage was token, The mob only wanted to make a statement - that we can do what we want. Only some stones were thrown and some few articles from kitchen etc taken out and burnt. We could not enter in.

While taking breakfast we found the town going about as though everything was normal. There was rush to the bank probably because the bank had been closed because there were two holidays the preceding days and also curfew restrictions had been imposed earlier. For the rest it was business as usual but for the sight of some security personnel.

11.00 hrs. Baliguda Nuasai

The Hindus and Christians live in this hamlet very close to Baliguda. As the crowd advanced most people left the houses including the Hindus and went off to the forest. We noticed that all the houses were not destroyed in a row. The houses were selected for destruction. The dwellings of Hindus and Christians are mixed. The Christian houses were targeted. The leaders that led the crowd seemed to have done their home work well.

12.30 hrs. Barakhama

This was the town that had witnessed a very high level of violence during the last riot. The Christians unlike the other villages and towns had resisted strongly the attack initially. Two people had died last time. This time too two people were killed: Ajit Kumar Digal (22)alias D.Francis and Praful Kumar Naik (45). Ajit was the elder son of Darath Digal and Nimothi Digal. The couple have three other chidren - Muhammad Digal, Topoi Digal and Kamini Digal. Ajit was shot dead by country fire arm and Praful was beaten to death a little away from his own house. He is buried near the spot he was killed.

The town has around 7000 people and 2000 are Christians. There is a long standing feud over land in the village between the Adivasis who are mainly Hindus and Panos (dalits) who are Christians. The Adivasis accuse the Panos of having encroached their land.

Lily of the Forest:

The villagers said a large crowd over 3000 attacked them from all sides on 26th at around 15.00 hrs. Minaki, 9 months pregnant also ran to the forest along with the others. She delivered a girl baby on 29th ,the third day in the forest. She named her Lily.

There is an apology of a relief camp in the forest right now. But there seem to be plans for better lay out in the future. Right now 2000 are scattered in primary school buildings. There are no tents to take shelter from the inclemency of the weather. People make do with the veranadha, shade of the tree, or just sitting around trees, on the road etc. Cooked food is served twice a day.

Kartic Nayak, who has just completed his degree studies had taken photos the aftermath of the attacks and made the same available to us on a CD.

14.00 hrs Nuagam

We returned via Nuagam and when we reached there a lot of people were on the road. We were informed that a young married woman just died after being bitten by snake - allegedly in the forest where she had taken refuge - and the dead body was just being brought home from the hospital. As we were interacting with the people the body was brought and the scene was indeed heartrending. Her husband Saryo Nayak and relatives were in a shock. There was also talk that she died not in the forest.

We visited the relief camp by the side of the road. There were several security personnel. The situation was like the earlier camp, the facilities minimal, really not worth enumerating. Again no tents, poor sanitation. Food twice a day seems to be the set standard. 1200 are in the camp where one would expect to find just over 200 people.

15.00 hrs Raikia

There are supposed to be 3 camps, two only have been set up. One in the Block office building and one in school. We visited the Block office building where Jana Vikas staff are also taking shelter. The building can take in a maximum of 200. There are over 2000 spilling over to the verandha, the grounds around. Again the standard two meals a day. I found two health workers. The NGO Jagruti is helping out in the camp. Mr. Kailash was there at the site. I am told the one in charge of the camp is a good officer. When we were there some philanthropists had some relief materials from Puri. People and organisations can bring in relief materials. They have to reported to the Collector and the relief officer directs to the place he feels it is most needed.

We interacted with the staff of Jana Vikas. More people are expected to join the camp. The total number is expected go beyond 6000.

16.30 hrs Tiangia

Travelling to Tiangia we passed through Gattumaha where 10 houses by the road side were burnt down. All Christian houses.

Then the church at Lakebali was also vandalised.

By the side of Tiangia stood Majumma. The village has altogether 50 houses of whom 15 are Christians. All the houses were demolished either partially or fully.

Tiangia was the only place we met with some resistance and we could not reach the hamlet. We took a photo of a vandalised church at the entrance to the village. Immediately we were challenged by voices from a nearby hillock over looking the village. A group of Bajrang Dals volunteers descended from the hill. Bibhuti asked me not to come along. He walked towards the group and met them two furlongs from where I stood. Bibhuti told me later that they were very aggressive, agitated. They alleged that the Christians had murdered Mr. Dasrath Pradan who was a dalit. They felt aggrieved that no one was listening to them. Bibhuti came back after nearly half an hour and advised me no to proceed to the village. Two of the Bajrang dal men too came to the vehicle. We parted being civil to each other. I was disappointed for not being able to reach the place I had badly wanted to reach. That village was the native village of a priest colleague of mine from Archbishop's house. I wanted to go to their house and reassure them. But that was not to be.

I checked with Fr. Manoj - the priest from the village. There is another side to the story, just the opposite. They allege that Dasrath was killed by Hindus as he had earlier been a Christian and though converted back to Hinduism had been a rising dalit leader and taking up dalti causes. The Hindus killed three others in the village. This was not shared by them to the Bibhuti. So where does the truth really lie?

17.30 hrs Vis Sankharkole to Phulbani the capital of Kandhamal

We left for Sankarkole. The convent there was vandalised again. We could not visit the village as the village was not on the road side. We were informed that there would be curfew in Phulbani afer 18.00 hrs.

18.00 hrs Lunch at Phulbani

We halted for lunch but after lunch the curfew had begun and also it was dark and was not possible to make inquiries regarding the riot and we left for Bhubaneswar via Daspalla, Nayagad, Khorda and reached Bhubaneswar by 00.30hrs 07th September 2008.

So what did the visit achieve?

It was the first visit into the riot torn area by any from our circle of friends both secular and religious. It helped to assess the situation.

The situation is not normal. At the same time is not something one can not handle if one wants to reach out to the affected.

Relief camp situation is pathetic to say the least. A quantum leap is to be done to give it even a semblance of giving relief and protection.

In some villages people continue to live in fear. They think they could be attacked any time - Kudupakia, Barkhama. Barkhama people say that they want to relocate themselves entirely.

Police protection but for some town areas and large villages is minimal and anti-social elements and fundamentals will easily take advantage.

Cases are not being registered just like the last time. We need to be prepared for a very, very long haul at the legal front.

Medical assistance, counsellors, community organisors need to be present with those in the camp and those living outside need to be strengthened.

Restoration of assets through compensation mechanisms, livelihood restoration need to undertaken soon.

Conclusion

It has been a redeeming experience for me. To go and share their life even in passing made meaning to me. I just wanted to go there, to listen, to see, to feel with them and assure them that although they can not see us, there are millions who care for their safety, security and welfare. And are doing there at most each one in her / his own way to make that possible. We had to assure ourselves that they are told and assure them that they have not been abandoned just to the mercy of the state and the rampaging mobs.

That to some measure, a very small measure we had been able to do. I hope the visit acts as a catalyst.

Updates of Orissa Violence: 30 Aug - 7 Sep, 2008

2008-09-08T21:57:00.006+05:30

Updates of Kandhamal (Orissa) Violence

30 August - 7 September, 2008

Date - Police Station - Event

30.08.2008 PHIRINGIA 5 Christian of Sudam Majhi, Goutam Mahji, Samo Majhi, Baruna Majhi and Jeebardhan Majhi of Ratanga Village, Phiringia Block were Set on fire.

01.9.2008 Raikia At about 4.00 p.m, 100 years old Catholic Parish Church Mondasore was attacked, vandalized, looted and set fire.

01.9.2008 Raikia Presbytery of Catholic Priest was attacked, looted and burnt to ashes

01.9.2008 Raikia The Scorpio (Four Wheeler) car of Fr. Jugal Kishore Digal was set fire at Mondasore

01.9.2008 Raikia Mr. Rabindra Parichha, of Bhaliapada village, under Mondasore Parish said "I had called the district control room and asked for the security force and also faxed letter apprehending the danger for the Mondasore parish but, In spite of the police information my Parish church was attacked.

02. 09.2008 Raikia Christian house of Mr. Dibya Digal of Pajimaha was attacked and set fire

02.09.2008 Raikia Christian House of Mr. Samont Nayak was attacked and set fire

02.09.2008 Raikia 18 Christian people of Bhaliapada Village reached to the Bhubaneswar and they are now in the Refugee camp. It is reported that all became the destitute.

02.09.2008 Daringbadi At about 50 Christian houses of Balligada were attacked, All the house hold articles were set on fire.

02.09.2008 Daringbadi Catholic Church at Kakadabadi village was attacked and set fire

02.09.2008 Daringbadi 3 Christian house of Kakadabadi village was ransacked and set fire

01.9.2008 Daringabai Catholic Church at Balligada was ransacked and set fire

01.9.2008 Daringbadi Baptist Church at Balligada was ransacked, vandalized and set fire

02.09.2008 Tikabali 35 Christian houses were set fire ( Beheragano area)

02.09.2008 Chakapad 5 Christian houses were set fire

01.9.2008 Bhanjanagar Catholic Church at Chadiapally was ransacked and set fire

01.9.2008 Baptist Church at Durgaprasad was ransacked and set fire

02.09.2008 Sarangard Christian People of Padangi village were being forced to practice Hinduism and given warning to death, if they practice Christianity

02.09.2008 G.Udayagir The house of Mr. Gaura Chandra Nayak was attacked and set fire.
Christian families of Belghati were converted to Hinduism.

03.09.2008 Daringbadi (Mondasore Parish) At about 2a.m., Catholic Church, Padunbadi was attacked, destroyed, ransacked, demolished. It is reported that even the walls were broken.

03.09.2008 Refugee Camp at Raikia is in turmoil. The refugees had requested that no members of RSS, VHP or Bajrang Dal be allowed in to the refugee camp set up at the Block Development Office. Despite this the BDO was found in close door conversation with three members the fundamentalist group. The refugees have demanded an explanation from the officer who has now been gheraoed by the agitated refugees. One Mr. Godda from the group of three managed to flee the place. He is now threatening to bring in thousands of fundamentalists to attack the refugee camp. The destitute have made hunger strike to settle the matter.

In the evening people found tank water was in blue colour and suspected that someone might have put poison. People were in panic, it was reported to the Sub-collector and RDC, and they reached to spot and assured security and protection.

03.09.2008 Tikabali 5 Houses of the Dadarimunda Village were set ablaze.

03.09.2008 Daringabadi In Simanbadi parish at Kotasingh and Gadadi village 18 each houses are burnt by the fundamentalists.

03.09.2008 Daringbadi The fundamentalists burnt 25 houses from Katadi village which is under the Padangi parish, Sarangada P.S. On the other hand from Birangi village about 10 houses are burnt on the same day

03.09.2008 Tikabali 5 houses, Dadarimunda village were set fire and destroyed.

03.09.2008 Bhubaneswar KharvelnagarBishop's of Orissa met Chief Minster and explained the present situation of the Kandhamal. Chief minister assured to give protection and take good measure for the relief and rehabilitation. Bishops mentioned about the forceful conversion to Hinduism.

04.09.2008 VHP to go ahead with Yatra (Indian express dated 04.09.2008, front page) ( I am faxing the clip)

04.09.2008 The fear and panic have spread among Christians living relief camps in Kandhamal District in Orissa following alleged attempts by Hindu radicals to reconvert them.

05.09.2008 Raikia 12 Houses of Murudipanga Village under Raikia police station were attacked, ransacked and set on fire.

80 People of the same village have gone to the refugee .

06.09.2008 Bhubaneshwar 144 has been declared in sensitive areas, especially in the Church situated areas.

10 Platoons of Orissa armed force and 4 platoon of CRPF have been deployed.

06.09.2008 PURI Anti slogans were written against Christian on the walls of all Christian institution in Puri ( Puri parish, retreat centre, leprosy centre and MC brother's house) The wall paints portrait Padri hatao (destroy the priests), stop conversion and stop cow slaughter.

06.09.2008 PURI Fr. T.Kurian, in charge of Karunalaya Leprosy centre Puri said "Some one came by motor cycle and ordered to stop the tuition class for the students. Hence, for time being the classes are stopped".

06.09.2008 RAIKIA 3 houses of Tdahupanga village, under Raikia police station were ransacked. Inhabitants of the houses have come to the refugee camp in Raikia.

06.09.2008 RAIKIA Mr. Raju Parichha's half constructed house was demolished completely in the Raikia Town which is situated 1.5. K.M away from the Raikia police station.

06.09.2008 RAIKIA In Kanya Ashram shahi three houses of Rajkishore Digal, Santosh Nayak, and Joseph Nayak were attacked.

06.09.2008 RAIKIA The house of Mohini Parichha, Badapata village was attacked which is situated just 1.Km away from local police station.
RAIKIA 3 Christian Houses of Petamaha village were set on fire.

06.09.2008 RAIKIA The house of Sekhar Digal, Dodongia was attacked and ransacked.

06.09.2008 -TIKABALLI- Two Christian houses of Breka village, were set on fire and ransacked

06.09.2008 G. UDAYAGIRI About 6000 people are in refugee camp in G.Udayagiri

RAIKIA About 8500 destitutes are in Raikia refugee camp.

07.09.2008 TIKABALI About 3000 destitute are in Tikabali refugee camp.

07.09.2008 SARANGAD One dead body is recovered today at Sarangad

The Media's Bogus Conversion Debate

2008-09-08T21:03:00.004+05:30

With a Bogus "Conversions" Debate, the Fundamentalists Have Suppressed More Fundamental Questions Facing Them

An excellent analysis fundamental to understanding the sinister anti-Christian pogrom in Orissa and the media perspectives. An excerpt:

The question being pondered is if Christian missionaries have converted tribal and Dalit people of Orissa using coercion that has led to the tensions in Orissa. One wonders what would happen if the debate holds Christian missionaries guilty. Would that mean the members of the Christian community are rightly being burnt alive and their homes destroyed, forcing their families – some of them having small children or pregnant women or old people -- to take shelter in the jungles? Should the violence be condemned and controlled only if missionaries are found innocent? The debate can either lead more violence or an increase in the circulation and TRP rating of the media organisations.

It is common knowledge that although Orissa has a stringent anti-conversion law (the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act of 1967) that provides for punishment to those found indulging in unlawful conversions, not even a single Christian has been convicted of unlawful conversion by any court of law. This is true not only in Orissa, but also other states with similar legislation, such as Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Even so, why should the Hindu nationalists or the media probe anyone’s conversion, which is a personal matter and a basic human right? Such an exercise casts aspersions on those who have converted to Christianity.

The debate on conversions can also be taken to mean that it is common Hindus who are carrying out attacks on Christians to protest conversion attempts on them. This is precisely the lie that the Hindu nationalists want people to believe in.

One fails to understand how some media can have such a short memory. Most mainstream media commendably covered the infamous violence in the western state of Gujarat in 2002 (popularly known as post-Godhra ‘riots’), exposing a nexus between the BJP government and the VHP, and how they organised the killing of common Muslims under the pretext of avenging the deaths of Hindu passengers in the Sabarmati Express train fire near the Godhra railway station. But, six years later, the media seem to have prematurely ruled out the possibility of a similar nexus existing between the Orissa government, of which the BJP is a partner, and the VHP, and that of the violence being instigated by the Hindu nationalist group.

Is there a lack of other angles to the coverage of the Orissa violence? How about highlighting and investigating the fact that the tragic killing of Saraswati and his four disciples in an armed attack was prima facie carried out by Maoists? That Christian organisations and churches unequivocally condemned the attack on Saraswati and his disciples also remains under-covered. Nor have the numerous newspapers and news channels brought out the fact that retributive violence meted out on innocent people of a particular community is unjustifiable. There is also a need to bring out the politics behind violence in the name of religion. The coverage of the suffering of those who are being attacked is also lacking.

Does this not reflect a lack of concern on the part of the media? Aren’t the journalists supposed to show some empathy with the suffering and some sort of judgment against inhuman acts, be it the brutal attack on Saraswati or the more cruel violence that followed? If taking the side of human rights of a hapless community is dismissed as “activism”, a dirty word in the media, our country and its people will benefit more from an “activism oriented” media than ruthless “neutrality”.

Priest's Brother Forced to 'Reconvert'

2008-09-08T14:27:00.004+05:30

Catholic Priest's Brother Forced to 'Reconvert' to Hinduism

Christians in Orissa face the choice between their Faith and Homes. While the State's police have been mere spectators in the continuing mayhem, survivors have been forced to flee to the state capital Bhubaneshwar.

Catholic priest Fr. Prabodha Kumar who reached the state capital received a troubling news report about his brother back home. Compass Direct reports:

Among those who have fled to Bhubaneswar was Father Prabodha Kumar, a Catholic priest who reached the Catholic Archbishop's House in Bhubaneswar after a seven-day journey from Onjamundi village in Kandhamal.

He was among other fearful sojourners at the house whose mobile phones constantly rang with news of more attacks from their relatives, friends and church members in interior villages of Kandhamal.

Fr. Kumar looked deeply troubled after one such phone call yesterday.

"My brother has been forced to 'reconvert' to Hinduism, as he was told that if he did not do so, his house would be destroyed," he said.

For Orissa Christians, It's Either Faith or Homes

2008-09-08T11:30:00.005+05:30

Orissa Christians Forced to Choose Between Faith, Homes

Via Christian Post:

Christians in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, which has been plagued with sectarian violence in recent weeks, are reportedly being coerced into converting to Hinduism in order to save their homes.

Hindu militants behind the deaths of dozens of believers as well as the torching of churches and Christian-owned homes and businesses are demanding Christians sign papers renouncing their faith and convert to Hinduism. If they refuse, the Christians are reportedly threatened with having their property destroyed or face social ostracism, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Also Download and listen from Vatican Radio:
http://62.77.60.84/audio/ra/00129053.RM

VIDEO: A Cry for the Burning Orissa

2008-09-07T19:20:00.003+05:30

A Cry for Orissa

A video raising a cry for Orissa. Contributed by an "Orissa Burning" reader.

Why Blame the Christians?

2008-09-07T18:12:00.002+05:30

Although it is the Maoists who claim that they killed Swami Laxmananada, the VHP is convinced that it was the Christian community which was behind the Swami’s killing. Maoists have been known to resort to such killings. Why blame the Christians?

An excerpt from a Merinews story:

Orissa is presently burning but it is not getting adequate media attention, because floods in Bihar and the latest developments on the nuclear deal have been hogging the limelight. Violence, triggered by the killing of Swami Laxmananada by the Maoists, has spread in the State. For the VHP, the Maoists are innocent and the Christians are the real culprits. According to VHP’s rationale, the killing of the Swami had to do with his mission of re-conversion of Hindus and the Christians therefore had a valid reason to eliminate the Swami.

The VHP has totally rejected the claim of the Maoists that they killed the Swami. The Maoist menace in Orissa is not something new; many such killings have been attributed to their organization. If Maoists are staking the claim for killing Laxmananda, then there is no point in rejecting the said claim. There was a sinister plan underlying the VHP’s rejection of the said claim by the Maoists. The plan envisaged blaming the killing on the Christians. VHP tactfully exploited the killing of its mentor to attack the Christians in Orissa. This casts serious doubts on the intention and modus operandi of the VHP. The self-proclaimed representative of Hindu religion always uses dead bodies to kill numerous innocent people. In Jhajhhar, they killed Dalits for a dead cow; in Gujarat, they triggered a communal carnage after the unfortunate Godhara incident; presently they have resorted to killings in Orissa, after a death took place.

Communal politics triggered by dead bodies is not a coincidence; it needs a serious analysis. At present Orissa, which boasts of a two percent Christian population, is becoming a second Gujarat. This is alarming for those who sincerely believe in Indian secularism and want to protect the country’s secular fabric. In any debate on Indian secularism and VHP, the role of the Congress is significant. Congress is responsible for the growth of VHP because it adopted a soft approach towards it. There are thousands of reasons to ban VHP, as there are for SIMI. India does not need organizations like SIMI and VHP which spread hatred in the name of religion.

Moreover, VHP presently is a national threat. A couple of weeks back, its activists were arrested in Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh for making bombs. They were planning serial bomb blasts. In Nanded in Maharashtra, VHP and its other wings were caught red-handed, while making bombs for carrying out blasts in many areas. It is easy to guess what prevents the UPA government from banning the VHP. Soft attitude towards a communal organization will never help parties like the Congress, which swears by secularism.

Read the full article: It’s time we banned the VHP

"We Were Not Allowed to Enter": Shabnam Hashmi

2008-09-06T22:21:00.005+05:30

Shabnam Hashmi, Managing Trustee and Executive Secretary of Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), member of the National Integration Council of India's Ministry of Home Affairs and a Council Member of the National Literacy Mission reports on the situation in Orissa:

Visit To Orissa
By Shabnam Hashmi

06 September, 2008

I went to Orissa for two days as part of a delegation. We were not allowed to enter Kandhamal. We met a large number of victims in Bhubaneshwar, met the governor and the local civil society members as well as priests of various churches.

Visit to Kandhamal next week depends on the fact whether the Govt will permit us to go there or not. VHP’s Togadia has been allowed to go and add more fuel to the fire.

This account is based on the testimonies of:

8 priests and over 300 families who hid in thick forests without water and food, with small hungry children, with thousands of mosquitoes and other insects and who walked over 280 kilometers to reach Bhubaneshwar with just the set of clothes that they were wearing. It took them 5 days to reach the city.

It is not safe to give the names or addresses of those who testified before us as even now VHP and the other Sangh organisations are still attacking the villages , burning houses, shops and churches, catching people, tonsuring them, forcing them to sign that they have become Hindus.

It is an Indian tradition to talk with respect about those who have departed from this world. Pray that their soul may rest in peace.

Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was killed on August 23rd, 2008 at the VHP ashram in Jalespata, Kandhamal, Orissa. A large number of organisations across India condemned the attack and his killing.

While condemning every violent act and his killing there is a need to look at his work and message before making him a martyr.

The swami came to Kandhamal in 1969. He travelled from village to village initially contacting the business community, organising poojas and bhajans, which very soon turned into inflammatory messages against the local Christian community. Initially in 1970es the attacks came on smaller villages. The first organised attack came in 1987. People from 6-7 villages were collected together to attack a village which had a large Christian population. Under his leadership 16 churches were burnt down in 1986-87. There were 56 cases registered for this but Swami was not arrested. Not even under the ‘secular’ governments. The sheer fact that none of the political parties touched him, due to their deep concern for the ‘Hindu’ vote, he got emboldened and his campaigns became more aggressive and vicious.

While Christians were attacked using the bogey of conversion, the VHP and the swami spearheaded the campaign to forcibly convert local animistic Tribals and Christian Tribals into Hindus, calling it ghar wapsi or reconversion as if the tribals were ever in the Hindu fold.

On January 22, 1999 Graham Stains and his two young sons were burnt to death by a Sangh sponsored mob in Keonjhar district of Orissa. Same year in September another Christian priest was killed in the village Jamudhi , also in Keonjhar district.

After Graham Stains was murdered by the Sangh goons instead of condemning the murder the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked for a national debate on conversion and within a week of that VHP printed and distributed over 5 million pamphlets full of vicious propaganda against the Christian minority. Similarly when the whole drama of the Shabri Kumbh was going on in the dang district of Gujarat where also Christians have been under attack since 1998, the VHP distributed vicious Cds against Christians. The distribution of the CDs was challenged by us in the Supreme Court through a PIL. Under the garb of doing educational and development work the sangh has opened Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams and Ekal Vidyalaya throughout the tribal belts in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Orissa. The VHP alone has over one lakh workers in Orissa. There are approximately 6000 RSS shakhas.

On December 24, 2007 violence broke out over Christmas celebrations in Kandhamal district. Attackers from VHP/ RSS came with axes, rods etc. hundreds of houses, Christian institutions, businesses, and properties were attacked and raised to the ground in the violence that continued for over a month. For years the administration has ignored the hate campaigns and the violence against the Christians. The VHP has not only been in the fore front of these violent attacks but has sowed the seeds of hatred by distributing highly provocative material against the Christian community.

Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was killed on August 23rd, 2008 allegedly by Maoists. VHP declared a bandh on August 25, 2008. His body was taken in a procession travelling close to 150 kilometers accompanied by a VHP mob and the police and administration. It stopped in front of many churches, raising highly abusive and provocative slogans, attacking the churches, Christian institutions breaking glasses, furniture, attacking people, while the police looked on including the highest officers of the state and the district.

After the December 2007 violence many organisations had come together and worked for relief and fought legal battles for the victims. Such organisations and individuals were especially targeted. Janvikas office was attacked thrice. All five organisations fighting for Dalit human rights were attacked: Janvikas, Gramiya Progoti, Pobara, Pollishree, Ajka. Tribal leaders heading the Dalit Adivasi Vikas Initiative, Phulbani Action Group and Forum for Peace and Justice were attacked. All shops were attacked. The initial number of attackers was 200-300 which swelled to 500-600. The mob comprised of mainly he business community led by hard core VHP leaders. AS the mob moved from one village to the second the number increased as local Sangh members kept adding to the mob. Some tribals also joined the attackers. Dasrath Pradhan died on the spot and Trinath Digal, who had taken out his goats for grazing was chased and his head was smashed with a stone. He died. Vikram Naik was attacked. He died after 3 days. Parikrit Naik was attacked on 25th. He managed to run and hide in the forest. After two days in the forest he decided to escape to safety. He was caught again and attacked, hacked into two and burnt.

People were taken out from their homes and huddled together and forced to sign the papers that they are becoming Hindus or face the consequences.

In Mondosore village around 10am on August 24th people from nearby villages gathered with knives, swords, weapons and collected near a temple about 1km away from the village. They were shouting provocative and abusive slogans against the Christians and inciting people to attack them. The mob blocked all the routes for going out from the village by felling huge logs and tree trunks on the roads. A huge mob gathered by now near the Shiv temple. The priest and nuns from the church ran to the jungle but they came back at 7pm once it was dark. Some people advised them to leave so they went to padri village. But the mobs came to know about their hiding places and they had to leave again, this time splitting in two groups and changing their hiding places but with no luck. No place was safe. The people who gave them shelter, including local tribals, their lives were threatened. The priest was escorted by a local man with a knife to the forest after crossing a stream. During the night about 60 women and children came to the same forest to hide and the nuns from the church also found their way to the forest hiding place. There was a hut nearby where everyone crowded in but there was no place even to sit. Around midnight the church bell started ringing. This was a signal that things were not right. The whole group moved to another area near the village but still under cover. They could see the village shops on fire, they could hear small bombs, shouting & screaming. More people came towards the forest to escape the attack. Through them came the news of shops belonging to Christians being burnt and one person was killed by the attackers.

Around 6am the priest, 4 nuns and two orphan children decided to move to another place. They started walking, climbing mountains. Till 3 pm they walked for10kilometers and not reaching anywhere. Then they decided to rather die than get lost in the forest. When they came out they were near village Koroda. The people stared at them and they thought the end was near when a person on a motorcycle came and stopped near them. He was well built and there was a thin person at the back. The motorcyclist was a Hindu while the pillion rider a Christian. He took turns to transport them to a safer place in turns from where they managed to reach Bhubaneshwar.

Another priest from the Phulbani headquarters expecting trouble after the swami’s killing transferred all the records to his Hindu friends’ houses. When the procession with the dead body arrived he hid in a nearby house while the others were asked to leave and hide behind the church. Sunday morning mob of 4000 people accompanied the procession. It was 7.30am. DIG, Collector, Police accompanied the procession. The mob broke the wall, smashed everything in the church and the residence. They started throwing stones. It was after some stones hit the police that they started a mild lathi charge. Local youth searched for the priest, nuns and other workers. Around 9am another lot came and started banging he door. Some of the boys who wee hiding came out and they were immediately beaten. The priest hid in a broken toilet. The mob came to the house where they were told he was hiding but never checked the toilet so he was saved. After one hour he came out on the road and asked for shelter in a house. Three houses refused, forth gave him shelter. The mob almost immediately reached there. The owners hid him in the kitchen but their house was attacked and broken down. Mob left only after 9pm. After they left the priest rushed to his house. His land phone was ringing and his assistant was on the line. He was hiding in the forest. Using a ladder the priest jumped behind the church and with the help of the light from the mobile phone found his was into the forest. Tuesday morning they started moving to another place in the forest when they by chance came across a hut belonging to a Hindu woman whom the priest had helped earlier. She and her daughter took them in, prepared food for them and fed them.

27th morning at 4 am they again went back to the church and contacted every taxi service but no one agreed to take them. Then the news came that another father is severely beaten and is being rushed to Bhubaneshwar in an ambulance. The same ambulance brought them to the city along with the patient.

We were able to talk to a few of the hundreds of women, children and men who ran from various villages and hid in the forests for days without food. They were from 15 different villages but the stories were the same. Their houses were attacks by mobs ranging from 300-500 people-all from the surrounding gram panchayats and villages. They came with axes and knives, with diesel, blocked all exit roots so that no one could escape in any vehicle. Burnt down houses, attacked churches, burnt tyres on the roads, beat up people. A young woman said that they have been told very clearly that they will be allowed into the village if and only if they become Hindus. She reached Bhubaneshwar on 31st along with others from the village, walking over 200 kilometres. Many of the victims narrated that the violence broke out with the arrival of the swami’s body in each village. In all instances police was present with the procession.

This account is based only on the testimonies for those who managed to escape and reach Bhubaneshwar. The situation is very serious in Orissa and only a full fact finding team can come out with full details after it is allowed to enter those areas.

BJP Tacitly Supporting Fundamentalists: Agnivesh

2008-09-06T18:45:00.004+05:30

Orissa Violence Similar to Gujarat Riots: Swami Agnivesh

Prominent Arya Samaj scholar and president of the World Council of Arya Samaj "Society of Nobles", a Hindu reform movement, founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875, Swami Agnivesh points out the tacit support Hindu fundamentalists receive from India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP):

"The killing of Swami Laxmanananda is being used as an excuse to target minorities in Orissa like the Godhra incident was used in Gujarat to fan the communal cauldron," Swami Agnivesh, President, World Council of Arya Samaj, told reporters in New Delhi.

"The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrag Dal are getting tacit support from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) which is part of the ruling coalition in the state to instigate violence in the state," he alleged.

A fact-finding team of Swami Agnivesh, Shabnam Hashmi and Vimal Thorat recently visited the state to enquire about recent violence in Kandhamal.

"To some extend, the repeat 2002 Gujarat riots are taking place in Orissa. With the same preparedness and planning," claimed social activist Shabnam Hashmi.

"We heard reports there that the attackers had lists with them while targeting the victims," she alleged.

"It is very surprising that while we were not allowed to go into area, but were asked to wait till September fourth. VHP leader Pravin Togadia was allowed into the region with full police protection," Agnivesh said.

"What is more strange is that the Union Home Minister for State Sri Prakash Jaiswal was turned back as state refused to give him any security to the troubled area," he added.

Arson, Water Poisoning at Relief Camps

2008-09-06T18:26:00.004+05:30

Cases of Poisoning of Drinking Water Was Reported by Two Relief Camps

GCIC reports:

The Relief Camp at Vijoy High School Raikia block, Kandhamal reported that drinking water was poisoned on 3rd September 2008. Fortunately, the poisoning of water was detected in time and confirmed by a doctor just before food was served to the Christians taking refuge in the camp, resulting in their going hungry till 4pm, when alternate arrangements were made to provide potable water.

An attempt to poison the drinking water source of the relief camp in Habaq High School, Relief Camp at G. Udayagiri, Kandhamal was foiled by an alert security guard. Hindutva under VHP extremists climbed on the drinking water tank 9 pm on 2nd September and were caught by the Security guard, even as they were trying to open the lid with a bag containing a poisonous substance to be mixed into the water, to cause a massive killing of Christians together.

Hindutva extremists from VHP are objecting to the Christians "eating at government expense". On Sept 4th a group of nearly 2500 Hindutva extremists barged into the Relief Camp at Tikabali Govt. High School shouted at the Christian refugees and took away supplies meant for the Christian refugees, while police were silent spectators to the event. A group of women instigated by VHP attempted to set afire a relief camp when its inmates were demonstrating near the block office demanding sufficient aid at Tikabali in Kandhamal district.

"'Father They Are Going to Burn Me": Rajni's Last Words

2008-09-04T19:23:00.006+05:30

Rajni' Death is a Deep Wound in my Heart

Fr. Edward, Survivor of Arson in Orissa Recalls How Rajni Was Burnt to Death

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD

Fr Edward Sequeira, one of the victims of the violence committed by Hindu radicals in Orissa, does not hesitate to call them "terrorists". Groups connected to Sangh Parivar seized him, beat him for more than an hour, and then shut him inside a room that they set on fire. Fr Edward was able to save himself by taking shelter in the bathroom. Before he passed out, he heard the screams of Rajni Majh, who was tied up and thrown into the flames, where she was burned to death.

Initial reports said that she was a sister, then a lay missionary. Fr Edward explains that the girl was one of the many orphans he had rescued, and that she lived and worked in the orphanage he had founded.

Fr Edward is unable to hold back the tears, and begins sobbing when he talks about her. The crowd of fanatics may have thought that Rajni was one of the many people they believe have been forced to convert through "Christian proselytism". "'She was only a simple Hindu girl", the priest says, "studying in the plus 3 class. I can still hear her voice, 'Father they are going to burn me', these were her last words to me, after this I lost consciousness". Her death "is a deep wound in my heart".

Hindu fundamentalists have long been conducting a campaign against conversions to Christianity, and against evangelization. For Fr Edward, 58, missionary activity is something that upholds the dignity of the person. He spoke to Asianews:

"I have been working among lepers in Padampur in Bargarh district for the past ten years. I realized that, given the preference for a male child in rural Indian communities, parents many times have more than 4-5 daughters before a son is born - and unfortunately, these girls are rarely sent to school, they are made to graze cattle or even sent at early age as domestic workers or to the landlords, and many girls suffer from malnutrition.

"So I started a very small hostel-orphanage for girls, to give them opportunity and dignity through education and vocational training.

"One such girl in my orphanage was Rajni Majhi, who was born to Hindu parents who already had 5 or 6 daughters, and they gave her up for adoption to a Hindu tribal childless couple. Sadly, when the adopted parents after a few years conceived biological children, they began ill-treating and discriminating against Rajni, and in this reality she came to my orphanage four years ago. Within a few months, she was bubbling with life, the younger girls called her “Nanni’ (big sister), and besides studying in college in her 13th year, Rajni would be like a governess to the children.

"All the development programmes for these leprosy patients and the other dalits have all been for Hindus. More than 25 years I have worked in Orissa, and not a single person have I converted to Christianity".

Hatred of Christianity and personal development is what drives radical Hindu groups to try to wipe out the presence of Christians and their institutions. "Who says that terrorists are only those who plant bombs and carry guns? This was a terrorist attack on Orissa. What about these Sangh Parivar members, who have been given the license to kill, destroy and plunder their fellow citizens? This was sheer terrorism unleashed on the Christians in Kandhmal district".

Fr Edward explains what happened to him: "On Monday August 25th, around 1.30 pm, as I was having lunch, there was a knock on the door. When I opened it, a huge crowd of more than 500 people were outside and asked 'Who is the priest?'. This is nothing strange, as often people come requesting my help, for my vehicle to drive them to a hospital or other such emergencies. As soon as I identified myself, they raised their arms holding all the weapons - axes, shovels, spades and iron rods.They took me outside in the courtyard and began hitting me, screaming abuses at Christianity and shouting 'Bajrang Bali Ki Jai; Yesu Christi Murdabada; Hail Lord Hanuman (editor's note: a Hindu god with the face of a monkey), destroy, eliminate Jesus Christ', beating me on my head, back, all over my body.

"The extremists thrashed me for nearly an hour (editor's note: Fr Edward still has bruises all over his body, and five wounds on his back).

"Then they entered my room, collected all the clothes and books and whatever they laid their hands on and piled it in the centre of the room, threw some kerosene on the pile, and some crude oil, and threw some gelatine sticks which they had brought with them and lit the fire and threw me into the flames and locked the door from the outside.

"Somehow, I was not frightened, there was definitely the divine presence in the burning room, and I went into the bathroom and locked myself in and shut all the windows. The whole room was engulfed in thick smoke and flames.

"The attackers were shouting Bajrang Bali Ki Jai; Yesu Christi Murdabada, and hurling abuses. They went to the garage and burned the vehicle, I could hear some of them on the roof setting fire from the top. Thick smoke was in the bathroom, where I was hiding, it was dark and full of thick smoke, and as I inhaled the smoke my only concern was for the children.
Rajni Majhi Who Was Thrown into the Fire by the Mob
"In the meanwhile, the children and Rajni, who witnessed the mob assaulting me, took the children inside their own orphanage room which is next to mine and bolted the door from the inside. The men who had climbed onto the roof entered the room and dragged Rajni outside with the children - some of the children escaped. They brought her outside my bathroom window. I could hear the cries of Rajni, and the mob was cheering and shouting through the window. These criminals tied her hands together - they made a huge bonfire in the orphanage room and threw her onto the fire. They used sickles, shovels and other weapons to prevent her from running away, these extremists did not allow her to even move from the burning flames".

See Separate Story: How 20 Year Old Rajni Was Burnt to Death by a Cheering Mob

6 More Churches Torched Since Monday

2008-09-03T18:26:00.001+05:30

Orissa: Six More Churches Set on Fire, Hundreds of Homes Destroyed

The anti-Christian pogrom in the state of Orissa shows no signs of a let-up. In the past three days six churches have been attacked, set on fire and destroyed; hundreds of Christian-owned houses have been devastated and then torched as police remain idle. The number of refugees and missing people is rising. Death threats are made against Christians if they practice their faith but according to the government of Orissa the situation is "under control".

Asianews reports:

According to reports that have reached AsiaNews from the diocese of Bhubaneshwar, the Catholic church in Padunbadi was attacked last night, plundered and torn down. Even the church wall was razed to the ground. The Catholic church in the village of Kakadabadi was also attacked yesterday and torched.

On Monday the Baptist church in Durgaprasad, the Catholic church in Chadiapally, and both the Catholic and Baptist churches in Balligada were set on fire and destroyed.

Also on Monday at 4 pm the Catholic church in Mondasore, a heritage building dating back to more than a century ago, was attacked, plundered and then set on fire. The residence and car of the parish priest, Jugal Kishore Digal, saw the same fate.

Rabindra Parichha, from the village of Bhaliapada, which is part of Mondasore Parish, blames police inaction.

"I had called the district control room and asked for the security force and also faxed a letter explaining the danger for the Mondasore Parish," he said. "In spite of this my Parish church was attacked and destroyed."

In an attempt to wipe out Christians and stop conversions radical Hindus have attacked and torched Christian homes. Just in the last three days two houses were set on fire and destroyed in Raikia; 50 in Balligada; three in Kakadabadi; 35 in Tikabali (Beheragano); five in Chakapad and one in G. Udayagir.

Most Christians have fled into the forest or found refuge in makeshift shelters set up by the government; others are facing retaliations and threats.

Christians in the village of Padani have been forced to carry out Hindu ceremonies and have received threats if they dare practice Christianity.

NHRC Condemned for Failing to Probe Orissa Violence

2008-09-03T18:07:00.001+05:30

National Human Rights Commission Condemned for Failing to Send Investigation Team to Orissa

Commission's Existence Seen as "Wastage of National Resources"

A human rights NGO Wednesday condemned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for failing to send an investigation team to the riot-hit areas of Orissa.

"NHRC has failed to fulfil its legal and moral obligation for the protection and promotion of human rights," said Suhas Chakma, Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) director, in a letter to the NHRC chairman Justice S. Rajendra Babu.

"The existence of NHRC has increasingly come to mean wastage of national resources to shield the state authorities for their acts of commissions and omissions on human rights," Chakma claimed.

"Yet NHRC has failed to issue any public statement either to condemn the killing or visit the strife-torn areas to improve the situation of the victims, in particular, those who have been displaced," Chakma said in his letter.

"The perfunctory notice issued by the NHRC to the state government of Orissa - which has been suppressing the actual status of grave situation including the number of deaths - to submit a report is scandalous, considering the scale of violence against Christians," the letter said.

ACHR has urged the NHRC to immediately send an investigation team to Orissa to inquire into killings in Orissa, improve the conditions of the displaced persons and take other necessary measures for prosecution of the culprits.

- Press Release

"If They See Me They Will Kill Me": Fr. Ashish

2008-09-03T14:24:00.002+05:30

"They Said They Would Kill us Because We Were Christians"

Priest Recounts Terror in Orissa

Fr Ashish Missale who fled into the forests, recounts to Times, his frightening encounter with the murderous mob:

"I was conducting a prayer meeting in Orissa's Makandapur village when more than 300 Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists arrived with lathis , swords, guns, spears and trishuls. They said they would kill us because we were Christians,'' said Fr Ashish Missale who fled the murderous mob to spend two days in wilderness.

Recounting the ordeal to the media on Tuesday, Fr Missale said how one of the devotees was done to death right in front of his eyes. "They hit Mukund Bardhan on his head. They then flung him in the air and stabbed him. His cry still pierces my ears."

Armed with slides-each of which depicts death and destruction in the villages of Orissa-Missale narrated how he, along with the other devotees, fled after the VHP attack. "Children were crying and we were all afraid. We didn't know what would happen to us," he said. They spent two days in fear and unsure of their safety. Fr Missale then reached his district headquarters where he was instructed to come to Mumbai. He arrived on Monday evening.

Fr Missale now gets calls and SMSes from the VHP. "They say that if they see me, they will kill me on the spot." Filing an FIR in Orissa has become very difficult as the police are on the side of the perpetrators, Missale said.

Gujarat Christians Seek Justice for Orissa Brethren

2008-09-03T14:15:00.000+05:30

Gujarat United Christian Forum Seeks Justice for Orissa Brethren

From Ahmedabad, ICNS reports:

Denouncing religion-based violence in Orissa, thousands of Christians demonstrated in Gujarat, the state that has witnessed some of the fierce Hindu-Muslim riots in the country.

Christians of various denominations gathered in Ahmedabad on Tuesday evening in a silent demonstration, wearing black ribbons. They condemned all religion based violence, including the murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati.

The rally organized by the Gujarat United Christian Forum for Human Rights started from Church of North India’s church in Victoria Garden. It terminated at Mount Carmel Cathedral Mirzapur.

Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, Director of Prashant, a centre for human rights in Ahmedabad, led the peace rally. A memorandum was presented to the Governor of Gujarat, addressed to governor of Orissa, President of India, Prime Minister and several other leaders urging them to take action against on going violence in Orissa.

The memorandum condemned attack on the minority community as an attack on India’s secular fabric and urged authorities to take action to stop the violence in Orissa that has claimed several lives.

Father Prakash wanted the authorities to investigate the violence, find culprits behind the attack and take stern legal action against them.

The priest said blaming the Christian community for these murders without evidence and unleashing a reign of terror on the villagers is completely unjustified.

Violence in Orissa started after a Hindu leader Saraswati was gunned down on Aug. 23 night there along with his four associates. Maoists reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings the next day.

But Hindu radicals allege gunmen hired by Christians murdered their spiritual leader, a charge all Christian groups have denied. The 85-year Hindu leader, based in Kandhamal district, had for several decades opposed conversions to Christianity.

Reconverted Christians Asked to Attack Own Churches

2008-09-03T14:07:00.007+05:30

Christians Forcibly Converted To Hinduism And Asked to Attack Their Own Churches

Attacks On Christians Continue In Orissa.

PRESS STATEMENT

New Delhi, September 2, 2008:

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) is shocked to learn that the Christians in Orissa who have been already victims of violence are now being forced to become Hindus and attack their own Churches in which they have been worshiping so long. This is totally inhuman and a gross violation of human rights.

According to the latest reports from Bhubaneshwar, although Rapid Action Force is deployed at several places in Kandhamal with specific instructions ‘to shoot at sight’ the unruly mob continue to attack Churches and ransack the Christian institutions at will. On Monday, September 1, it is reported that 10 prayer halls were destroyed in Kundra village of Jayapur District. In Tikabali Block, 5 villages were attacked and property looted. Similarly, a Church, a Convent and 2 hostels were destroyed in Mondasore under Raikia Block.

We are extremely distressed to note that despite the assurances given by Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that the violence in Kandhamal would be brought under control, we find that there has not been much improvement in the riot hit areas of Kandhamal. Even though security forces have been deployed in Kandhamal, the fundamentalists continue to attack Christians and their institutions freely.

We earnestly, appeal to the Chief Minister of Orissa to act firmly against those who are taking law into their hands and safeguard Christians, their houses and institutions which are being constantly attacked by the fundamentalist groups. We also request the State Administration to be vigilant at the forced re-conversion issue since it is a gross violation of their Constitutional right to live in the country without fear.

Issued by

Rev Dr Babu Joseph
Spokesperson, CBCI

How They Went About Burning Houses

2008-09-03T08:56:00.004+05:30

Christian Homes Burnt Down

Hindu Part of the Village Untouched

A burnt doll is seen outside a Christian home at Suleswar village in Orissa August 31, 2008. (Picture Courtesy: Reuters)

Reuters reports:

On a starry night last week, as Lal Mohan Digal prepared to go to bed, a mob of raging, machete-wielding Hindu zealots appeared above the hills of his mud house and swarmed over this bucolic hamlet in Orissa.

By dawn, Christian homes in the village were smoking heaps of burnt mud and concrete shells. Churches were razed, their wooden doors and windows stripped off.

"We could hear them come shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'," Digal said, referring to the rallying cry of Hindus hailing their warrior-god.

The mob poured kerosene on the thatched rooftops of the village homes, then threw matches. Church spires were hacked down.

The Hindu part of the village was untouched. For four days Digal and his stricken Christian neighbours hid in the teak forests, before being herded to a government-run relief camp.

The violence replicated itself in village after village, as the rural Kandhamal district of Orissa convulsed from some of the worst anti-Christian attacks in India.

Christian Schools Face Trouble Over Protest

2008-09-02T23:49:00.003+05:30

Christian Schools Face Trouble For Closing To Protest Orissa Violence

Some Church institutions have incurred right-wing Hindu groups' wrath for closing to protest anti-Christian violence in Orissa, eastern India.

According to UCA News:

On the Christian protest day, Hindu radical groups demonstrated in front of a Catholic church of Gwalior diocese, in Madhya Pradesh state, central India. They also demonstrated in front of four Christian schools in Gwalior town, 320 kilometers south of New Delhi.

On the same day, the government of Karnataka announced its decision to take action against Christian schools in that southern state for closing without prior permission.

In Karnataka, the the BJP led state government issued notices to the managements of the schools and colleges that were closed on Friday.

According to the sources in the education ministry the letter asked the institutions to explain the "holiday" on Friday. The strong worded letter has also reminded that the institutions also get government funding to run the institutions and the government can withdraw the funding should it find that the conduct of the college was found lacking in any way.

Here's an English translation of the Kannada notice in which the State Government threatened to shut Christian Institutions on the basis of a VHP petition:

Office of the Deputy Director
Public Education Department
Shimoga

No. J/53/2007-08 Dated: 29-08-2008

SHOW CAUSE NOTICE

Ref :- On the basis of the protest by Vishwa Hindu Parishat (World Hindu Council) petition of District coordinator)

You announced a holiday on the 29th August to your institution. It is your duty to obtain the permission of the Education Department before announcing any holiday other than the ones permitted by the Department. By failing to follow this norm and announcing the holiday unilaterally and suddenly, you have caused disruption the academic process of the students.

Religious / Communal causes cannot be the cause for announcing to holiday. By doing so you have hurt the religious sentiments of other communities and disturbed the communal harmony of society.

The VHP/Bajarag Dal have conducted a protest against the closure of schools on the 29th August, and criticized your action. The have submitted letters requesting action against you for this. In this context you are asked to show cause why action should not be taken against you for using religion as an excuse, and announcing a holiday, and as to why the permission to run your school should not be withdrawn. You are asked to submit a written reply on or before 2nd September 2009 to this office, failing which it will be assumed you have nothing to say and action will be taken as per the rules.

Sd/-
Deputy Director of Public Education
Shimoga

Atleast 80 Houses Torched Since Yesterday

2008-09-02T23:29:00.002+05:30

Orissa Still Burning: 80 More Houses Burnt Since Yesterday Afternoon

Situation Remains Tense in Kandhamal

PTI reports September 2, 2008:

At least 80 houses were torched in sporadic violence in Orissa's riot-hit Kandhamal district even as the state government suspended day curfew and beefed up relief and rehabilitation operations.

A high-level team of officials, including Home Secretary T K Mishra and Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda, visited the district to review the situation and assess the extent of damage, official sources said today.

The visit was to work out strategies for containing arson and violence in the communally-sensitive district as well as stepping up relief and rehabilitation operations for the affected people, they said.

At least 80 houses were torched in fresh arson in several villages of Tikabali and Sarangada areas since yesterday afternoon, the sources said.

Describing force scarcity as a big handicap in containing arson, IGP (Intelligence) R P Singh said only 2,500 personnel from various forces including CRPF were available to combat violence in villages across the district.

"As the arson continues to trouble rural pockets, there is only one jawan (i.e., soldier) to tackle the situation in every village," a senior police officer said.

Several women were also seen indulging in arson at some places, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division, Satyabrata Sahu said, adding more measures were being taken to tackle the situation.

Orissa Bishop Appeals for Peace

2008-09-02T23:17:00.000+05:30

Bishop Of Balasore Appeal For Peace and Harmony In Orissa

The atrocities being committed against the Christian Community in Orissa and in particular in Kandhamal District from the wake of the killing Swami Laxanananda Saraswati along with four others on 23rd August 2008 near Tumudibandh. We, the Catholic Community in Orissa, deeply condemn this barbarous incident. At this juncture, I earnestly appeal to all of you to maintain peace and harmony.

Following is the Circular from Balasore Diocese:

Circular No. 5/2008

DIOCESE OF BALASORE
BISHOP’S HOUSE
BALASORE-756 001

1st September 2008

My dear Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Lay Faithful,

You might be well aware of the atrocities being committed against the Christian Community in Orissa and in particular in Kandhamal District in the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar from the wake of the killing Swami Laxanananda Saraswati along with four others on 23rd August 2008 near Tumudibandh. We, the Catholic Community in Orissa, deeply condemn this barbarous incident and deeply sympathize with the near and dear ones of the deceased. At this juncture, I earnestly appeal to all of you to maintain peace and harmony. I am sending herewith a circular, which gives a number of relevant informations, action plan and what had been being done to stop the violence. As you can see, this attack by the Fundamentalists caused much damage, strain and loss to the church in Orissa. I also give you herby some of the facts and figures of the attacks.

Introduction
Violence re-erupted within the Indian state of Orissa once again. The attacks performed by Hindu extremist groups are just one link in a long chain of events that have continued to strain Hindu-Christian relations within the State. This time the attacks were triggered by the killing of a prominent Hindu leader Swami Laxanananda Saraswati along with four other people in his Jalaspeta Ashram near Tumudibandh, Kandhamal District, Orissa, on Saturday 23rd August 2008. In retaliation for the Swamiji's death, the extremist wing of the VHP has engaged in a series of attacks against Christians all through out the Sate of Orissa.

Some of the major developments or incidents Since 23rd August at wake of the killing the Swamiji and his four associates.

- On 24th August two sisters of Precious Blood Congregation at Kothaguda who were on their way to Berhampur were stopped near G. Udayagiri, pulled out from the vehicle. The Vehicle was then set on fire and the driver was severely beaten up.

- Almost at the same time a vehicle carrying HM sisters near Ainthapally in Sambalpur, a prayer chapel at Tentuliapadar in Sundargarh was also burned and destroyed. With these incidents, the stories of violence, abuse and attacks continue with several churches, church institutions, priests, Nuns, Christian people and their houses being attacked, abused, ransacked, and torched.

- As the impact of the news started getting visible across the State, the Government got into action by announcing prohibitory orders (144 Section) in Kandhamal District. This was also a preparatory action by the State Government ahead of the 12-hour bandh called by the VHP and other affiliates of the Sangh Parivar on 25th August to protest the killing.

- On Sunday morning 24th August 2008, prayers in many churches were disrupted with very few participants attending the Mass in Kandhamal District fearing attacks.

- From the same day attacks in Kandhamal District intensified of Janvikas Office like many other Offices which were burnt to ashes.

- The mob continued their assaults at Divya Jyoti Pastoral Centre by gutting, burning and looting the same at about 6 p.m. The same group entered the Balliguda presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the properties, Roman Catholic Church at Kanjamedi.

- On 25th August 2008 as the Bandh lead to many protests, Rastha Rokos, tyre burning etc, the following incidents of violence shook the whole state and the Christian Community. Phulbani Church and the presbytery were vandalized and ransacked, Srasanda MC Brother's residence was attacked and some of the patients who came there to get treatment were beaten up. On the same day at 10.30 a.m the houses of Christian families in Christiansahi in Balliguda were destroyed and ransacked, two boys studying in the church run hostel were caught in Balliguda and their heads were tonsured.

- The Pastoral Centre, Kanjamendi, was burnt and ransacked on 24th. Fr. Thomas Chellan, the Director of the Pastoral Centre and Sr. Meena, H.M., the Administrator of the Centre escaped from the centre and took shelter in a nearby family. On 25th, mob having the information about it, forcefully entered the house dragging both of them outside. They were beaten up badly and taken to the Police Fundi in that area. Fr. Thomas Chellan is still in serious condition.

- On 25th late night, Sankrakhol Parish church and presbytery were set fire and ransacked. Fr. Bernard Digal, the Treasurer of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar who had gone to visit Fr. Alexandar Chandi was held up at Sankrakhol parish when the mob attacked the church. His Jeep was set fire. While narrating the incident Fr. Bernard said that when the mob entered the church premises, they left to the forest and hid themselves. He walked around 10 kms to reach one of his relations house. On the way Fr. Bernard Digal was severely beaten up and wounded and is presently undergoing medical treatment.

- On 25th August late night the Convent of St. Joseph's at Sankrakhole was attacked and ransacked. The Sisters also left to the forest and have saved their life.

- The mob made some attempts to enter the premises of the Catholic Church, Bhubaneswar and the Archbishop's House. The Institutions in Bhubaneswar St. Arnold's School, NISWASS, Loyola School, XIM, have suffered some damages.

- A mob entered the premises of Carmel School at Bhadrak and broke some window glasses of the school building, the glasses of the School Buses and jeep parked in the compound.

- A group of people broke the glasses around the statue of Mother Mary in the premises of Balasore Social Service Society and some window glasses of the building on 25th August at Balasore.

- A large violent mob with deadly weapons and explosive liquids attacked the Muniguda Mission and set fire to the Church, Convent, Boys Hostel and the Centre of Life Skill Education for Adolescent illiterate Girls.

- On 26th, a Baptist Church was looted and houses of the Christian families were set on fire, another three Catholic churches of were attacked in the District. On the same day, 45 houses belonging to Christian families in Patapaga under Raikia Police Station were burnt to ashes while World Vision Office in Bhawanipatna was attacked and the office vehicle was set fire. Pastor Sikandar Singh from Bhawanipatna was also beaten up; his house and vehicle were burnt. Similarly a Lutheran church in Gosaninuagaon of Berhampur was also attacked.

- These are a few incidents to know the intensity and depth of attacks on the Christians in Khanadamal and adjacent Districts in Orissa. There are many more to innumerate in different Dioceses and Districts of Orissa. I am giving you some statistics on the attacks.

1. Number of Deaths in Kandhamal District : 26
2. Number of churches destroyed : 41
3. Number of Houses destroyed : 4014
4. Number of Convents destroyed : 5
5. Number of Hostels destroyed : 6
6. Number of Institutions destroyed : 7

What has been done in Orissa till now?
The All India Christian Council, Orissa, led by Rev. P.R. Parichha and other 6 members met His Excellency Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, Hon'ble Governor of Orissa, at Raj Bhavan, Bhubaneswar and explained the distressful situation of the christians in the State of Orissa and specifically in Kandhamal District. They highlighted the State's failure to safeguard life and property of the christians in Orissa and demanded a CBI inquiry into the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
A coordination team comprising of NGOs and the church personnel in Orissa, has been formed to coordinate the works of relief and rehabilitation during the coming months and disseminate the information to all concerned citizens.
All educational institutions were closed for a day during the last week of August in the five Dioceses in Orissa, condemning the violence in the wake of the killing of the Swamiji, citing the insecurity of the minority community and seeking protection from the State and Central Government.
Steps are being taken to meet the Chief Minster of Orissa, Mr. Naveen Patnayak, to brief the grieving situation of the christians in Khandamal and other parts of Orissa and on the relaxed law and order situation of Orissa.
Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubanewsar and myself are in constant touch with various civil and ecclesiastical authorities to bring about an amicable solution to the burning problem.
What is being done outside the State of Orissa?
- A memorandum was submitted the Hounarable Madam President of India Mrs. Pratibha Patil, requesting her to intervene to impress on the Central Government to rush adequate Union forces, including contingents of the Armed Forces if required, to restore law and order in the State of Orissa particularly in the Kandhamal District.

- A group of Christian leaders led by Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath, Most Rev. Vincent Concessao and a few other dignitaries had met the Prime Minister Sri Manmohan Singh on Thursday 28th August, and appraised him about the critical situation in Orissa. They demanded the following to the Prime Minister that:

1. The atrocities should be stopped immediately.

2. An Independent CBI enquiry should be made.

3. The Central Para-Military Forces/ Army be deployed in adequate strength at all the affected and sensitive places to prevent any further recurrences as the local police has not been able to control the situation.

4. Immediate relief should reach to the refugees whose houses have been looted, destroyed or burned with all their belongings

5. An adequate compensation should be given to them from the Central Government’s Funds.

The Prime Minister assured the delegation that he will speak to the Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnayak in order to take immediate action. He also assured that funds will be made available for the relief, rehabilitation, renovation and reconstruction of the damaged or destroyed houses and institutions.

- Some 45,000 educational institutions run by Christians across the country were closed on 29th August to protest the continued anti-Christian violence in Orissa.

- Christians all over the country have been praying, fasting, conducting prayer vigils, processions on the streets and sending Memoranda to the Government Officials and also to the media, demanding justice.

What has been done in the Diocese of Balasore
An emergency meeting of the Priests and Religious of Balasore, Mayurbanj and Bhdarak civil Districts were called on the 30th August at the Bishop’s House, Balasore. The following are the decisions of the Meeting:

1. Condemning the death of the Swamiji and his four associates, flash news were given in the local Newspapers

2. Bishop Thomas Thiruthalil and some of the Priests representatives met all the District Administrative body individually, such as the S.P., D.I.G., Collector & MLA.

3. Building up of peace committees in the parishes and institutions are to be initiated.

4. Forming of alumni association in all the schools.

5. PTA meetings are to be organized in different schools in collaboration with the Education Commission.

6. To form a delegation of priests, religious and laity to meet the C.M of Orissa.

7. To continue to build the civil society groups and build a base for networking and advocacy.

Expressing our solidarity with the suffering people and united in prayer with them at this painful situation,

Devotedly yours in Christ,

Thomas Thiruthalil, C.M
Bishop of Balasore

Mother Teresa's Successor Appeals for Peace

2008-09-02T22:57:00.001+05:30

Sr. Nirmala Joshi: Let Us Put Down the Weapons of Violence; Religion is a Work of Peace

Ahead of the feast of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, on September 5, the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, Sr. Nirmala Joshi MC, appeals through Asianews to all Indians to break the chain of violence taking place in Orissa.

Here is the complete text of Sr Nirmala's appeal:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Orissa and all over India,

Let us not forget our true identity as the beloved children of God our Father. We are brothers and sisters of one another no matter what our religion, race, culture or language is, whether we are rich or poor. Nothing should separate us.

Above all, let us not use religion to divide us. Essence of all religion is love - love of God and love of one another. Violence on the ground of religion is an abuse of religion.

"Religion is meant to be a work of love. It is not meant to destroy peace and unity. Works of love are works of peace. Let us use religion to become one heart full of love in the heart of God". (Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta).

Dear Brothers and Sisters, in the name of God and in the name of our own humanity, created for greater things, to love and to be loved eternally, and in the name of our country and its noble heritage, and in the name of the poor, the children, and all our suffering brothers and sisters who are victims of this senseless violence and destruction, I make this appeal: let us pray, opening our mind and heart to the light and love of God. Let us put down the weapon of hatred and violence and put on the armor of love. Let us forgive one another and ask forgiveness from one another for the wrong we have done to each other and reach out in love to each other.

Let us pray for the repose of the souls of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and his four associates and all our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives during this violence. Let us pray for each other and ask our Mother, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to pray for us so that we may become channels of God's own peace, love and joy to one another and builders of the civilization of love!

God bless you,

Sr. M. Nirmala, M.C.
Superior General

Archbishop Moves Supreme Court Seeking Probe

2008-09-02T22:45:00.000+05:30

Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar Moves Supreme Court Seeking Probe

ICNS reports:

Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar on Tuesday moved Supreme Court seeking high level probe into the violence against Christians in Orissa.

The archbishop in his petition also said riot police are deployed only in the cities. More forces are needed in the interior villages, where violence continues

The archbishop wanted the court direct the state for an investigation into the circumstances and reasons of the violence by Central Bureau of Investigations.

The central agency cannot investigate a case under a state government unless invited by that particular state. The police have not established the reasons for the violence but radical groups blame Christians.

Country Deaf to the Cries of the Poor: Mahesh Bhatt

2008-09-02T22:36:00.001+05:30

Country Refused to Hear Cries of the Poorest of the Poor: Mahesh Bhatt

From left: John Dayal, Abraham Mathai, Mahesh Bhatt and Mohammed Faruqi, at a press conference, after meeting with the Indian president to end anti-Christian violence in Orissa. Picture Courtesy: UCA News

Prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter, Mahesh Bhatt, who led the Citizens Delegation to meet the Indian President yesterday said that it was "a shame" that the country, "drugged" with "continuous entertainment and amusement," refuses to hear the "cries of the poorest of the poor" in Orissa. UCA News reports:

At a press conference afterward, the Citizens Delegation said they urged Patil to use a constitutional provision to force the Orissa government to end anti-Christian violence.

<...>

Mahesh Bhatt, a Hindu filmmaker, led the delegation that included Archbishops Vincent Concessao of Delhi and Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, head of the Catholic Church in Orissa. The prelates did not attend the press conference.

Bhatt regretted that political factors have forced federal and state governments to "dilly-dally" in checking the violence. Despite "so many appeals" to various authorities, "the ground reality" in Orissa has not changed, he stated.

<...>

He pointed out that 40,000-50,000 Christians have been hiding in Orissa forests since Aug. 24 after Hindu radicals attacked some 300 villages and destroyed more than 4,000 houses. The attackers have also burned several schools, churches, convents and presbyteries.

<...>

Bhatt termed it "a shame" that the country, "drugged" with "continuous entertainment and amusement," refuses to hear the "cries of the poorest of the poor" in Orissa.

Lethargy in Sending Para-Military Forces to Orissa

2008-09-02T22:25:00.002+05:30

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil Concerned Over Central Government's Delay In Sending Para-Military Forces To Orissa

President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Eastern rite), Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil has expressed grave concern over the "unwillingness" of the Union government to send troops to bring the law and order situation under control in Orissa, where Christians were allegedly burnt alive, churches and convents and their other institutions set ablaze, during a weeklong attack on the community last week.

The head of the six-million strong Catholics, Cardinal Varkey condemned the Union government's lethargy and delay in sending para-military forces to Orissa where over a dozen persons were killed in large-scale rioting.

The cardinal was addressing a gathering of priests, nuns and laypersons August 30 at nearby Kakkanad to pay tributes to Father Thomas Pandippally who was murdered recently in Andhra Pradesh.

"The Centre is dithering on sending troops to Orissa. I had taken up the matter with the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Now it has found refuge in the excuse that troops can be sent only on the request of the state government."

Bengal Christians Take Out Protest Rally

2008-09-02T22:11:00.004+05:30

In Bengal, a United Christian Forum Holds a Protest Rally

KRISHNAGAR, West Bengal, SEPT. 02, 2008, 16.30 Hrs (CBCI News): The Nadia District Committee of Bangiya Christiya Parisheba, a united forum of Christians of all denominations, held a protest rally here, against the recent violence in Orissa state where around 12 Christians were allegedly killed and churches and Christian institutions torched by Hindu religious fanatics.

Thousands of students studying in Christian schools in Nadia district, their parents and members of the Christian community joined the rally August 29, holding black flags and placards expressing their protest. All Christian schools remained closed.

Later, Bishop Joseph Soren Gomes of Krishnagar conducted a condolence prayer.

Speakers at the rally condemned the barbaric attacks on the life of innocent Christians, their houses, convents, shops and hostels in Orissa.

They also appealed to the Centre and the state government of Orissa to take necessary measures to prevent loss of lives and properties.

The Parisheba forwarded a memorandum to the Chief Minister and Governor of Orissa to take immediate steps in this regard.

The rally started at Krishnagar Cathedral and ended at St. John's C.M.S. High School ground. There are about 40 Christian missionary schools in the district.

3,000 Forcible "Re-Conversions" to Hinduism

2008-09-01T22:23:00.002+05:30

Hindu Activists Forcibly "Re-converting" Christians to "Original Religion"

Christian leaders said Hindu activists had forced about 3,000 Christans in riot-affected parts of the state to renounce their religion in the past few days while Hindu leaders maintain the conversions were voluntary.

The GCIC Persecution website has a report:

"Armed Hindu activists are raiding the villages and threatening them with violence if they do not convert to Hinduism immediately. We can prove that Christians are being forcibly converted to Hinduism in Kandhamal [the riot-hit Orissa district]," said Sajan K George, the national president of the Global Council of the Indian Christians in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa's state capital.

"Fearing for their lives, the poor Christians are taking part in the rituals of conversion to Hinduism. For the past week, in many villages, Hindu activists have been conducting forced conversions," he said.

"The most unfortunate fact is that everything is happening under the nose of the authorities. Despite our appeals neither the state government nor the local police have done anything to protect the Christians."

Hindu leaders say that their ongoing Hindu "homecoming" ceremonies are being attended voluntarily by Christians.

From Violence to Conversions:

While in the first few days after the Saraswati's death, Hindus resorted to violence against Christians, since a strict curfew they have changed their strategy and begun organising conversions ceremonies virtually at gunpoint.

According to Christian leaders, Hindu activists have even entered the forests where some Christians are hiding to force them to go through the Hindu conversion rituals.

"Truckloads of [Hindu] militants from neighbouring states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have entered the area to back up the VHP [Viswa Hindu Parishad or World Hindu Council] campaign. Armed with bombs, swords and guns these VHP militants are pouncing on poor, weak and defenceless Christians," said Mr Sajan George.

"They have already killed 43 innocent Christians in this violence. In the past four days at least 3,000 Christians have been forcibly converted to Hinduism. Villagers cowering in fear are giving in to their threats and going through the [Hindu] rituals. It is inhuman," added Mr Sajan George.

Babu Joseph, another Christian leader, said Hindu activists were shouting slogans in praise of Hinduism and shouting that they would "reconvert" Christians throughout the country.

Grandmother Dies Without Medicine, Denied Christian Burial, Cremated:

Kabita Naik, a 22-year-old Christian girl who fled from her village of Raikia on Friday, said her seriously sick grandmother died after Hindu activists besieged her village and refused to let the family buy medicines from the nearby town.

"When the body of my grandmother was taken to the Christian burial ground by our [Christian] neighbours, the Hindu activists forcibly took away the body and burnt it [as the Hindus do]. They said, 'you are all Hindus and this Christian burial ground is not meant for your dead'," Ms Naik said, her voice wavering with emotion.

Surajen Underwent Hindu Ritual For the Sake of Crying Wife and Children:

Surajen Naik, 45, wrote in a letter to a relative in Bhubaneshwar that Hindus were destroying the church in his village of Phiringia. He said that he, as well as other villagers, ran into the forest to hide.

"Armed with knives and guns they [Hindu activists] entered the forest and said they would kill and dump our bodies in the river if we don't convert.

"My children and wife were all crying in fear and I agreed to take part in the ritual ... the accompanying [Hindu] priests chanted hymns and washed our feet with 'holy' water they were carrying and said 'from today you are Hindus again and can return to your village'."

50,000 Christians Hiding in the Forest

2008-09-01T22:07:00.003+05:30

Citizen's Delegation Meets Indian President Pratibha Patil

Tells President 50,000 Christians Hiding in Forests of Orissa from Maraudng Hindutva mobs, 4,000 Houses Burnt

New Delhi, September 1, 2008

Highlights:

Citizen's Delegation meets President Pratibha Patil; Demands that Indian Government use Article 355 to force Orissa administration to protect Christians
Violence continues even now, President is told by delegation led by Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, Maulana Mahmood Madani, MP, and Orissa Archbishop Cheenath.
300 villages burnt, 4,014 houses destroyed, 50,000 Christians hiding in Forests in a week

PRESS NOTE

A Citizens Delegation met President Pratibha Patil on Monday morning calling upon her to enforce Article 355 of the Constitution of India on Orissa so that the Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik administration takes adequate measures to protect Christians in the state from Hindutva violence..

The best legal opinion available to the delegation held that while Article 356 calls for imposition of President’s rule when New Delhi takes over reins of power, Article 355 reminds both New Delhi and state governments of their duties to protect States against internal disturbance and should be brought into force now.

The delegation reminded the President that the violence that has continued against Christians in Orissa from 23rd August till today justifies the use of this Article. The violence far exceeds that of Christians 2007, the delegation told the President, reminding her that she had a big role to play at this juncture..

In fact, violence has spilled out of Orissa into neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. In Orissa, It is not confined to Kandhamal but has affected other districts. In Kandhamal, fifty thousand people are hiding in forests or are in a few refugee camps, hiding from murderous gangs seeking to kill them or convert them to Hinduism, Over 4,000 houses have been completely destroyed apart from now close to a hundred small and big churches which have been torched.

The Citizen’s delegation, the first such to meet the President, was led by film maker Mahesh Bhatt and Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani, MP, National Integration Council member Dr John Dayal, Orissa Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, Delhi Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Maharashtra Government State Minorities Commission vice chairman Dr Abraham Mathai, Jamiat leader Mohd Faruqi, Al India Christian Council regional secretary Rev Madhu Chandra, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese Federation President Adv Jenis Francis and Mumbai’s Catholic Social Forum secretary general Joseph Dias were the other members.

The President gave the delegation a patient hearing and said she would have their demand for Article 355 examined. She said the government had briefed her on steps, which had already been taken. Mr. Bhatt told the President that the State government was in a coma; its police totally complicit in the violence and the Sangh Parivar was running havoc.

Maulana Madani said it was a matter of security of India’s minorities. It was India’s concern for its minorities that had brought it respect internationally, and it was the object of deep concern globally.

Archbishop Cheenath, Dr John Dayal and Dr Mathai briefed the President in detail about the Sangh violence in the state which has continued after the murder of the VHP vice President Lakshmanananda Saraswati.

Following are excerpts from the Memorandum Citizen’s Memorandum to the President of India:

September 1, 2008

Shrimati Pratibha Patil
The President of India

Your Excellency,

You are aware of the still continuing carnage against the Christian community, mostly Dalits and Tribals, in the Kandhamal district of Orissa and in several other districts including the state capital of Bhubaneswar since 23rd August 2003 following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, reportedly by Maoist groups who have been operating in the state for some time. The violence has now spread to some other states, especially Madhya Pradesh.

Nine months after attacks in Kandhamal District on Christians of Dalit, Hill peoples and Tribal ethnicity celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we are deeply saddened by a repeat of the violence in the month of India’s Independence. The Christmas 2007 attacks claimed the lives of at least four Christians, and we verified the destruction of at least 105 churches and 730 Christian homes. The current spate of violence will exceed these totals as it continues to spread into other districts. Our estimate from Ground Zero is of close to two dozen people dead, one a Hindu girl burnt to death working for a Christian orphanage, a Nun has been gang raped, religious men and women personnel humiliated, beaten, tortured, some close to death, while policemen have looked on, or have been absent.

We appeal for the restoration of law and order. But the root cause must also be addressed.

We, the secular civil society community, perceive that the great nation of India is at a tipping point. The groups, which favour a “Hindu Rashtra”, have made Orissa their laboratory, as they earlier did Gujarat. The so-called saffronisation of the state has been the subject of well-documented academic and socio-political studies.

We entreat you, as President of the Republic, to enforce the rule of law upon Sangh Parivar organisations which blatantly flaunt their divisive agenda. Specifically, we call upon you to bring the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, and Bajrang Dal under the rule of law.

As Orissa authorities have repeatedly said there was ample circumstantial evidence of Maoist involvement in the killing of VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four others on August 23rd.

Additionally, someone who identified himself as Azad, a leader of Maoist outfit, People's Liberation Guerrilla Army claim responsibility for the killing as Times of India carries the news on August 30 referring to an interview with a leading Oriya daily on August 29.[1] Yet Praveen Togadia, VHP general secretary, told an international journalist on August 27, “It is clear that the church killed the Swami.”[2] Gouri Prasad Rath, Orissa state VHP secretary, said, “This attack is the handiwork of the Christians.”[3] Subhash Chavan, national co-convener of the Bajrang Dal, said, “The police are trying to hide the truth by blaming the Maoists.”[4] An unnamed RSS spokesperson said, “This is an attack by the agents of Christian missionaries, whose attempts at forcible conversions the Swamiji countered.”[5] RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav told CNN IBN on Tuesday night[6] that Christians were behind the murders. Perhaps based on a media report[7], Madhav The final word lay with RSS supreme Kupahalli Sudershan who in a Press Statement faxed to the Media called the late VHP vice President a martyr for “stopping Christians from carrying on coversions.”

These types of irresponsible statements must be met with the full force of the law. They are all culpable for penal action under IPC 295A for the crime of creating enmity between communities and religions. This would benefit not only Orissa, but the nation.

We sincerely wish Swami Saraswati was not murdered and he still might be alive if the state government had followed the recommendations of the National Commission for Minorities. The NCM urged the authorities to examine the speeches of Swami Lakshmanananda to determine whether they amount to incitement to violence.[8][9] We are confident that, if this had been done, the swami would have been jailed and protected from coming to any harm.

Your Excellency, the violence in Orissa continues without adequate police forces to stop mobs which break curfew and harm innocent civilians, chasing our fellow countrymen and women like animals in the forests where they have taken refuge since August 24. Today the irresponsible leaders of hardliner Hindu nationalist groups are damaging our great democracy and secularism of the nation.

We request you to order the Union Government and the State Administration to take legal action against the irresponsible organisations which called the bundh on Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 and have passively watched their members wreak havoc. They must, of course, fully investigate the murder of the VHP vice President.

This is to request you to use your powers as President of India, and the tremendous force of your good offices, to impress on the Central Government to rush adequate Union forces, including contingents of the Armed Forces if required, to restore law and order and governance in the Kandhamal region.

The consequences of any further delay, we the secular civil society fear, may be catastrophic for the small Christian community in the State in particular, for peace in Orissa in general, and for the fair name of India as a secular country.

Footnotes:

1. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Maoists_claim_Orissa_killing/articleshow/3423908.cms

2. “Indian state erupts in violence after Hindu shot”, by Saeed Ahmed, CNN, Aug. 27, 2008.

3. “Orissa on edge, VHP scoffs at Maoist theory”, see above

4. “Orissa tragedy takes a backseat, hunt starts for scapegoat”, by Soumyajit Pattnaik, Hindustan Times, Aug. 25, 2008.

5. “Orissa: Bandh-related violence claims 9,” by Krishnakumar P., Rediff.com, Aug. 26, 2008.

6. “Blind Faith? Fragile Peace Blown to Bits”, CNN-IBN debate, Aug. 26, 2008, 10 p.m. IST.

7. “Widespread anger in Kandhamal”, The Pioneer, Aug. 25, 2008.

8. “This mischievous [VHP & Sangh Parivar anti-conversion] campaign has created an atmosphere of prejudice and suspicion against the Christian community and Christian priests and organizations. The role of the Sangh Parivar activists and the anti-conversion campaign in fomenting organized violence against the Christian Community deserves close scrutiny.” From “Report of the NCM visit to Orissa, 6-8 January 2008”, http://ncm.nic.in/pdf/orissa%20report.pdf.

9. “The recommendation made by the NCM team that visited Orissa in January, 2008 that the State Government must look into the speeches of Swami Lakshmanananda to determine whether they amount to incitement to violence does not appear to have been acted upon.” From “Report on the Visit of the Vice Chairperson, NCM to Orissa, 21-24 April 2008”, http://ncm.nic.in/pdf/VC%20Tour%20Report%20of%20Orissa.pdf

Rights Activists Denied Permission to Visit Kandhamal?

2008-09-01T21:51:00.000+05:30

Rights Activists Ask Orissa Governor to Visit Kandhamal

The Hindu reports:

Bhubaneswar (PTI): Angry over denial of permission to visit Kandhamal, a group of civil rights activists on Monday asked Orissa governor M C Bhandare to recommend a CBI probe into the killing of Laxmanananda Saraswati and communal violence thereafter.

Dubbing Orissa's communal situation as "worse" than that in Guajrat and other parts of the country, they demanded a ban on VHP and Bajrang Dal accusing them of being instrumental in attacking churches and Christians.

During their discussion with Bhandare, the activists said that Sangh Parivar's plan to carry around the 'asthi kalas' of Laxmanananda Saraswati in a procession could lead to further violence.

The team also asked the governor to visit the affected areas and make an independent assessment of the security situation.

They also urged the govenor to involve ngos and civil society organisations in rescue and relief operation.

"If the government can ban SIMI, why not ban VHP and Bajrang Dal", asked Swami Agnivesh adding that CBI probe could reveal the truth behind the killing and subsequent violence across the state.

"Judicial probe is a lengthy process which hardly has any impact", former Mumbai high court judge H Suresh said. Though a retired judge, he felt that judicial inquiry provides delayed justice.

An e-Tshirt for Orissa

2008-09-01T21:35:00.000+05:30

An e-Tshirt for Orissa

From a circulating email:

In Karwar, 5000 Catholics Join Silent Protest Rally

2008-09-01T21:20:00.000+05:30

5,000 Catholics from the South Indian Diocese of Karwar Take Part in a Silent Protest Rally

Bishop Derek Fernandes Submits a Memorandum

5,000 Catholics led by Bishop Derek Fernandes of Karwar in silent procession.

A protest rally was organized by the Catholics of Karwar on Monday, September 01, 2008 at St. Joseph's school grounds, Kajubag, Karwar. About 5000 Catholics from the parishes in Karwar taluk gathered at the school grounds at 10:30 a.m. and proceeded in silent procession through the main streets of Karwar to the Office premises of the Deputy Commissioner, led by the Most Rev. Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar and the priests and religious of Karwar deanery.

The entire procession was in silence, holding banners and placards with the messages condemning the atrocities on the innocent Christians in Orissa and calling for peace and harmony among people of all religions.

The procession converged into a rally in front of the D.C. office and Bishop Derek Fernandes read out the memorandum endorsed with signatures of more than 3000 Catholics, and then handed over to the Deputy Commissioner, who assured to forward it to the Government for necessary action.

Bishop Derek submitting the memorandum bearing the signature of more than 3000 Catholics.

The following is the text of the Memorandum:

To the Deputy Commissioner, Uttar Kannada, Karwar.

Sir,

You are aware of the ongoing atrocities being perpetrated on the helpless and innocent minority Christian community in Orissa. Certain fundamentalist and communal elements are targeting the Christian community, resorting to vandalism, looting, killing and destroying property.

We condemn the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his associates. But targeting innocent people as vengeance does not stand to reason. Instead of catching and punishing the wrong doers and criminals, innocent minority Christians are attacked and grievously injured destroying their life, limb and property. In any case violence of any kind cannot be justified for any reason whatsoever.

It is evident that the Government of Orissa and the civil administration has failed to provide the protection to the minority Christian community guaranteed in our constitution. Since the violence and terror are still continuing unabated, it appears that these fundamental and communal elements are operating with the connivance and tacit support of the local administration at the place.

We the Christians of Uttar Kannada district express our solidarity and concern with our victimized Christian brothers and sisters in Orissa and condemn the atrocities perpetrated by the communal and fundamentalist elements. Therefore we request your good self to kindly convey our fears and anxieties to the Government of Karnataka to take up the same with the Government of Orissa for suitable remedial action and immediate relief to our oppressed and unfortunate Christian brothers and sisters in Orissa.

Thanking you,

Bishop Derek Fernandes

and the Christians of Uttar Kannada district.

The protest rally was well covered by the press and television media persons.

Bishop Derek Responding to questions from media persons

To their question about the directive of the Karnataka Education Minister to issue notices to the school managements for closing down the Catholic schools on Friday, 29th August, the Bishop replied, "That itself is another form of atrocity on the Christian minority. Instead of sympathizing with us and condemning the atrocities committed on the innocent minority Christians, our very right of protest is being questioned. We are less than 2 per cent minority in our Country, and if we do not sympathize with our suffering brothers and sisters and protest, who else will do it?"

Similar protest rallies and processions were held in Kumta, Honavar, Sirsi, Yellapur, Haliyal and Joida talukas in the diocese by the Catholics of the respective deaneries under the leadership of the clergy-religious and the Catholic Association and memoranda were submitted to the respective tahsildars.

Fr. Thomas Misquith
Karwar

1 More Burnt Alive, 18 Converted to Hinduism

2008-09-01T15:34:00.005+05:30

Anti-Christian Pogrom Continues in Orissa!!

Another Christian Burnt Alive; 18 Forcibly Converted to Hinduism

Over a week after the worst anti-Christian violence in Orissa, fresh reports say killings, forcible re-conversions to Hinduism and destruction of Churches and church property continue to this moment

Merinews reports last night's burning:

One Abhimanyu Nayak, a resident of Barapalh village under Pasara police station of Kandhamal district in Orissa, was burnt alive on Sunday night (August 31) and 18 families of one community were forcibly converted at Raikia on Friday (August 29), by fanatic organisations in presence of police and government officials though the curfew was still in force.

Fresh Violence: Atleast 4 More Churches Burnt

2008-09-01T15:07:00.008+05:30

At Least Four More Churches Burnt as Violence Continues to Spread in Orissa

Christians gather inside a shelter at Raikia village in Orissa August 31, 2008.

Even as officials claim the 'situation to be under control', Anti-Christian Violence in Orissa continues unabated. Four Churches at least, and more Christian houses burnt as Violence Continues unabated in Orissa, despite Government assurances.

Situation Under Whose Control?

Reuters reports:

Hindu mobs have burnt at least four more churches in Orissa, officials said on Monday, as religious violence appeared to spread.

Thousands of people, mostly Christians, have taken shelter in makeshift camps, where Hindu mobs went on the rampage last week after a Hindu leader was killed.

Last week officials said the violence appeared to be abating after Hindu and Christian leaders called for calm, but over the weekend it spread to new parts of the state.

Mobs set fire to four churches in the districts of Koraput and Rayagada, Orissa's Director General of Police, Gopal Chandra Nanda, told Reuters.

Two churches and several houses were also burnt in the Kandhamal district, the epicentre of the tension, despite a curfew imposed in most of its towns, one of the state's leading newspapers, The Samaja, reported on Monday.

According to the Times of India:

Media reports said six churches and some houses had been burnt in Boriguma area of Koraput district and in some places in Rayagada district on Sunday.

Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda, however, said "only three or four churches had been set on fire".

Fresh violence was also reported from the troubled district of Kandhamal where mobs set fire to some churches and houses on Sunday evening. The incidents occurred in Bataguda and Parampanga area.

Contrast this with the official claim:

Bhubaneswar, Sept 1 (PTI) Claiming that the situation in Kandhamal and elsewhere in Orissa was well under control, the state government today said at least 558 houses and 17 places of worship were burnt in communal riots after VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's killing on August 23.

FIACONA Protests at the UN HQ in New York

2008-09-01T14:01:00.001+05:30

FIACONA Stages Protest Outside United Nations Headquarters

Members of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organisations of North America stage a protest outside the United Nations headquarters.

Rediff.com reports:

The Federation of Indian American Christian Organisations of North America on Friday staged a protest outside the United Nations headquarters and urged Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to look into the 'naked violation' of human rights of Christians in Orissa.

Christian schools shut to protest Orissa violence
Holding placards with slogans that read 'Ban VHP,' 'Stop Burning Christians alive in Orissa,' and 'Deploy Army to Orissa to Christians,' the FIACONA activists staged a three-hour protest outside the UN.

"By conducting a prayer vigil and writing to Ban, we seek to highlight the issue in the international arena. If India seeks to become a major player in the global arena, since it is a signatory to the human rights declaration, it should respect these sensibilities," Bernard Malik, chief of FIACONA, told rediff.com.

Orissa violence: Centre favours CBI probe
"UN is not a foreign body and India is very much part of it. Whether Mr Ban reads the letter or makes a statement on it not, it is not going to resurrect the dead Christians. India needs to own up to its responsibility in protecting its own citizens," he said.

"By giving the memorandum to Mr Ban, we would like to call the attention of the world body to the plight of Christians in India. Because India is constitutionally a secular state, we would like to see all communities, irrespective of their religions, to live in peace and harmony. India should uphold its constitutions and so this memorandum," the Reverend Wilson, of Grace International Assembly, and also a coordinator for Indian American Christians, told rediff.com.

Rights groups urge US, EU to end Orissa violence
"We are concerned about the atrocities committed on the minorities in our mother land. We condemn every murder, including that of Swami Saraswati, whose murder was perpetrated by Communist Maoists. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad blamed the Christians for the killing, using it as a ruse to attack and kill Christians, who also are peaceful citizens of India," the Reverend Wilson said.

In the memorandum to Ban, FIACONA urged him to look into the 'crumbling of the very basis of the civilised society and the absolute degradation of the morals and values of co-existence and cooperation. All the Christians in India and the world look up to you for your valuable support to end the macabre and horrendous carnage of the Christians in Orissa'.

Kandhamal returns to normalcy after week-long violence
Abraham George, a senior UN Official and general secretary of the Indian National Overseas Congress, said that the latest news reports suggest that over 30 people have been killed, schools, orphanages and churches vandalised, nuns raped and a woman set ablaze.

"What we are witnessing here is a complete failure of the government machinery headed by the Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party combine, in protecting the innocent citizens of the state, where extremists are wreaking havoc by killing people and challenging the pluralistic character of the nation," Abraham said.

Woman burnt, 12 churches razed during Orissa bandh
The INOC has also released a statement condemning the killings.

Malik blamed the Orissa government for its inaction in protecting Swamiji even after he received death threats.

"Then, after the murder, the government should have been proactive in preventing riots and protecting Christians. The VHP is also to be blamed for the negative propaganda about the myth of conversion and Central government for its failure to intervene in a timely manner," he said.

Christian families still still hiding in the jungles, says CRPF
Malik said there have been as many as 123 incidents in Orissa in the last two weeks and 143 incidents of violence against Christians in Karnataka.

"Being a forever peace-loving and religious tolerant community, Christians are remaining mute spectators to these intensely inhuman and barbaric acts," Malik said.

Orissa: VHP men damage churches, prayer hall
In response to another question, Malik said that it is matter of changing the mindset of common masses that gets exploited by the ruling party.

"Indians till today are not driven by principles but by political affiliations. Therefore, the principle of plural India is not an objective principle that has been consistently supported. Indians have a short memory in learning lessons," he said.

Names of 26 People Killed in the Violence

2008-09-01T13:31:00.000+05:30

A Circulating List of the 26 People Killed in the Orissa Violence

Church groups have been able to give the names of atleast 26 people who were killed in the week-long violence in Orissa, in which Hindu fanatics also burned down or destroyed some 4,000 Christian homes, several churches and convents

A circulated list gives the names of the 26 deceased as follows:

Names of the Deceased

1. Dasarath Pradhan (Tiangia)
2. Kamolini Nayak (Mondakia)
3. Pastor Samuel Nayak (Bakingia)
4. Romesh Digal (Bakingia)
5. Jecob Digal (Petapanga)
6. Sureshon Nayak
7. Abhimonyu Nayak
8. Bikram Nayak (Tiangia)
9. Goyadhar Digal, Kasinipadar
10. Dibyasundar Digal
11. Parakhita Nayak(Tiangia)
12. Trinath Digal (Tiangia)
13. Joseph Digal
14. Gopan Nayak (Mondakia)
15. Khogeswar Pradhan
16. Ajuba Nayak, Barakhama
17. Rosananda Prodhan
18. Jaka Nayak Budamaha
19. Akhar Digal Totomaha
20. Sidheswar Digal, Sulisoru
21. Praful Nayak, Barakhama
22. Mary Digal, Barakhama
23. Daniel Mallick (Pastor) Bankingia
24. Michael Nayak, Bankingia
25. Gulu, Kanbagiri
26. Bidyadhara Digal, Kattargarh

Churches Attacked

1. Petapanga Church
2. Catholic Church, Mondakia
3. Catholic Church, Ratingia
4. Believers church, Ratingia
5. Diocese Church, Ratingia
6. Believers Church, Gimangia
7. Diocese Church, Gimangia
8. Mdahukia Church
9. Catholic Church, Raikia
10. Catholic Church, Badimunda
11. Pentocastal Church, Badimunda
12. Catholic Church, Breka
13. Pentocastal Church, Breka
14. Catholic Church, Pobingia
15. Catholic Church, Srasanaanda
16. Catholic Church, Phulbani
17. Catholic Church, Phulbani
18. Catholic Church, Balliguda
19. Catholic Church, Sankrakhol
20. R.C. Church, Kanjamedi
21. Diocese Church, Kanjamedi
22. Pentecostal Church, Kanjamedi
23. Pentecostal Church Jugapadar, Nuagam
24. Baptist Church, Tumudiband
25. Pentecostal Church, Tumudiband
26. Catholic Church, Padanpur
27. Church in Dhanpur
28. Catholic Church, Tiangia
29. Baptist Church, Tiangia
30. Catholic Church, Gabindapali
31. Catholic Church, Padua
32. Catholic Church, Duburi
33. Pentecostal Church, Tiangia
34. Seveth Advent Church Bakingia
35. Catholic Church Nilungia36. Pentecostal Church Nilungia
37. Catholic Church Boipariguda
38. R.C. Bakingia
39. Penteconstal church, Bakingia
40. R.C. Kotimaha
41. Pentocostal church, Budamaha
42. Baptist Church, Sukananda
43. Pentaconstal church Adaskupa
44. R.C. Church, Adaskupa
45. Pentacostal Church, Rupagao
46. Sulesoru Church
47. Pengoberi village Church
48. Kambaguda, Church
49. Tengapadar village church
50. Prakash Prayer House, Raikia

3. Shops Destroyed in Raikia

1. Biraj Nayak - Chicken Centre
2. Alok Nayak - Chicken Centre
3. Chiku Nayak
4. Rohit Nayak - Tea Stall
5. Simon Nayak - Computer
6. Kabula Nayak
7. Sudhir Nayak - Xerox
8. Junes Nayak - Computer
9. Jerbas Mondal - Grocery
10. Paburia shops

4. Convents

1. St. Joseph’s Convent, Sankharkhole
2. St. Anne’s Convent, Pobinga
3. Mt. Carmel Convent, Balliguda
4. St. Anne’s Convent, Padangi

5. Hostels

1. Boy’s Hostel, Padangi
2. Girl’s Hostel, Padangi
3. Balliguda Convent
4. Boy’s Hostel, Pobingia
5. Girl’s Hostel, Pobingia

6. Six Institutions Damaged

1. Janvikas
2. Pastoral Center
3. Ajka, Raikia
4. Poly Shree, Paburia
5. Gramya Pragati, Balliguda
6. Karuna, Raikia

7. Priests and Religious Attacked who are Seriously Injured

1. Fr. Thomas Chellan
2. Fr. Bernard Digal
3. Fr. Edward, SVD
4. Fr. Simon Lakra, SVD
5. Sr. Meena HM
6. Fr. Xavier Tirkey

Maoists Warn of More Attacks; Christians Watchout!

2008-09-01T02:14:00.000+05:30

Maoists Warn Saffron Outfit of More Attacks

Christians Watchout!

Claiming responsibility for the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati in Orissa for which the Christian community in Orissa paid a heavy price, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Monday warned the saffron oufit of "more such punishments if it continued violence against religious minorities in the country". PTI reports:

The CPI (Maoist) has decided to punish "anti-people, fanatical leaders like Saraswati" in the wake of "endless persecution" of religious minorities in the country, a party release said here.

The statement alleged that Saraswati was a "rabid anti-Christian ideologue and persecutor of innocent Christians and was responsible for the burning down of over 400 churches in Khandamal district alone".

It warned the saffron outfit of "more such punishments if it continued violence against religious minorities in the country".

"The Sangh Parivar leaders like Pravin Togadia have been trying to divert people's attention by uttering lies that it is not Maoists but Christian organisations that had carried out the attack on the VHP leader," the CPI (Maoist) said.

Appealing to secular and democratic forces to condemn the Sangh Parivar, it said "it is not SIMI that is to be outlawed but Hindu fanatical groups like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, BJP, Hindu Munnani and so on."

Slamming the Congress leadership, the release said it was strange that it did not see any threat from "overtly communal, criminal acts of the VHP and the Sangh Parivar".

First Things First: Let the Killings Stop

2008-08-31T23:08:00.002+05:30

Christians Demand Immediate End to Violence

The Right to Life: First Among Human Rights

Even as Orissa continues to burn and more and more innocent victims fall prey to acts of diabolic insanity, Indian officials and media seem more preoccupied with questions like 'Who Killed the Swami', 'Is Conversions pitting Hindus Vs. Christians', etc., rather than with bringing the ground situation under control.

This then was the primary and fundamental demand placed by the Christian delegation which met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The killings should stop with immediate effect.

Fr. Babu Joseph SVD, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) on Reuters:

Saved from the Fires: Fr. Edward Sequeira

2008-08-31T15:01:00.001+05:30

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD Rescued from Burning Narrates the Trauma

Picture of Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD reached Hyderabad early on August 30th morning after an 8 hours gruelling journey by road from Sambalpur hospital where he was undergoing treatment after he was rescued from the burning inferno that took the life of 19 year Hindu girl Rajni Majhi. His lungs have been badly affected due to inhaling for more than two hours smoke polluted air. He has been taken to Mumbai where he will be close to his family and receive the urgent medical care he needs.

He recounts his traumatic story:

"It all began around 13.00 hrs" he recalled. "I was having lunch at my single room presbytery that doubles as office, bedroom and store room. The doors were closed. I heard some one calling out, 'Father, Father.' Thinking that some one was there with some patients needing to be taken to hospital I opened the door and came out.

There was a crowd of about 20 people crowding before my room. They suddenly pulled out from behind their backs, iron rods, lathies, and wooden pieces. They started thrashing me. They wanted to me to shout 'Yesu Christu Murdabad' (Death to Jesus Christ) 'Bajrang Bali Ki Jai' (Long Live Bajrang Bali).

They continued thrashing me and then pushed me back into the room, poured diesel on the floor, some fell on by clothes and set the place on fire and bolted the room from outside.

I slipped on the diesel soaked floor, some how managed to reach the bath room where providentially there were two buckets of water - we do not have running water - and poured it all across the room. Without making much noise I bolted from inside all the doors and windows under cover of billowing smoke."

Dr. Sr. Marykutty of Handmaids of Mary who nursed him all through this stay at the hospital and then accompanied him filled in with the remaining details.

"The previous evening Fr. Edward was in a town around 300 kilometers away and when he heard of the killing of the Swamy he decided to rush back to the hostel as the kids were alone in the care of Rajani.

She had been given in adoption by her Hindu biological parents. As soon as the adopted parents got children of their own Rajani's life changed. Her natural parents refused to receive her back when the adopted parents started neglecting her and pulled her out of school for working in the house.

The sisters found her a place at father's hostel so that she could continue her studies. She had completed her plus two and had been sort of a boarding mistress to the children of leprosy patients for whom the hostel was being run.

People had advised Fr. Edward not to return to the hostel. But he knew his children needed him. And that is what he decided to do - to return to the hostel.

After locking up Fr Edward in his room the marauding crowd pushed out all the children from where they were hiding in a shed nearby. When Rajini came out running, she was tied up and thrown back in the fire!
20 Year Old Rajni Majhi Burnt to Death by the Mob
[See Separate Story: How 20 Year Old Rajni Was Burnt to Death]
Fr. Edward told me that he sees the hand of God in all this. "He has plans for me, He kept me alive."

Pregnant Lady Cut to Pieces in Orissa

2008-08-31T14:46:00.000+05:30

7 Month's Pregnant, Kamalini Naik Cut into Pieces for Her Faith

As narrated by an independent writer:

Mrs. Kamalini Naik's husband was asked to become a Hindu for which the fanatics threatened to kill his mother. Seeing his mother under their grip Mr. Naik denounced his faith.

Then they called his wife Kamalini Naik who was 7 months pregnant. She strongly stood for her faith in Christ and immediately the fanatics cut her into pieces and her one and half year son in front of her husband and other Christians.

Orissa Violence: Real Death Toll?

2008-08-31T14:25:00.002+05:30

Death Toll Much Higher Than Official Figure

7 days after the terrible violence in Orissa began, officials are presenting a death toll between 14 and 20.

Given the nature of the violence, and the scale of destruction, one suspects this figure to be far higher.

Basing himself on "reliable sources", a Christian activist now makes a shocking claim that there are "at least 100 dead".

Asianews reports:

Meanwhile, the number of victims of the violence continues to increase: "We have received authentic information that the death toll is 100", says Dr Sajan George, national president of the GCIC, "and more butchered bodies and burnt corpes are being found".

In its statement the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) too puts the figure much above the official figure claiming "that 50 people, mostly Christians, were killed in the recent Orissa violence.

Cardinal Toppo on the Orissa Anti Christian Violence

2008-08-31T14:03:00.000+05:30

Cardinal Toppo Reacts to Anti Christian Violence in India

(29 Aug 08 - RV) Thousands of Christian-run schools and colleges across India were closed Friday to protest deadly Hindu mob attacks on churches and homes this week in the eastern part of the country. The Cardinal Archbishop of Ranchi, India, Telesphore Toppo spoke with us about the situation...

Download and Listen: Christian Institutions Close for a Day in Protest

Agartala Christians Hold Protest Rally

2008-08-31T13:34:00.000+05:30

Christians in the North East Holy Rally to Protest Orissa Violence

Bishop Lumen and other Pastors of Denominations lead the rally

Guwahati, Aug. 30. Agartala, 29 Aug 2008: The Christian community of Agartala held a rally in the capital town to protest against the repeated attacks on Christians in the state of Orissa. The rally which started from RMS Choumunhi in the heart of the town and proceeded to the Gandhi statue near Raj Bhawan, was attended by a large group of Christians belonging to the various churches and denominations in the state.

The rally, organized by the United Christian Forum of Agartala, was held in a peaceful manner, with the participants wearing black badges and walking in silence.

Those who spoke at the rally included Bishop Lumen Monteiro CSC, DD, Pastor Kamal Chakarbarty and Pastor Dakhina Reang. They reiterated that the intention behind the rally was to register protest against the ongoing violence against Christians in Orissa and also to show solidarity with the suffering brethren there. The Christian leaders also urged the government of Orissa to restore normalcy and peace among all sections of people in Orissa. A memorandum to this effect was also submitted to the Governor by the Christian leaders.

Many school students were also found participating in the rally as all the Christians schools in the state were closed as yet another mark of protest against the Orissa violence.

Joseph Pulinthanath sdb
Spokesperson, Diocese of Agartala

Picture and Story Courtesy: Bosco Information Service

"They Ordered Me to Have Sex with the Nun": Fr. Chellen

2008-08-30T14:10:00.005+05:30

Fr. Thomas Chellen Describes the Orissa Mob Ordeal

Picture of Fr. Thomas Chellen

Fr. Thomas Chellen, director of the pastoral center that was destroyed with a bomb, had a narrow escape after a Hindu mob nearly set him on fire. Currently undergoing treatment at a Catholic hospital in Orissa's capital Bhubaneswar, Fr. Chellen had this horrifying experience to share with Catholic News Service:

"They had poured kerosene on my head, and one held a matchbox in his hands to light the fire. But thanks to divine providence, in the end, they did not do that. Otherwise, I would not have been there to tell this horror," the 55-year-old priest, director of the pastoral center at Konjamendi in the Indian state of Orissa, told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview from his hospital bed Aug. 28.

When a Hindu mob of 500 people broke into the pastoral center around noon Aug. 24, Father Chellen said he fled through the backyard with another priest and a nun.

"It was heartbreaking for us to watch from a distance the entire complex go up in smoke," said Father Chellen, who had supervised the construction of the center that opened in 2001 and could accommodate 200 people.

"They vandalized everything and set it on fire. It has been reduced to ashes," he added.

As the three watched from a distance, some other priests told them to flee.

"We fled to the jungles and came in the night to take shelter in the house of a Hindu friend and spent the night there," Father Chellen said, adding that the second priest left them to join other priests.

The following morning, he said, the Hindu family moved the priest and nun to an adjacent vacant house and locked it to give the impression that no one was inside.

However, the Hindu mobs overheard the priest speaking on his cell phone, broke into the room and dragged him and the nun outside.

"They began our crucifixion parade," said Father Chellen. The gang of about 50 armed Hindus "beat us up and led us like culprits along the road" to the burned pastoral center.

"There they tore my shirt and started pulling off the clothes of the nun. When I protested, they beat me hard with iron rods. Later, they took the sister inside (and) raped her while they went on kicking and teasing me, forcing (me) to say vulgar words," said the priest who has cuts, bruises and swollen tissue all over his body and stitches on his face.

"Later both of us, half-naked, were taken to the street, and they ordered me to have sex with the nun in public, saying nuns and priests do it. As I refused, they went on beating me and dragged us to the nearby government office. Sadly, a dozen policemen were watching all this," he said.

Angry at his plea to the police for help, the mob beat the bleeding priest again.

Later, a government official and members of the mob took the priest and the nun to the police station, where Father Chellen said he was kicked in the face.

"The four-hour ordeal ended when a senior police officer arrived in the evening," said Father Chellen.

The priest said one of the most hurtful things about the incident was that some local Hindus whom he knew were watching the events and ignored his requests for help.

Asianews has a follow up story: Orissa: after his calvary Father Thomas willing to go back to serve those who hurt him

Christian Groups Did Not Kill the Swami: Govt Sources

2008-08-30T13:14:00.006+05:30

"Christian Groups Did Not Kill VHP Leader Swami Lakshmanand Saraswati"

6 days after the Orissa carnage began, Govt sources tell NDTV, Christian groups not responsible:

"Government sources tell NDTV that their assessment is that Christian groups did not kill VHP leader Swami Lakshmanand Saraswati.

In an Orissa daily, Maoist leader Azad has claimed responsibility for killing of the VHP leader."

AICC laments:

"The media largely ignored these facts while reporting the allegations of Sangh Parivar leaders for five days. And Orissa burned."

The Great "Conversions" Lie

2008-08-29T22:53:00.003+05:30

Just How Many 'Forced' Conversions Are Taking Place?

An AICC Leader Finds Out

"Forced conversion" remains the number one unproven allegation Hindu fundamentalists level against Christians in India. Using it as a Goebbelsian propaganda (repeat a lie loud enough and often enough, it will soon be believed as truth), anti-conversion laws have been enacted, under the guise of 'freedom of religion' acts (enforced in Orissa and some other States).

Interestingly, the "Freedom of Religion Act" passed in the state of Himachal Pradesh (and proposed in some other States too), without prescribing a time limit for the conduct of such an enquiry or defining its modalities, prescribes that a person intending to convert from one religion to another must give a notice of at least thirty days to the District Magistrate who then "shall get the matter enquired into by such agency as he may deem fit". However no such notice is required of a person reverts back to his "original religion".

Thanks to the Right to Information Act 2005, Samson Christian, a leader of the All India Christian Council (AICC), unearthed just how many "forced" conversions were taking place that called for such stringent anti-conversion laws. Compass Direct News has this story:

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat state has disclosed that there were only three complaints of alleged "forcible" conversions in the state in the last 10 years, and only two of those concerned Christian conversions.

The state Home Department made the embarrassing disclosure after Samson Christian, a leader of the All India Christian Council, sought the information under the Right to Information Act of 2005. The Act makes it mandatory for government authorities to furnish information concerning public matters sought by any citizen.

"The Home Department said two of the three complaints were concerning Christian conversions," Christian told Compass. "One was filed in 2007, and the other in 1997."

The BJP government's reluctant admission coincided with the notification of the rules under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act of 2003 on July 10. The rules were framed on April 1, and their notification was the last formality in the implementation of the law.

60,000 Christians Take Refuge in Forests

2008-08-29T20:01:00.000+05:30

Orissa Violence Forces 60,000 Christians to Take Refuge in Forests

UCA News has this story:

The violence has forced some 60,000 Christians to take refuge in forests, it said. Despite government assurances of protection, it added, the fundamentalists move about with weapons threatening Christians.

<...>

Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, another delegation member, told UCA News on Aug. 28: "Christians hiding in the forest don't have anything to eat. Yesterday evening one priest called me and said they were hiding in the jungle for the past three days. The attackers are sparing no one."

The archbishop added: "This is a collapse of the total police force. Sometimes they (policemen) don't even have a lathi (baton) to defend themselves. The state administration is not doing anything to restore peace."

Orissa Violence: 20,275 Institutions Close for a Day

2008-08-29T19:21:00.005+05:30

Catholic Schools Closed As Christians Nationwide Demand Peace In Orissa

August 29, 2008

NEW DELHI (UCAN) -- Catholic schools across India remained closed on Aug. 29 as Religious, dioceses and other groups demanded and prayed for peace in Orissa state, where anti-Christian violence continues.

More than 700 Religious, clergy, lay Catholics and other Christians, and people of other religions have taken part so far in an Aug. 27-29 candlelight vigil at the Jesuits' St. Xavier's College in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal state, 1,460 kilometers southeast of New Delhi.

West Bengal is just north of Orissa, where anti-Christian violence started Aug. 25, following the deaths of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and five of his associates in Kandhamal district Aug. 23.

Maoists reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings, but some Hindu groups have alleged Christians masterminded the killing, a charge all Christian Churches and denominations have denied.

Father George Pattery, who heads the Jesuit's Calcutta province and serves as president of the West Bengal region of Catholic Religious of India, says he organized the vigil to "express their solidarity" with suffering Christians. The group wanted to make this a prayer of protest against violence and injustice, and for people who are being misled by others, he explained.

Armed mobs of radical Hindus have burned down at least 50 churches, hundreds of Christian homes and convents in the four days of violence, Church officials say in statements. They also say hundreds of Christians have fled their homes for forest cover to save their life.

In Indore, Madhya Pradesh state, central India, about 2,000 people from different religions joined a peace march on Aug. 28. The silent rally started from the main city's square and proceeded to the city administration's head office. The leaders, including Hindus, submitted a memorandum to one of the city's top officials. The memorandum asked federal government leaders, to whom it was addressed, to ensure the safety of Christians in Orissa and the restoration of peace in the state.

During the rally, Bharat Chhaparwal, former vice chancellor of Indore University, told UCA News the "a brutal killing of innocent people is a barbaric act, and it is a matter of shame for all Indians." He asked the government to arrest the murderers immediately.

Indore diocese's spokesperson, Father Hans Puthiakulangara, said all Catholic educational institutions in the state would stay closed.

The Indian Catholic Church's 160 Catholic dioceses and some 240 Religious congregations have closed their 20,275 educational institutions, which serve more than 10 million students, more than 80 percent of whom are not Christians.

Sister M. Joseline, principal of St. Mary's School in eastern New Delhi, in a letter circulated to students' parents, said they are closing the school to make the public aware of the dangers of sectarian violence.

"What is at stake is not only the freedom of a minority community, but India's secular democracy and its commitment to human rights and constitutional guarantees" of religious freedom, she wrote. "The general public must wake up to the dangers of the threats that are manifested in the violence in Orissa."

Other Catholic schools reportedly circulated similar notes.

Christian groups in Mangalore, a coastal Catholic stronghold 2,290 kilometers southwest of New Delhi, jointly sent a memorandum to the Orissa government on Aug. 26 asking it to protect minority Christians.

The memorandum, which local Catholic Church leaders signed, demanded deployment of the army to bring normalcy in Orissa. The groups also asked for a high-level probe into the murder of the Hindu leader.

Source: UCANews

Bombs Used in Orissa Anti-Christian Violence

2008-08-29T16:18:00.001+05:30

Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre Destroyed with Bombs

Petrol and matchsticks were not the only weapons used in razing Christian churches and institutions. Obviously a huge building like the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre which escaped destruction in last December's violence could not easily be brought down with fire. How then was it destroyed? Evidences from more than one source concur here. Bombs were used in the destruction activity.

Fr. Augustine Kanjamala writes:

"A meeting of Hindu leaders took place on the following day in Rourkela, also known as Steel City, where a decision for an immediate and violent retaliation was taken. The total success of the dawn to dusk strike in Orissa on 25 August is clear evidence of the shocking reaction. The simultaneous unleashing of violent attacks on 35 Christian centres in Orissa on the evening of 25 August further confirms that the plan was organized.

All bomb attacks were directed at Christians and their institutions. The rampaging mob, seeking revenge for the Guru’s murder, destroyed the pastoral centre of the archdiocese of Bhuvaneshwar with a bomb. A priest and a nun working there were beaten up, stripped and paraded naked in order to humiliate them. Four other priests were severely beaten—one suffered severe burns and is now in critical conditions in Burla Medical College, in the district of Sambalpur"

Another SVD Priest reporting from Orissa writes:

The Pastoral Centre, at Konjamendi, a huge building of the Archdiocese of Bhubaneswar is totally demolished by blasting it with bombs.

Later Archbishop Raphael Cheenath who learnt of the destruction from Fr. Thomas, the Pastoral Centre's director, said:

"Father Thomas, director of our pastoral centre, is hiding in the forest," the archbishop said. "From there, tears in his eyes and sorrow in his heart, he saw it go up in smoke. Just before the attack he phoned me and I told him: 'Pray and be vigilant.' But when he saw mobs of people coming towards the centre he had to flee for his life. The pastoral centre had cost more than 15 million rupees."

FIACONA Prayer Vigil at the United Nations on 29th August

2008-08-29T16:15:00.001+05:30

The Federation of Indian American Christian Organization of North America
110 Maryland Ave, NE, Suite# 306, Washington, DC, 20002 USA
Phone: 202-547-6228 www.fiacona.org, Email: bernardmalik@hotmail.com

Press Release

Prayer Vigil in front of United Nations on 29th August 2008

(30 Martyred, 10000 fled to the jungles, 400 plus injured and 100's village churches razed down and burnt in last 72 hours)

In the wake of unabated violence against Christians in Orissa, FIACONA has called in solidarity with the suffering Christians a day of prayer on 29th August.
The Catholic Church is closing all its institutions in India on 29th to protest the burning alive of Christians and destruction of Christian institutions. In expression of our solidarity and to support our grieving community in India, FIACONA will observe prayer vigil in front of the United Nations from 12pm to 3pm. At the end of vigil a memorandum will be handed over to the Secretary General of the United Nations. There are innumerable incidents where Christians are assaulted, humiliated, paraded half-naked, beaten up, their limbs mutilated, tortured, burnt alive, nuns gang raped and even murdered. There are about 123 incidents in Orissa in last 72 hours alone and 143 incidents of violence against peace-loving Christians in the state of Karnataka. All the Christians of India and the world are in extreme shock and profound grief, over these brutal and heartless events happening against Christians in Orissa. Being a forever peace-loving and religious tolerant community, Christians are remaining mute spectators to these intensely inhuman and barbaric acts. But the international community is taking note and thus a lot of negative publicity is also being generated.

Christians of India and all over the world have full faith in dynamic, charismatic, and justice driven leadership of Dr. Manmohan Singh. We are confident that as he has made India into one of the leading economies, he will also make it into one of the leading religious tolerant countries of the world. We look forward to him for guidance and leadership in this matter. As all these incidents happened, FIACONA is deeply concerned along with the entire Christian community of India. We request that necessary action may be immediately initiated to stop the inhuman atrocities being committed against Christians in Orissa and rest of the country.

For the favor of publication
Rev. Bernard Malik
302-354-5452

Vijayawada Christians Protest Orissa Violence, Submit Memorandum

2008-08-29T15:13:00.003+05:30

In Solidarity with the Orissa Christians...

Sr. Benigna Menezes, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Christians took to the streets in protest against the spiralling violence, demanding protection for Christians in Orissa after closing down all the Church run institutions in Vijayawada, Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh on Friday, August 29, 2008

Over 3000 people marched with banners in their hands, shouting slogans and demanding justice to the Christians in the country as they submitted a memorandum to the sub-collector of the Krishna District who resides in Vijayawada city in the wake of the Orissa violence.

"We condemn in unequivocal terms the incidents of burning people alive and vandalizing the property of Christian community in Orissa by Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists, and armed attacks on Churches in Orissa," Vicar General Monsignor Chinnappa said in his speech on the PWD grounds where the rally assembled after a two hour walk in the main streets of the city.

The priest also stated that these attacks are against the human rights and human freedom and compromises the climate of mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence of the citizens.

A delegation of Christian leaders lead by the local Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu had submitted a memorandum a few days ago to the collector demanding CBI inquiry into the killings of Christians.

The Bishop had also issued an appeal to all the Parishes and Catholic organisms to join the Friday rally in protest of the violence meted to the local Christian community in Orissa.

Fr. John, SJ director of the Kaladarshini unit of the Andhra Loyola College read out the memorandum which listed the atrocities in Orissa against Christians and demanded that immediate efforts be made to rehabilitate the victims of vandalism and that the families of the victims may be compensated adequately.

Sources from Kandhamal district said hundreds of Christians along with their families have fled to the nearby forests to save their lives in the rainy climate and are without shelter, food and clothing

The memorandum sought CBI inquiry in the entire incidents and punishments to the culprits who masterminded the mayhem and terrorized the tribals and poor of the area.

The priest also sought immediate restoration of peace and harmony and law enforcement in the life of the districts.

Hundreds of nuns and priests, teachers and professionals along with the city youth from various colleges and institutions carrying slogans seeking justice, and religious freedom marched out from the two Cathedrals of the city of Vijayawada.

The Parishioners from the 12 city Parishes too joined the march quitting the jobs on this black Friday supporting the cause of the Church and demanding justice to the Christian minority.

"We should have more rallies like this so that we can make our presence felt in this city" said Mr. Prasad, a Catholic who works as a driver.

The peace loving and law abiding Christian citizens are not recognized in this country in–spite of their great contribution to health, education, and social service, lamented Sr. Rosy, MSI a city school counselor.

What crime have we committed to receive so much neglect and persecution? Why there is so much hatred?, asked another speaker of the rally.

CSI Bishop of the Protestant Church and other heads and members of the Christian denominations too closed their institutions and joined the rally and voiced their concerns on the stage.

Fr. Emmanuel,SSP, the President of the Conference of the Religious of the diocese who helped to organiz the rally along with Ecclesiastical diocesan authorities said that he was impressed about the number who participated in the march.

"This is going to make an impression which will last for a long time in the memory of the city", he said.

"A collection would be made towards the victims of the Orissa violence soon after the rally and the money would be sent through the CRI to the affected", said Fr. Emmanuel to the Press persons.

He had called an emergency meeting of the heads of the Catholic institutions, CRI officials and other Church leaders to discuss the CBCI call of solidarity to the Christians in Orissa on August 28.

Sr. Theresa, FMM Principal of Maris Stella College was too willing to co-operate and show solidarity to the cause though it cost the institution heavy losses to close down the college for a day, she stated.

Fr. Emmanuel, SJ participated in the preliminary meeting called by the local CRI had readily agreed to the proposal to down the shutters on the college and offered all possible support and assistance in making the rally a success.

"There were many reports of Christians being pulled from their homes and killed or beaten, with many homes of Christians torched. It makes me feel very much worried", said a CSI Pastor who participated in the rally on Friday.

CBCI Submits Memorandum to Prime Minister

2008-08-29T15:11:00.001+05:30

Memorandum Submitted To Hon'ble Prime Minister By The CBCI Delegation

NEW DELHI, AUG. 28, 2008, 18.00 Hrs: CBCI Delegation met Hon’ble Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today at 6.30 pm at New Delhi. The Delegation briefed him with the situation in Kandhamal district of Orissa and requested his for immediate intervention. Most Rev. Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi, Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath, Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswhar, Rev. Thomas D’Aquino Sequeira, Dy. Secretary General, CBCI, Rev. Dr. Babu Joseph, SVD, Spokesperson, CBCI, Bishop Samson Dass, Bishop of Cuttack- CNI, Bishop Sunil Kumar Singh, Bishop of Church of North India, Ms. Sushma Ramaswami, Vice-President, NCCI Submitted the Memorandum to Hon'ble Pime Minister.

Following is the full text of the Memorandum submitted to Hon’ble Prime Minister by the CBCI Delegation :-

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
7, Race Course Road
New Delhi-110001 August 28, 2008

Subject: Earnest request for your immediate intervention in Kandhamal District of Orissa which is again witnessing violence against the Christian community.

Hon'ble Prime Minister Ji,

We are sad to note that Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and five others were murdered on Saturday, August 23, 2008 allegedly by a Maoist group in Kandhamal Dist of Orissa. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and the Church leaders in Orissa and other parts of the country have condemned the killing of Swami Lakshmananda Sarswati and his associates in the Ashram. We have also appealed for peace and harmony in the State.

However, we are extremely sorry to find that some organizations have pointed finger at the Christian community in Orissa for the alleged murder of the Swami and his associates. Consequently, there have been unprovoked attacks on Christians and their institutions in Kandhamal and surrounding areas.

We are pained and shocked at the merciless killings and unabated violence against the Christians all over the State of Orissa. While the Christian leaders have condemned the heinous crime perpetrated on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his associates in the Ashram at Kandhamal District, Orissa, the killings of and atrocities against Christians are the evil designs of the fanatic fundamentalists. They are still continuing the violence and the State Government has failed to protect the Christians and other innocent people.

The Christians in the State are living in continual tension and great fear. The law and order machinery is not at their rescue and they are living in pathetic conditions for the last four days. The houses, churches and prayer halls have to be rebuilt and a sense of security has to be restored in the hearts of Christians and other affected people. This is the greatest disaster in the history of a Christian community in India and more so in Orissa.

OUR FEAR:

Even though the Government has been assuring us all protection the fundamentalists are moving about with lethal weapons threatening the Christians.
The fundamentalists go on their destructive activities even in the presence of the police men. The police says that they are unable to face such unruly mob. The destruction goes on unabated.

The Christians who are already attacked and those who are in great panic of being attacked, feel with sufficient reason that they are left to the mercy of the fundamentalists.

We do not see anywhere sufficient number of policemen and the senior police officers for maintenance of law and order have expressed their inability to control the situation in absence of adequate force.

The fundamentalists are forcing the Christians to leave their homes and to take refuge in the forests and even to leave the State. As a consequence there are sixty thousand refugees in the State.

The aim of the fundamentalist groups is to drive the Christians away from the region as it is evident from the slogan they are shouting at Christians and the anti-inflammatory statements made by them.

Most of the priests, pastors and religious men and women in Kandhamal are hiding in the forest to save their lives. In fact, the fundamentalists are in search of their hide-outs.

We are in receipt of information from various Churches and institutions that the miscreants are still active and the destruction of property is still going on rampant and Christians are under fierce attack. On the other hand, the innocent Christians are frightened and Christian officials are victimized as an outcome of the constant attacks.

In view of the facts stated above we demand the following:

1. That a CBI enquiry be ordered for proper and impartial investigation for justice.

2. That Central Para-Military Forces/ Army be deployed in adequate strength at all the affected and sensitive places to prevent any further recurrences as the local police has not been able to control the situation.

3. That impartial and proper assessment of the property damage caused to various Churches, Christian institutions, individuals and other establishments be made and given adequate compensation as early as possible in view of proper rehabilitation.

4. That adequate compensation be given to the families of the deceased and inured persons.

5. That the culprits responsible for creating communal disharmony and damage caused to the people and properties should be severely dealt with and those Government officials found wanting or negligent in their duties be taken to task.

6. That a law be enacted after the manner of SC Atrocities (Prevention) Act, in order to restrain such heinous communal crimes which have become so common in India.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-
Most Rev. Vincent Concessao
Archbishop of Delhi

Sd/-
Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath
Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswhar

Sd/-
Rev. Thomas D’Aquino Sequeira
Dy. Secretary General, CBCI

Sd/-
Rev. Dr. Babu Joseph, SVD
Spokesperson, CBCI

Sd/-
Bishop Samson Dass
Bishop of Cuttack- CNI

Sd/-
Bishop Sunil Kumar Singh
Bishop of Church of North India

Sd/-
Ms. Sushma Ramaswami
Vice-President, NCCI

Orissa Violence: Mangalore Submits Memorandum

2008-08-29T15:02:00.003+05:30

Mangalore Church Submits Memorandum Against Orissa Violence

A South Indian Diocese in the State of Karnataka has submitted a memorandum against the atrocities on Christians in Orissa. The Memorandum addressed to Sri Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa and Sri Shivraj Patil, Home Minister of the Government of India through the Deputy Commissioner of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka was submitted in the name of the Bishop of Mangalore, Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D'Souza by Rev. Fr. Henry Sequeira, Chancellor and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese as the Bishop is under medical treatment. The full text of the Memorandum follows:

29 August 2008

MEMORANDUM

To:
Hon'ble Sri Naveen Patnaik
Chief Minister, Orissa
Bhuvaneswar,
ORISSA

Hon'ble Sri Shivaraj Patil
Home Minister,
Government of India
NEW DELHI

Through:
The Deputy Commissioner, D.K.,
MANGALORE

Honorable Sir

In the wake of the recent violence unleashed in the Kandhamal District of Orissa and the killing of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswathi and his four associates in the Ashram, which the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) as well as the Christian community of Orissa and in other parts of the country strongly denounced and condemned and appealed for maintaining communal harmony and peace, there have been unwarranted attacks on Christians and their houses and institutions in the same district and neighbouring areas.

Some organizations in Orissa pointed fingers at the Christian community and brutally murdered Fr. Thomas Pandipally, a CMI priest. An orphanage managed by Christian missionares was set ablaze. A woman working for that orphanage and a paralytic man in his own hous, were burned to death. Two priests and a few religous women were seriously injured and several Christian institutions destroyed. Fearing for their life many Christians including women and children, religious men and women have taken shelter in the nearby forests!

We are deeply pained to see our brothers and sisters in Orissa being targeted for no fault of theirs; they are victims of a calibrated malicious campaign by certain unruly organizations that take the law in their own hands. Besides, the calibrated malicious campaign has already spread or is spreading to the other States. In the light of this, we express our helplessness.

We Christians are a peace-loving and law abiding citizens of our great country, India. We are no less patriotic than others. We have manifested our patriotism in many ways in the past and history is clear evidence to this truth. When atrocities take place we are adequately protected and many times justice is denied to the victims.

We solicit your support in the matter mentioned above and from our part we promise that we remain loyal citizens of this great nation of great people. We want to reiterate that as we are loyal to our religion, we are second to none in our allegiance to our country. Therefore we request you to grant us adequate protection.

Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza
Mangalore

Christians' Offense: Fighting Against Slavery

2008-08-29T12:53:00.003+05:30

In India, the Christians' Offense Is Fighting Against Slavery

The slavery is that of the caste system. Against this, the Christians both preach and practice equal dignity for all. Professor Parsi explains the reasons for the growing Hindu violence. And he warns about the international repercussions

by Sandro Magister

ROMA, August 29, 2008 – This morning, the 15,000 Catholic schools in India closed their doors for the entire day. The Indian Catholic Church has called for a day of prayer and fasting for the first Sunday in September, with peaceful processions all over the country.

The reason is the new wave of violence that has struck the Christians in the state of Orissa. Every day, there is news of killing, wounding, rape, assaults against churches, convents, schools, orphanages, villages, carried out by Hindu fanatics. Hundreds of people have had to abandon their homes and flee to the forests.

The spark for the latest explosion of violence was struck with the killing, on August 23, of the Hindu religious leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and five of his followers. The killing was carried out by armed Maoist groups, but the Hindus used it as a pretext for blaming the Christians and taking revenge on them.

The epicenter of the latest violence is the district of Kandhamal, in the state of Orissa. For several months, this has been the most bloodstained state in the country. There are few Catholics there, less than 1 percent. There are also few conversions, but these are taken as another pretext for retaliation. What is unleashing the violence – according to Raphael Cheenath, the archbishop of Chuttack-Bhubaneswar, whose territory includes the district of Kandhamal – is the work that Christians in Orissa are carrying out on behalf of the tribals and the Dalits, at the very bottom of the caste system:

"Before, they were like slaves. Now, some of them study in our schools, start businesses in the villages, demand their rights. And those who – even in the India of the economic boom – want to keep intact the old division into castes are afraid that they will gain too much power. Orissa today is a laboratory. What is at stake is the future of millions of Dalits and tribals living all over the country."

According to the latest census, conducted in 2001, 80.5 percent of India's inhabitants are Hindu, while 13.4 percent are Muslim. The Christians are 2.3 percent. And they are even less numerous in Orissa and in the other states in the central and northern part of the country, the most densely populated areas. The highest percentages of Christians are in the easternmost part of the country, reaching 90 percent in Nagaland and Mizoram, 70 percent in Meghalaya, and 34 percent in Manipur. But these areas are thinly populated and very backward economically. In absolute numbers, Christians are most heavily represented in the southern part of the country, in Goa, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. In Kerala, Christians are 19 percent of the population, and most of them are Catholic. The state boasts the highest level of education, including female education, in all of India.

The events of recent days confirm that coexistence between Christians and Hindus in India is no longer as peaceful and harmonious as the tradition – and myth – of this country would have one believe. Hindu intolerance and fanaticism are growing, and acts of violence against Christians are on the rise. To the silence and disinterest of the world.

The reasons for this development, and the dangers of ignoring it, are incisively analyzed by Vittorio E. Parsi, professor of international politics at the Catholic University of Milan, in this editorial published on August 27 in "Avvenire,"the newspaper of the Italian bishops' conference:

Contradictions and fanaticism are undoing Gandhi's legacy

by Vittorio E. Parsi

The largest democracy in the world. This is the definition that is usually associated with India. It would be ungenerous and mistaken to forget this now, or to question it at its core. But it does seem necessary to question the quality of this democracy, and the direction that it is taking.

The Indian Union has the separation of powers, an independent judiciary, a genuine multiparty system, and a free press. But at the same time, widespread corruption and the crony-client political system in the individual states, together with the substantial impunity granted to the violent actions of extremist groups, risk emptying of meaning the concrete significance of India's democracy.

The alarm is being raised in a particular way by the growth of sectarian violence, which is especially targeting the Christians – responsible for helping the Dalits, the outcastes, the slave foundation of the pyramidal system according to which Hindu society was traditionally organized – but also Muslims and Buddhists.

What is happening in India with worrying frequency and intensity shows the dark side of the independence achieved under the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent action. The story of his life itself, with its tragic conclusion, contains in symbolic form all of the contradictions of this extraordinary country: from the rediscovery of traditional culture and the village economy, to the decision to live as the least of the least, to the attempt to preserve the unity and religious pluralism of the old British Raj, to his violent death at the hand of a Hindu extremist.

More than 60 years after the country's independence, it is precisely the position that India should be solely and exclusively Hindu that is continually making new proselytes. Movements like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are the expression of a Nazi-like culture, which preaches through violence the false idea that being Indian means being Hindu, in spite of the fact that there are more Muslims living in in India than in many Muslim countries. Of course, there has always been Hindu hegemony in the political system, but it was mitigated to a certain extent by the fact that the early leaders of the republic, from Nehru to Indira Gandhi, all members of the Congress Party, acted on the basis of an essentially secular view of politics, blocking the most devastating consequences of such a contradiction.

It is likely that the sneering modern "spirit of the times" in which fundamentalism and the political abuse of religion seem to be re-emerging, on top of the radical tendencies of neighboring Pakistan, have contributed to the success of movements like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and of the Bharatiya Janata party. But – as Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran has correctly observed – in Hinduism as well there is a growing push toward intolerance and fanaticism, which is all the more grave in that it is understood too little, and too often denied.

Beside the political contradiction is the economic contradiction. India is the "office" of the world, at least to the same extent that China is its "factory." It is a society that produces tens of thousands of English-speaking engineers each year, but still lives in the Gandhian myth of the village economy, that ossified structure which deprives the "least" of any hope, for this and any other life, and fosters the caste system with its aftermath of commonplace violence. It is the Christians who are held responsible for offering hope to the "least," for this and any other life. And they have accepted the burden of this responsibility, to the point of martyrdom, as has taken place in Orissa.

One last point of reflection. Brazil, Russia, India, and China are considered, together with South Africa, the leading countries that should balance the excessive power of the West and make the governing of the world more multilateral. One must begin to reflect on the fact that, with the exception of Brazil, none of these countries seems to have begun to reduce its heavy deficit of internal democracy, and on the consequences that this implies for international "governance."

Source: Chiesa

Memorandum to the Governor of Orissa

2008-08-29T07:59:00.001+05:30

Memorandum to the Governor of Orissa

At the culmination of the Protest and Prayer Rally of the Christians of Delhi and National Capital Region at Orissa Bhawan on 29th August 20008, and the closure of all Christian institutions in the country in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the State

To
His Excellency Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare
The Governor of Orissa
Bhubaneswar

Sir,

In deep anguish and pain, We, the Christian Community of the Delhi and National Capital Region, submit this memorandum to you, and not to the Chief Minister of Orissa, because we believe that by not stopping the Ethnic Cleansing of Christians in Orissa in the last six days, he has abdicated his Constitutional duties to the Sangh Parivar and thereby has forfeited his right to be in Government.

We therefore approach you, as the Constitutional Head of the State of Orissa and protector of the rights of the State’s citizens irrespective of their religion, caste or ethnic status, to restore sanity, peace, and the Rule of Law in the State, protect the life, liberty and property of the Christian community, specially in Kandhamal and other affected districts.

As you know, in the last six days in the second wave of mass violence since Christmas 2007, almost a score of Christian men and women have been brutally killed in acts reminiscent of the massacre of the Sikhs in Delhi and other places in 1984, and of the Muslims in 1993 in Mumbai and 2002 in Gujarat.

Nuns have been raped, pastors, Priests, religious workers injured in their hundreds. Over forty churches have been destroyed, many for the second time, apart from once again hundreds upon hundreds of houses burnt in towns, villages and forest settlements. Christians have been chased and hunted like animals. In case your intelligence apparatus has not briefed you properly, we attach herewith an incomplete list of the murder and mayhem in Orissa, as we gather data from the victims and the kin of the dead.

There is no element of doubt as to who is the perpetrator of the violence. It is the Sangh Parivar, and its component elements, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Vanvasi Kalyan Sangh, and especially groups connected with the ashrams of the late VHP Vice president Lakshmanananda Saraswati. VHP leaders, including Mr. Praveen Togadia have openly called for ethnic cleansing, and others have vowed not to rest from their bloody labours till they have rid Orissa of Christians.

The police have looked on for six months. They have often abetted in the violence and never intervened to save the hapless Christians and their institutions. Instead, the official machinery and the top policemen and bureaucrats have parroted the lies of the Hindutva Sangh Parivar and its narrow definition of religious nationalism to pin the blame of the acrimony on the Christians.

If the Chief minister and his government have forfeited their right to govern, the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police have lost their right to be in active service. It is a shame they continue to be in office, and speaks volumes for the conspiracy between the Government, the coalition partner Bharatiya Janata party and the State official apparatus against the Christian community and the Christian Faith.

The state apparatus has failed thrice – to protect the Christians in December 2007, to protect the late VHP leader and unravel the mystery of his murder, and then to once again protect the Christians facing annihilation in August 2008.

We therefore call upon you as Governor to:

1. Write to the President of India to impose President’s Rule in Orissa, and that you take over the reigns of Governance so that peace is restored in Kandhamal and other districts.

2. Immediately suspend not constables and junior officials, but the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police for gross dereliction of duty, and for joining the conspiracy to wipe out Christians in Orissa.

3. Hand over the Kandhamal district in particular to the Indian Army, which alone can restore the confidence of the victims.

4. Trace the many people reported abducted, some feared dead or injured, in the last six days

5. Bring back the tens of thousands of Christians Tribals and Dalit villagers hiding for their lives in the forests, most of them without food and adequate drinking water

6. Hand over all investigations relating to the circumstances and course of violence to the Central Bureau of Investigations. The CBI should also investigate the murder of VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati.

7. Expand the terms of reference of the sitting Judicial Commission headed by Mr. Justice Basudeo Panigrahi to fix responsibility and culpability on government servants of all ranks, as also on guilty politicians.

8. Grant exemplary compensation to the next of kin of the dead, and to the injured. Grant immediate relief and rehabilitation to the victims so that they can rebuild their homes, get back their jobs and resume normal human lives.

9. Compensate the Church to rebuild and restore its religious, educations, and humanitarian institutions.

10. Set up Fast Track criminal court to try those found guilty at all levels during all phases of the violence.

This alone will prove to the world that India remains a secular country, which gives Constitutional guarantees of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the freedom of faith to its citizens, and for its children, the right to food, education and a childhood without the trauma of terror and the fear of death,

Thank you

God bless you, and God bless Orissa

In prayer

The Christian Community pf Delhi and the National Capital Region
Together with our brothers and sisters from other states.

Petitions Against Attack on Christians in Orissa

2008-08-29T01:37:00.000+05:30

Something Everybody Can Do

Sign these petitions. Show Solidarity

1. Petition Against Attack on Christians in Orissa

2. Stop killing of Christians and destruction of Churches in Orissa, India

"A Plan to Cleanse Orissa of its Christian Population"

2008-08-28T21:58:00.006+05:30

The Motives Behind the Ongoing Violence

To Stop Tribals and Dalits From Developing and Achieving Dignity

Verbite clergyman and expert sociologist, Fr. Augustine Kanjamala, talks about the motives behind the ongoing waves of violence against Christians — conversion to Christianity, education and emancipation allow Tribals and Dalits to escape slave-like conditions. Fr. Augustine, who teaches at the University of Mumbai, appeals to the Churches of the world to "express their protest to the government of India" which has remained "inactive" with regards to anti-Christian violence. He openly charges the Orissa state government for its increasingly explicit collusion with the pogrom currently underway against the community of faithful.

According to Father Kanjamala a plan to cleanse Orissa of its Christian population has been in the making for years, especially in the district of Kandhamal (where most of the atrocities have taken place) where Christians now constitute around 5 per cent of the population. Conversions by, development for and emancipation of Tribals and Dalits are confronted by Hindutva conservatism.

This is a must read story.

Ahmedabad Citizens Condemn Orissa Violence

2008-08-28T20:08:00.005+05:30

CONCERN ON VIOLENT ATTACKS

ON

CHRISTIANS OF ORISSA

PRESS RELEASE

Several Concerned Citizens and Human Rights organizations of Gujarat held a meeting in Ahmedabad today (27th August 2008) to condemn the violent attacks on the Christian community of Orissa, following the brutal killing of the VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati.

The meeting strongly condemned the continuous attacks on Christian organizations and institutions by the VHP, Bajrang Dal, etc. and was of the view that the Government of Orissa has totally failed in protecting the lives and properties of the Christian Community. Looking to the prevalent situation of Orissa, the Constitutional machinery has absolutely failed in maintaining law and order in the State.

In view of this, the meeting unanimously passed the following resolutions:

1.. That the State of Orissa be placed under the control of army and President's Rule be imposed immediately.

2.. That the citizens who have fled into the jungles out of fear, should be brought back to their homes safely and that complete security be ensured to them.

3.. That all organizations who had declared the Orissa Bandh, and who have been directly involved in the violent attacks on Christians, should be declared as "terrorist" organizations and should be put under the same category of other banned organizations in the country, with immediate effect.

4.. That all the individuals and groups involved in violent attacks on Christians should be arrested and strictly dealt with in accordance with the law.

5.. That the brutal killing of Swami Laxmananda and his associates should be thoroughly and impartially investigated, and that the killers be punished in accordance with the law.

1.. Adv. S. H. Iyer
2.. Rohit Patel
3.. Saroop Dhruv
4.. Gautam Thaker
5.. Hiren Gandhi
6.. Adv. Bhushan
7.. Dwarikanath Rath
8.. Shamshul Pathan
9.. Joseph Dominic
10.. Kiran Desai
11.. Kishore
12.. S. Pandey
13.. Deepika R.
14.. Simon F. Parmar
15.. Edwin Masihi
16.. Beena Macwan
17.. D. Ramakrishnan
18.. Fr. Varghese Paul sj
19.. Digant Oza
20.. Paul D'Souza sj
21.. Piyush
22.. Manjula Lavji
23.. John D'Souza
24.. Ashok Singh
25.. Iqbal Baig
26.. Prasad Chacko
27.. Waqar Qazi
28.. Mary Paul
29.. Bhavna Ramrakhiani
30.. Sheba George
31.. Fr. Francis Parmar sj
32.. Ashok Naik
33.. Fr. Vinayak Jadav sj
34.. Lona Pinto
35.. Fr. Ishanand sj
36.. E. Shailaja Pillai
37.. Sophia Khan
38.. Freeda Coelho
39.. Pravin Bhikadira
40.. Chetana Vyas
41.. Jigna Joshi
42.. Harsh Jadav
43.. Fr. Cedric Prakash sj
44.. Kaushik Raval
45.. Nafisa Barot
46.. Veronica D'Souza
47.. Hanif Lakdawala
48.. R. Vasantha

27th August 2008

Some Pictures of the Orissa Violence

2008-08-28T18:46:00.002+05:30

Photos of the Anti-Christian Violence in Orissa

Firefighters douse the flames at an orphanage at Khuntpalli village in Orissa where Hindu fanatics burnt alive a 20-year-old woman.

House of a Christian destroyed in the violence in Orissa. Anti-Christian violence since Aug. 25 has killed at least 14 people in four days.

Missionaries of Charity nuns are keeping prayer vigil for peace in violence-torn Orissa state. A convent of their congregation was destroyed in the arson.

Arsonists block public traffic in Orissa on Aug. 25 when VHP called a Bandh to protest gunning down of their leader Lazmananda Saraswati on the night of Aug. 23.

The remains of a Church set afire by Hindu fanatics in the violence in Orissa. Anti-Christian violence since Aug. 25 has killed at least 14 people in four days.

Police guard a church in Bhubaneshwar, capital of Orissa state where anti-Christian violence killed at 14 least people since Monday.

Acknowledgement: All pictures provided courtesy of ICNS, the news site of the Indian Bishops Conference.

Christian Institutions to Remain Closed Aug 29, 2008

2008-08-28T18:11:00.003+05:30

GUJARAT UNITED CHRISTIAN FORUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Bishop's House
Mirzapur
Ahmedabad -380 001
Gujarat, India

28th August, 2008

PRESS RELEASE

CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

TO REMAIN CLOSED

ON

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29th 2008

The Christian community has strongly denounced the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and his associates in Orissa. However, inspite of the fact that the Christians were not involved in this heinous act, there are several incidents of Christians being attacked and killed and their properties being destroyed all over the State.

Therefore, in keeping with a decision taken by the National United Christian Forum representing all major Church denominations (including CBCI, NCCI and EFI Churches), all Christian Schools, Colleges and other Educational Institutions will remain closed on Friday, 29th August 2008, in protest against the violent attacks on the Christian community in Orissa and in other parts of India.

Further, all Christian Churches will be organizing special prayer services for the victims of the Orissa violence and for peace, on Sunday, 31st August and Sunday, 7th September 2008.

There is also a plan to organize a public rally on Tuesday, 2nd September.

The Christian community of Gujarat, appeals to the Central Government and to the Government of Orissa to take strong measures against those responsible for the violence in the State and to ensure that communal harmony and peace is restored immediately.

+ Bishop Thomas Macwan
Bishop of Ahmedabad

Orissa Violence: Govt. Like Mute Spectators

2008-08-28T17:25:00.000+05:30

Orissa Violence is Assault on Justice and Peace: Archbishop Bernard Moras

BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- "It is shocking that the government of Orissa never took sufficient steps to subvert violence and douse the flames of communalism in the state and has failed to arrest the culprits and are like mute spectators" Archbishop Bernard Moras, President of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops' council told a press conference at the Archbishop's House. He said that the Catholic Church in Karnataka expresses great alarm at the brutal violence against Christians.

Denying allegations that Catholics were involved in forced conversions, Rector of Jesuit Institutions in Karnataka Fr. Terence Farias said "We Christians abide by the law, if there are any forcible conversions, let the government initiate legal action, but nobody should take law into their hands" The Archbishop added "All forcible conversions are to be condemned. Conversion is a personal decision between the individual and God"

Appealing to press persons at the conference Sr. Genevieve, Secretary, Karnataka Catholic Schools Association, "It is disheartening that the Media has very often failed to speak about our work among the marginalized and also failed to publish news about attacks on our community. We often receive nothing, or just a small space in the newspapers about such injustices".

The Archbishop observed "The Government of Orissa never took sufficient steps to subvert violence and douse the flames of communalism in the state, despite the government being forewarned of possible communal attacks on the Christian community way back in September 2006, with the publication of "Communalism in Orissa" - the Report of the Indian People's Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights - headed by Justice K. K. Usha (Retd.) former Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

The Church in India has served and continues to serve the less privileged and the marginalized in the remotest parts of the country, even where government services have not reached the poor. To attack the Church and its members amounts to assaulting the cause of Justice Peace and Harmony. In view of this all the schools will remain closed across the country. The Archbishop declared that all educational institutions in Karnataka will remain closed on Friday August 29th in protest against the violence against Christians in Orissa.

Source: SAR News

List of Damaged Churches, Institutions

2008-08-28T16:52:00.003+05:30

Bishops Issue List of Damaged Churches, Institutions

NEW DELHI (ICNS): The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday released the number of people killed and list of Christian churches and institutions attacked and destroyed in the continuing violence that started on Monday.

The following is the list that CBCI spokes person Father Babu Joseph released.

1. Number of Deaths

Kandhamal District -12
Barakhama - 6
Tiangia - 2 (2 seriously injured)
Petapanga - 1 (Raikia)
Tikaballi - 1
Bodimunda - 1
Bakingia - 1
Bargard District - 1
Padanpur - 1 (Kantapali)

2. Number of Churches Destroyed

1. Petapanga Church
2. Mondakia Church
3. Catholic Church Rotangia
4. Believers church Ratingia
5. Diocese Church Ratingia
6. Believers Church Gimangia
7. Diocese Church Gimangia
8. Mdahukia Church
9. Catholic Church Raikia
10 Catholic Church Badimunda
11. Pentecostal Church Badimunda
12. Catholic Church Breka
13. Pentecostal Church Breka
14. Catholic Church Pobingia
15. Catholic church Srasanaanda
16. Catholic Church, Phulbani
17. Catholic Church, Betticola
18. Catholic Church Balliguda
19. Catholic Church Sankrakhol
20. Catholic Church
21. R.C. Church Kanjamedi
22. Diocese Church Kanjamedi
23. Pentecostal Church Kanjamedi
24. Pentecostal Church Jugapadar, Nuagam
25. Baptist Church Tumudiband
26. Pentecostal Church Tumudiband
27. Two Churches in Narayani patna
28. Catholic Church Muniguda
29. Catholic Church Padanpur
30. Church in Dhanpur
31. Catholic Church Tiangia
32. Baptist Church Tiangia
33. Catholic Church Gabindapali
34. Catholic Church Padua
35. Catholic Church Maliput
36. Catholic Church Duburi
37. Pentecostal Church, Tiangia
38. Catholic Church Modhupur
39. Catholic Church Nilungia
40. Pentecostal Church Nilungia
41. Catholic Church Boipariguda

3. Houses Damaged

1. Balliguda Mundasahi
2. Raikia - 17 houses
3. Badimunda - 9
4. Gimangia - 3
5. Gumagarh - 25
6. Tiangia-Pdisuballi, Majumaha, Budedipada, Kolanaju, Mundanaju, Sipaeju, Laburi - 160
7. Beticola - 10
8. Nilungia – 15
9. Balliguda Dumudisahi
10. Balliguda Hatpada Sahi
11. Raikia, Chunipalli
12. Mondakia, Bakingkia
13. Breaka (Sukanda)
14. Bodimunda
15. Rotingia
16. Sankharkhole
17. Tikaballi

4. Convents

1. St. Joseph's Convent, Sankharkhole
2. St. Anne's Convent, Pobinga
3. Mt. Carmel Convent, Balliguda
4. St. Anne's Convent, Padangi

5. Hostels

1. Padangi - 2
2. Pobigia - 2
3. Balliguda Convent - 1

6. Institutions

1. Pastoral Centre, Konjamendi
2. Janavikas
3. Poly Shree, Paburia
4. Gramya Pragati, Balliguda
5. Ajka, Raikia
6. Xavier Institution of Mangament
7. NISWASS, Bhubaneswar & Phulbani

7. Vehicles (innumerable)

The above list was released through ICNS August 28, 2008.

Police Refuse Christians Protection

2008-08-28T14:39:00.004+05:30

Indian Archbishop Says Police Refuse Christians Protection

In the latest from India, the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in the Orissa state, Raphael Cheenath told us Christians are being abducted, and many are seeking refuge in the forest as police say they cannot protect those threatened...

All the priests, religious, and lay leaders are hiding in the forest. Therefore communication with them is also very difficult.

A priest ran up the Archbishop saying he was in the forest for the fourth day without much to eat...

Two priests were kidnapped and taken out from a parish called bubari. There has been no further information about them...

Another priest in-charge of the pastoral centre and a sister working there were apprehended and hid themselves in a house. The miscreants went there, pulled them out, stripped them, molested the nun and paraded them in the market place even as 10 policemen stood and watched...

The police are now saying to convents, churches and institutions: You please run away, we cannot protect you, we don't have enough people, and therefore you go anywhere...

Download and Listen: Police Refuse Christians Protection

20 Year Old Rajni Burnt to Death

2008-08-28T09:02:00.009+05:30

How a 20 Year Old Girl Was Burnt to Death Watched by a Cheering Mob

Rajni Majhi (20) who was burnt alive by the mob

Fr. Edward Sequeira, a priest belonging to the Society of Divine Word (SVD), was one of those who was seriously injured when his mission station was attacked by the mob in Orissa.

Currently recuperating at Burla Medical College Hospital, Sambalpur, Fr. Sequeira, upon gaining consciousness, narrated the story to his brother Commodore Valentine Sequeira who writes:

A large mob of more than 700 people were returning after attending the cremation of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati who was killed along with four others Saturday evening by suspected Maoist guerrillas at his Jalespata ashram.

The mob was chanting anti-Christian slogans and when they reached Padampur in Bargarh district, they attacked the orphanage where Fr Edward lived.

Ms. Rajni, a 20 year old student who lived in the orphanage and was also working as an auxiliary nurse in the orphanage confronted them.

When Fr Sequeira arrived at the spot, the mob locked him and Rajni into separate rooms, and ordered the children to vacate the orphanage. The mob then ransacked Fr Sequeira's room, poured petrol on him, Rajni and set the orphanage on fire.
The ruins of the orphange that was burned own.
"I was engulfed in flames, I could hear the cries of Rajni and the mob was cheering and shouting through the windows," recalls Fr Sequeira.

He however, managed to crawl to the bathroom, beat out the flames and closed the windows.

"When I started to suffocate I found a crack on the wall that was damaged in the attack and kept my nose there to breath some air. All the while I could hear the cries of Rajni from the next room where she was writhing in agony. After sometime, there was silence and I thought she must have managed to escape from the room," recalled Fr Sequeira.

Unknown to Fr Edward, the girl was burnt alive and had breathed her last.

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD recovering in the hospital.
People from the neighborhood who heard the cries of children rushed to the rescue, broke the walls and brought him to safety. That is when the mob attacked him again outside the orphanage and beat him up mercilessly till he became unconscious. He was initially rushed to the hospital at Padampur and later with the help of local officials was shifted to Burla Medical College Hospital, in Sambalpur.

"The cries of Rajni and the guilt of helplessness in saving her life will always haunt me," Fr. Edward sighs.

Full story at Mangalorean.com

Goa Archdiocese Expresses Solidarity with Orissa Victims

2008-08-27T23:22:00.001+05:30

The following is the approved English translation from the original Konkani, of the Circular Letter sent by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao to all the Parish Priests of the Archdiocese:

CIRCULAR LETTER

To the Priests, Religious, Lay Faithful and People of good will

(Approved English version of the Circular Letter No. CP-Cir/202/2008
written originally in Konkani language)

Theme: Violence in the State of Orissa

Dearly Beloved,

The happenings taking place these days in Orissa cannot but cause concern. VHP leader, Swami Lakshananda Saraswati and four of his companions were shot at and murdered in their Ashram and, since then, Christian individuals and institutions are being targeted and destroyed.

The Catholic Bishops in India have expressed their sorrow and registered their protest over the killing of the Swami and the ensuing spate of violence and asked for prayers for peace; together with them, we too expressed our feelings over these events: you will have read this on the newspapers.

However, there is no guarantee that these chilling events will end soon and there do not seem to be signs that this communally disturbed atmosphere will be cleared easily. Some organizations in Orissa are laying the blame on the Christian Community, thus fanning the anti-Christian communal flame across the State. This has resulted, among other acts of violence, in the tragic burning to death of a woman working at an orphanage and of a paralytic man in his own house. Two priests and a few religious women were also seriously injured. Some priests and nuns have gone into hiding.

We cannot remain indifferent in such a situation. We need to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are going through untold suffering. It is with this in mind that we have planned to take the following initiatives in our Archdiocese:

All Catholic educational institutions in the Archdiocese shall remain closed on August 29.

September 7, Sunday, will be observed as a day of prayer and fasting.

A signature campaign will be organized to express our condemnation.

Protest Rallies will be held in a couple of places in Goa. More details will follow.

In view of the situation in Orissa, we appeal urgently to our Priests, Religious men and women, Christian faithful and all women and men of good will to express their solidarity with those who are suffering so grievously and, through their prayers for peace and communal harmony, to help these programmes meet with success.

Archbishop's House, Panjim, Goa, August 27, 2008.

Sd/-
+ Filipe Neri Ferrão
Archbishop of Goa and Daman

VIDEO: Orissa Communal Violence

2008-08-27T20:18:00.003+05:30

The latest spurt of deadly religious violence in the East Indian state of Orissa is undoubtedly a blot on the secular credentials of India as a country, says citizen journalist Sandhya who has this video report for Instablogs.com

Pope Condemns Violence, Appeals for Peace

2008-08-27T17:30:00.005+05:30

Pope: In India, Religious and Civil Authorities Must Work to Stop the Violence

Firm condemnation from Benedict XVI for what is taking place in Orissa, for "every attack on human life". Solidarity with the Christian victims of attacks by Hindus. For the faithful present at the general audience, he drew a portrait of Saint Paul, "tireless apostle of the Gospel".

The Pope's Words...

"I have learned with deep sadness the news about the violence against the Christian communities in the Indian State of Orissa, which erupted following the deplorable murder of the Hindu leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati. Some persons have been killed and others injured. Worship centers, church property and private houses have also been destroyed.

While I firmly condemn all attacks against human life, the sacredness of which demands the respect of all, I express my spiritual closeness and solidarity to the brothers and sisters in the faith so hardly tried. I implore the Lord to accompany and support them in this time of suffering and give them the strength to continue in the service of love in favour of all.

I ask the religious leaders and civil authorities to work together to restore among the members of the various communities the peaceful coexistence and harmony which have always been the distinguishing mark of the Indian society."

Download and Listen: Real audio broadcast by Vatican Radio.

ORISSA: Christians Beaten and Cut to Pieces

2008-08-27T17:05:00.005+05:30

"Only now the death of a Catholic man in the village of Tiangia has come to light. After he was killed Vikram Nayak was cut to pieces. Two other people close to him were so seriously beaten up and hurt that they died two days later."

Read the full story:

Orissa: burning and looting continues, Christians beaten and cut to pieces

ORISSA: Christians in Deep Trouble

2008-08-26T23:02:00.007+05:30

ORISSA: Christians in Deep Trouble

Fr. Pius Fernandes SJ, Bhubaneshwar

Fr Pius Fernandes SJ writes from Bhubaneshwar about the incidents at Khandamahal District in Orissa. The burning and looting continues even as he writes this article (Aug 26, 10.00pm).

Bhubaneshwar Aug 26: Violence re-erupted within the Indian state of Orissa today. The attacks performed by Hindu extremist groups are just one link in a long chain of events that have continued to strain Hindu-Christian relations within the state.

Today's attacks were triggered by the killing of a prominent Hindu leader this past weekend. On Saturday, August 23rd, Swami Laxanananda Saraswati along with five other people was shot dead in his Jalaspeta Ashram near Tumudibandha (Kandhamal District, Orissa). Naxalite groups, especially prominent in this region, have taken credit for the attacks. The Swami was 84 years old and was especially known for violently opposing cow slaughter and conversion to Christianity. He is also believed to have orchestrated the Christmas 2007 riot against Christians in the Kandhamal district of Orissa which has left thousands of Christians homeless to this day. Since the December attacks Hindu-Christian relations have remained tense within Kandhamal. In retaliation for the August 23rd killings the VHP and its allied political families called for a bandh (road blockade) for the 25th of August. In the meantime a judicial enquiry is ordered into the incident, though many opposition parties have called for the resignation of Naveen Patnaik's for failing to maintain law and order.

In retaliation for the Swami's death, the extremist wing of the VHP has engaged in a series of attacks against Christians which started on 23 rd and are expected to continue.

On 23rd evening immediately after the news of murder of Swami Laxmanaadada Saraswati spread in the district, two sisters of Precious Blood congregation at Kothaguda who were on their way to Berhampur were stopped near G. Udayagiri, pulled out from the vehicle. Vehicle was then set on fire and the driver was severely beaten up. Almost at the same time a vehicle carrying HM sisters near Ainthapally in Sambalpur, a prayer chapel at Tentuliapadar in Sundargarh was also burned and destroyed. With these incidents, the stories of violence, abuse and attacks continue with several churches, church institutions, priests, Nuns, Christian people and their houses being attacked, abused, ransacked, and torched.

As the impact of the news started getting visible across the state, government got into action by announcing prohibitory orders (144 Section) in Kandhamal district. This was also a preparatory action by the state government ahead of the 12-hour bandh called by the VHP and other affiliates of the Sangh Parivar on 25th august to protest the killing.

On Sunday morning 24th August 2008, prayers in many churches were disrupted with very few participants attending the mass fearing attacks.

From the same day attacks in Kandhamal district intensified. It was the turn of Janvikas office like many other offices which were burnt to ashes during the violence in December 2007. Jan Vikas is a social wing of the Archdiocese of Cuttack Bhubaneswar and works towards empowerment of the most marginalised in the districts. A mob attacked, ransacked the office and set fire burning down three four wheelers, six motor cycles, all the important records and documentation of the organisation and office equipment. This incident took place at 5.30 in the evening.

After this, the mob continued their assaults at Divya Jyoti Pastoral Centre by gutting, burning and looting the same at about 6 p.m. The same group entered the Baliguda presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the properties.

In similar attacks, the Roman Catholic Church at Kanjamedi was attacked and vandalized at 6.30 p.m. The Diocesan Church at Kanjamedi was ransacked and other three Pentecostals churches were destroyed in the same way at 6.45 p.m. by the same group. In the late evening, about 12 Dalit Christian shops were burnt to ashes in Raikia.

On 25th August 2008 as the Bandh lead to many protests, rastha rokos, tyre burning etc., the following incidents of violence shook the whole state and the Christian community. At 7.00 a.m, Phulbani Church and presbytery were vandalized and ransacked. Srasanda MC Brother's residence was attacked and the patients who came there to get treatment were beaten up and the VHP activists continued to burn houses and household articles of Christian families in the area. Eight houses were completely destroyed in this incident.

On the same day at 10.30 a.m houses of Christian families in Christiansahi in Balliguda were destroyed and ransacked. The details of damage and the numbers are not available as yet. In a similar incident houses in Nuasahi were set on fire destroying the whole street where Christian families lived. This incident took place at 11.30 a.m.

Two boys studying in the church run hostel were caught in Baliguda and their heads were tonsured.

In the afternoon at about 1.00 pm Jamaj Parichha's house was attacked and his vehicles were set ablaze, doors were cut into pieces and he was beaten up by the mob. He sustained severe head injury and is hospitalised (place is not disclosed because of the security reasons). It is said that he is one of the primary targets of the hindutva forces in the area. His wife being a Hindu pleaded the mob to spare him and even showed that she practices Hinduism but they showed no mercy continued beating him up and said "he is a Christian and we will kill him".

As this incident happened, houses of the staffs of Jan Vikas (Diocesan organisation under the Arch Diocese of Cuttack- Bhubaneswar) were also burnt. Five staffs are directly affected by this violence and all of them fled their villages and went into hiding.

In a very similar way, at 2 pm the house of Puren Nayak resident of Bhudansahi was attacked and burnt into ashes. All his assets were removed from the house and were set on fire in a pile. . As the violence continued in the village, mob ransacked the Christian houses burnt all their belongings. The women (Hindu) in the community were identifying the houses to be burnt down as the mob followed their instructions. Women also supplied kerosene to encourage the mob.

The strategy used by the mob is very similar. The household articles and assets are brought outside the house and are set on fire. This is because under Indian Penal code section 436, the person/persons involved in burning the house are punishable with 7 years+ of rigorous imprisonment and this falls under the category of a non bailable offence. And when the assets/belonging are brought outside the house and burnt, it's a bailable offense and the punishment is limited to 6 months to one year of imprisonment. This offense falls under IPC 435.

Fr. Challan, Director of Pastoral centre, Kanjamendi and Sr. Meena, administrator of the centre which was burnt and ransacked on 24th escaped from the centre to hide in Jashawanta Pradhan's house. On 25th, mob having the information about this forcefully entered the house dragging both of them outside. They were beaten up badly and taken to the police fundi (smaller unit of police station) in the area. It is reported that they were tied up in the fundi and were threatened of being burnt alive. There is no update about their condition since then.

Paul Pradhan who runs an NGO in the district and works for the rights of dalits and adivasis was also attacked in his house, office was destroyed completely.

It is also reported that most of the Christian houses in Tikkabali block were attacked and set fire. Numbers are still unknown.

One person called Vikram Nayak was cut into pieces at Tiagian under G Udaygiri police station. Other two sustained injuries while no medication facilities have been made available and it is reported that both two persons were died. In Tiangia village under the same police station limits, houses of Christian families were set on fire and people have fled to jungle. It was reported that the miscreants have been following them and were attacking.

On 25th late night, Sankrakhol Parish church and presbytery were set fire and ransacked, the parish priest Fr. Alexandar Chandi left to the nearest forest and he was saved. It is reported that his most of the assets are set fire and church is completely destroyed.

Fr. Bernard Digal who had gone to visit Fr. Alexandar Chandi was held up in Sankrakhol parish when the mob attacked the church. His Marshal Jeep was set fire. While narrating the incident Fr.Bernard said that when the mob enters the church premise they left to the forest and hid themselves. They were safe but the vehicle was set fire. He walked around 10.K.M to reach one of his relations house. As he was walking the attackers were use to see him but could not recognise.

On 25th August late night the Convent of St.Joseph's at Sankrakhole was attacked and ransacked. Sisters also left to the forest and have saved their life.

On 25th August 2008, Abenswar Digal's house is set fire, under Tikabali Police station.

In Raikia, attacks are on as of 11.30 p.m. and the nature of damage is yet to be known. As per the first information report reveals that on 25th August late evening at Raikia 17 Christian houses were ransacked. Most of the house articles and assets were removed from the house and gather outside and set fire. As per the first hand report the victims identified were Mr. Bijay Parichha, Mr. R.K.Nayak, Mr. Joseph Nayak, Mr. Susant Dal Behera, Mr. Santosh Nayak, Mr. Santun Nayak, Mr. Harihar Das, Mr. Mosesh Nayak, Mr. Prakash Nayak, Mr. Raju Parichha and others.

On 25th August 2008 late night The Ambasodar Vehicle of Mr. Sukant Nayak, Director Shahara (NGO), was set fire.

On 25 th August 2008 late night The Office of Karuna (NGO), under Raikia Police station were ransacked.

On 25th afternoon the Pentecostal church at Budamaha, under Raikia Polic station was vandalized and ransacked.

On 25th August 2008, Masadkia church was vandalized and ransacked.

On 25th August 2008, two Pentecostal churches were vandalized and ransacked.

On 25th August 2008, Pisermaha Church, under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.

On 25th August 2008, Baptist church and R.C Church at Mondakia under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.

On 25th August 2008, Mdahupanga Church, under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.

As the violence continues, most of the parish priests and sisters are still not reachable and their conditions are not known. The houses are being burnt in several places in Phulbani, Srasanada, Pobingia, Balliguda and Konjamendi.

In Bhubaneswar, the impact of the Bandh was also felt severely by people with most of the office being closed, shops stayed closed as well. Transportation was totally disrupted and tyres were burnt in many places across the city. There were huge rallies by the supporters of VHP and Bajrangdal on the main roads and junctions.

There were also some cases of attacks reported within the city and most of these attacks were on churches and church related institutions. From early morning of 25th onwards violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compound of Catholic Church and Archbishop's house in the city with a view to attack. Policemen deployed at the scene disbursed the mob and stopped them from entering the campus. Angry mob threw stones at the guest house of Archbishop's House, damaging some windows panes.

Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the said parish Fr. Xavier and Fr. Simon are missing and they were about are yet to be found. Institutions like XIMB, St. Arnold's School and NISWASS have suffered some damages while one Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in the city was also damaged.

Situation seems to be very serious and worsening by every hour with violence being intensified. From across the districts, people are trying to flee to the safer places. But nothing seems be safe as of now. The violence can turn more intense as the people return after Swami's cremation.

Other events that took place in Rayagada, Gajapati, Koraput and other south Orissa districts left Christians and Christian institutions throughout the state fearful. Father Obed Khura of Sunebeda received three threatening calls. While he approached the Sunebeda OIC, has was refused police protection and was sent back with assurance that the school he runs will not be attacked and was instructed to stay away from the school.

In Muniguda (closer to Tumudibandha, Rayagada district), as the mass was coming to an end two jeep loads of youth from the town entered the compound and started shouting slogans. The police arrived on time and prevented the situation from escalating. Three policemen have been deployed at the gate which has been destroyed. The Church and Convent at Muniguda could not be saved. Around 80 inmates under the leadership of Fr. Pius Ekka and Sr. Marina Chacko have taken refuge in the forest. This happened inspite of the fact that Fr. Marshal Mihir Upasi was constantly in touch with the State Control Office of the Orissa Police and the SP of Rayagada. The mob first torched the police Jeep in Muniguda and then proceeded to the Convent and Church. On the previous day (24th of August) the mob threatened the Fathers after Sunday Mass. The mob sought out the houses holding Christian families and managed to destroy some of them. As a consequence allowing refuge to families has placed others at risk.

As the mob moved on from Bhairaguda, 3 km away from Muniguda to seek shelter in a school while raining, the villagers from the hindu community fed them. This took place at 7.20 pm.

Expecting an attack Fr. Manickthan, Bhawanipatna asked for protection, the SP expressed his inability to do anything due to the size of the mob. When Father suggested the SP on announcing curfew in the area and stop the mob's movement, the angry SP retorted saying that Fr. need not give orders to him. Later in the forenoon both the ADM and the SP visited the Church compound and inspected the law and order situation. The Malankara hostel was attacked in Bhawanipatna, not far from the Catholic Church, and many children have been badly hurt.

Missionaries of Charity from Dharmagarh, unaware of the events from the previous night, were travelling to Bhawanipatna for Sunday Mass. Near the jail in Bhawanipatna town their ambulance was intercepted and pelted with stones. All the sisters sustained minor injuries from the stones and broken glass. The police arrived and sent them back in the same damaged vehicle to Dharmagarh. Sr. Suma and Sr. Nirmala have been informed of this and the district administration has assured them of protection.

A group of police are guarding the Church in Jeypore after the threat of oncoming attacks. The police informed Fr. Bimol Nayak that some 200 people are preparing to attack the Church. Fr. Bimol Nayak and another Brother have taken shelter with nearby friends. Around 24 policemen are guarding the church compound in Mohana after road blocks started on Sunday evening. Additionally, a group of 9 police men are safeguarding the Church in Goudogotho and the Cathedral.

It is also reported that the Lutheran Church in Malkangiri, Padua, and Gunupur were destroyed. Fathers and Sisters along with the children in Gumuda have left the mission stations fearing attacks. On the 24th as the Congregation was coming out of the Church in Malkangiri, a group of angry youth harassed them and forced them to recite Bande Mataram. 22 Christian Families of Shanti Nagar (Givindapur) at the foothill of Taptapani Hot Spring were also assaulted and forced to leave the village.

In Boudh also, a group of protestors entered the parish and destroyed things and property. Communal tension was high also in other districts across the state with several incidents of attacks against the people as well as property. In Balasore, Balsore Social Service Society (official social wing of the Balasore diocese) was attacked three times during the day on 25th august. The mob shouting slogans broke all the window panes and destroyed a statue of Mother Mary which was installed in the BSSS office campus. Badrak also had few incidents of attacks but the details are not known.

Hindu protestors attacked Jyoti Niketan of Baipariguda in Koraput district in the afternoon of 25th August. Father Joy Areeckal had to run into the forest and the hostel children and his social workers are subjected to insults and intimidation. The Mission has been destroyed along with all that it contained. A sad twist to the story is that the police along with the people seized wooden planks in spite of the fact that the carpenters who are building a new hostel building in the campus there claimed that it was bought by them. Consequently, a criminal case may be filed against Fr. Areeckal under the Forest Act.

Mr. Routo Desinayak and Ms. Kalyani, who works for an agro-entrepreneurship program for SWAD at Boipariguda were also arrested under the forest protection act. Though the Police Officer and the Block Development Officer was not willing, the mob forced the police to tie Mr. Desinayak with a rope and drag him through the street up to the Forest Office. Miss Kalyani being a woman was spared of this ordeal. Fr. Thomas Chelan and a Sister (name could not be obtained) who were manhandled and humiliated by the mob have been kept in police custody in the pretext of giving security since the morning of August 25th.

In Govindapally, close to Boipariguda, protestors entered the Convent and damaged the grotto of Our Lady and the Cross of the Church yard. In the same district Fathers and Sisters in Koraput, Jeypore and Semiliguda are in hiding.

In Bargarh district, a mob of about 2000 people went around ransacking many church institutions and there were serious attacks on priests and nuns. In Padampur, Fr. Edward Sequira was attacked and was beaten up brutally. He survived with serious head injury and still unconscious. "His life is under critical still" said Fr. Alphonse Toppo, Vicar Gerneral of Sambalpur diocese. The institution which caters to children affected by Leprosy was attacked and burnt. While the institution burnt to ashes, along with it also burnt was the auxiliary nurse Rajani Majhi 20 year old, who took care of the children in the institute and was studying in Padampur Women's College.

Sundargarh also saw many such incidents of church burning and attacks on church properties damages are yet to be ascertained.

In Sambalpur district, HM Sister's residence of Ainthapalli has suffered damage while priests are given warnings of attacks in Madhupur, Badibahal area. Stone pelting and breaking of window panes of churches and related institutions was a common scene across the state.

In continuation to all this violence across the state, Dibyasingh Pariccha, PRO and Secretary, Justice and Peace Commission (Arch Diocese of Cuttak Bhubaneswar) has condemned the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and appealed for a CBI enquiry into the incident. He requested that culprits responsible for the incident be punished instead of attacking the whole Christian community.

He appealed to the government to deploy adequate forces to safeguard life and property of Christian people.

It is reported that people are suffering from with out food, cloth and shelter. Last night, there was heavy rain and people were in the forest with the wet cloth. However, the condition of the children and women were indescribable. School children are deprived of their studies.

Courtesy: Daijiworld

Vatican Deplores Orissa Violence

2008-08-26T22:03:00.008+05:30

Two Downloadable Audio Stories from Vatican Radio.

1. Anti-Christian Violence Rocks Orissa, India
Download Link: http://62.77.60.84/audio/ra/00127342.RM (314 KB)

2. Vatican Deplores Anti-Christian Violence in India
(26 Aug 08 - RV) A Statement from the Press Office released today in response to recent deadly episodes of anti-Christian violence in India, the Holy See deplores the actions of extremists, expresses solidarity with the local Churches in the country and appeals for a return to a climate of dialogue and mutual respect. The President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran has condemned the attacks, as well. We have this report...
Download Link: http://62.77.60.84/audio/ra/00127405.RM (312 KB)

Note: You will need "Real Player" to listen to the clips above. If you don't alreay have it on your system, you can downloaded it for free from www.real.com/freeplayer/

A Plan to Raze All Christian Places

2008-08-26T21:35:00.001+05:30

...From a circulating email.

SHOCKING NEWS FROM INE

In a high level meeting of Orissa Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), VHP (Viswa Hindu Parishad), Bajrang Dal and RSS (Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh) held in Rourkela on 24th August, they have made a firm resolution to continue the work of demolishing all the Christian Institutions and Churches in the State, especially in the district of Sundargarh. They have planned to start the attacks in the western Orissa from Wednesday (27th August). This is the message given to us by a police who went in civil dress to the meeting.

Our Confrere, Fr. Edward Secqueira, SVD in Padampur (Bargarh District) was very badly beaten up and his condition is very serious. He is in Padampur Hospital.

(1) Another confrere, Fr. Simon Lakra and another Jesuit priest who was with him in Duburi, were chased, caught and taken by the miscreants. No further news about them.

(2) The Catholic Church of Madhupur and the HM's Convent in Madhupur were set on fire today (25th). The Father with the hostel boys and the sisters with the Hostel Boys have run away into villages and are hiding in the people's homes.

(3) The Pastoral Centre, at Konjamendi, a huge building of the Archdiocese of Bhubaneswar is totally demolished by blasting it with bombs,

(4) Jana Vikas Kedra, a social service centre at Konjamendi was also set on fire.

(5) The director of the Pastoral centre, Fr. Thomas Chellan and Sr. Meena Barwa, HM who ran away and hid themselves in a Catholic house, were caught today and beaten up thoroughly; Fr. Thomas Chellan was stripped and paraded and both of them are handed over to the Police.

(6) Few Village Churches in Rourkela diocese have been torched.

Please advise our Bishops and Major Superiors to seek the help of the All India Bishops and in solidarity with the suffering of Khandhamal District, they could call for a close of all the educational institutions in the country. The earlier we do the better we can spend time can get the sympathy and the support of the non-Christians in the State.

Thanking you and requesting your prayers,

-An SVD Priest

Catholics to Close Schools to Protest Orissa Violence

2008-08-26T20:59:00.000+05:30

Catholics to close schools to protest Orissa violence

August 26, 2008

NEW DELHI (ICNS): Catholic Bishops' Conference of India said on Tuesday that all Catholic education institutions across India would close on Aug. 29 to protest continuing violence against Christians in Orissa state.

The Church will also observe Sept. 7 as a day of prayer and fasting for Christians in the eastern Indian state, the CBCI announced at a press conference in New Delhi on Aug. 26.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly, CBCI president, has appealed to all Catholic groups to organize "peaceful rallies across the country to register strong protest against the repeated attacks" on Christians.

Reports say anti-Christian violence continues in Orissa, with at least five people killed in the latest attacks. Armed men continue to ransack and torch churches, presbyteries, convents and Christian health-care centers and hostels in the state.

Hindu radical violence against Christians began on Sunday after a Hindu religious leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and five of his associates were killed on Aug. 23 in the state's Kandhamal district.

Maoists reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings, but some Hindu groups have alleged Christians masterminded the killing, a charge all Christian Churches and denominations have denied.

Source: ICNS

How Could They Not Foresee This?

2008-08-26T15:59:00.003+05:30

The government bears a heavy responsibility says Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay, the Chairman of the Latin Rite Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.

"How could they [the government] not foresee ahead of time such a situation and take the necessary preventive measures to avert this large scale mayhem?" asks the prelate.

The prelate noted that last December similar incidents took place in the same area with villages under siege, churches set on fire and people killed.

For the chairman of Indian bishops such episodes are a "shameful for India within the international community; it is a blot on India’s image. The international community might end up seeing us as a nation where the government is slow to act and police is ineffective."

The full story here.

And here's the link to the downloadable audio (Real Audio) file

Orissa Church Condemns Swami's Murder

2008-08-26T15:00:00.003+05:30

Orissa Church Condemns The Brutal Murder Of Swami Laxmananda

BALASORE, AUG. 26, 2008, 15.00 Hrs (CBCI News):

The Catholic Community in Orissa was once again terribly shocked by the brutal murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his close associates. A series of massacres of religious personnel in recent years had left State in anguish, fear and anxiety. In a sensational incident Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates have been shot dead attack at around 9 PM on 23rd August, at Jalaspotta Ashram, in Tumudi Bandh area in the tribal dominated district of Kandhamal in Southern Orissa on Saturday night. We, the Catholic community in Orissa deeply condemn the barbarous incident and deeply sympathize with the near and dear ones of the deceased.

Condemning the killing, Rt. Rev. Dr. Bishop Thomas Thiruthalil C.M, D.D the Chairman of OCBC (Orissa Catholic Bishops’ Conference) asked the people to maintain peace and harmony in the wake of the killing of Swami Laxmananda The church in Orissa condemns the brutal murder of Swami Laxmananda. The church believes the strong Legislature of our democratic Nation and that the law and order will take its course in right time.

There has been incidents of antisocial and communal disturbances in the State. The Church is shocked and deeply saddened by this barbarous killing which is the outcome of a growing climate of intolerance and violence against peace and harmony in the State. It is time that we the people of Orissa in spite of the differences of caste, creed and cultures work together for the peace, harmony, tolerance, and solidarity among us all.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Thiruthalil C.M, D. D
Chairman – OCBC &
Bishop of Balasore

Kill Christians and Destroy their Institutions

2008-08-26T14:13:00.003+05:30

"Kill Christians and Destroy their Institutions"

The Slogan of Hatred

While police suspect Maoist groups to be behind the assassination of Swami Laxanananda, radical Hindu groups and leaders, especially a woman VHP member named Nivedita Miyar Cuttak, blamed Christians for his death.

They harangued crowds of fanatics, shouting slogans like "Kill Christians and destroy their institutions," Asianews reports.

Full story: Orissa: Hindus Torch Christian Homes and Churches, Three Die Asphyxiated

Orissa Anti-Christian Violence August 2008

2008-08-25T22:57:00.001+05:30

Orissa Anti-Christian Violence

A partial list. (24-25, August, 2008)

1. NUN REPORTED BURNT ALIVE: A Christian woman, possibly a nun, was reported burnt alive on 25th August 2008 by a group of Vishwa Hindu Parishad mob which stormed the orphanage she ran in the district of Bargarh (Orissa). Police Superintendent Ashok Biswall has told this to news reporters. A priest who was at the orphanage was also badly hurt and is now being treated in hospital for multiple burns.

2. NUN RAPED: A young Catholic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar diocese working Jan Vikas Kendra, the Social Service Centre at Nuagaon in Kandhamal was reportedly gang raped on 24th August 2008 by groups of Hindutva extremists before the building itself was destroyed.

3. SENIOR PRIEST AND NUN INJURED: Fr Thomas, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kanjimendi, less than a kilometer away from the Social Service Centre, and another Nun were injured when the centre was attacked. They were taken to the police station in a disheveled state as the armed mob bayed for their blood. The Pastoral centre was then set afire.

4. BALLIGUDA CHURCH BUILDINGS DESTROYED AGAIN: On 24th August 2008 evening lynch mobs at the block headquarters of Balliguda, in the very heart of Kandhamal district, which had seen much violence between 24th and 26th December 2007, attacked and destroyed a Presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the properties.

5. The mobs in Balliguda caught hold of two boys of the Catholic hostel and tonsured their heads.

6. PHULBANI CHURCH DAMAGED: On 25th august 2008 morning followers of the late Lakshmanananda Saraswati damaged the Catholic Church in Phulbani, the district headquarter town.

7. MOTHER TERESA BROTHERS ASHRAM ATTACKED: mobs attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers' residence and hospital in Srasanada, destroyed once before and rebuilt two months ago, and beat up the patients. Fundamentalists have targeted Priests, religious and also the Faithful in Pobingia also.

8. BHUBANESWAR BISHOP'S HOUSE ATTACKED: On the morning of 25th August 2008, violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compounds of Catholic Church and Archbishop's house in the heart of the Capital of the State of Orissa. They could not enter because of the police presence. They threw stones at the guesthouse of Archbishop's House, damaging windows.

9. DUBURI PARISH; Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the parish are missing.

10. Mr. Jamaj Pariccha, Director of Gramya Pragati, is attacked and his property, vehicle etc. damaged, burnt and looted.

11. A Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in Bhubaneswar is also damaged.

12. Christian institutions like St. Arnold's School (Kalinga Bihar), AND NISWASS report some damage.

13. BOUDH DISTRICT [Adjoining Kandhamal]: Fundamentalists enter the Catholic parish church and destroy property. People are fleeing to safer places. But nothing seems safe.

14. Muniguda Catholic Fathers and Nuns' residence have been damaged.

15. Sambalpur HM Sister's residence (Ainthapalli) has suffered damage.

16. Padanpur: One priest is attacked and admitted to a hospital. Hostel boys and the in charge have moved away from the place.

17. Madhupur Catholic Church currently under attack.

18. SMALL CHURCHES: Attempted violence on small churches in various districts, including Padampur, Sambalpur near GM College, Talsera, Dangsoroda, Narayanipatara, Muniguda, Tummiibandh, Tangrapada, Phulbani, Balliguda, Kalingia, Chakapad, Srasanranda.

19. VILLAGE CHRISTIAN HOUSES ATTACKED: Houses attacked on forest hamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam), Tiangia (G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali.

20. KALAHANDI DISTRICT: houses burnt even though the district is more than 300 kilometers from the place where Swami Lakshmanananda was killed.

21. Pastor Sikandar Singh of the Pentecostal Mission beaten up and his house burnt in Bhawanipatna.

22. Kharihar: 3 Christian shops were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Das and Pastor I M Senapati beaten up.

23. Aampani: Pastor David Diamond Pahar, Pastor Pravin Ship, Pastor Pradhan and Pastor Barik beaten up and chased away with their families.

24. Naktikani: Mob surrounds village to attack Christians. The government has sent forces, it is reported.

[This list is compiled with assistance from Archbishop's House, Bhubaneswar and other sources]

Courtesy: Dr. John Dayal

ORISSA: Kandhamal is Burning Again

2008-08-25T22:41:00.001+05:30

Kandhamal is Burning Again

By Thomas Pallithanam

Hyderabad, Aug. 25. Hardily have the smouldering embers died down, fresh and wanton torching of churches and other Christian Institutions have begun all over again in Kandhamal and other districts of Orissa.Sequel to the assassination of Swami Lakshmanananda Swaraswati of Kandhamal by Naxalites there has been a violent uprising against the Christian Community in Orissa and particularly in Kandhamal district. The violence will continue to escalate fears every one who has some idea of the way Sangh Parivar works

On the night of 24th August 2008 the Ashram of Swami Lakshmanandan, VHP Leader was bombed and attacked by Maoists. The Swami and 5 others were killed in the Maoist attack. Every one feared a violent reprisal against the Christian Community despite the fact it had nothing to do with the attack on the Ashram and it was the handiwork of Naxalites. Swami Lakshmanananda Swaraswati was the alleged instigator of all the violence that took place around Christmas 2007. In that violence - earlier reported from this news by-line - over 100 Christian churches, institutions were vandalised and burnt and over 800 Christian houses looted and destroyed. The state machinery then responded with deafening silence and fleeing feet. By the Director General of Police`s own admission the state knew that the Swami was behind the violence that was so cruelly unleashed against the Christian Community without any provocation. But they refused to act against him telling every one that Swami was the Thackeray of Kandhamal!!

News of violence is pouring in through private sources. Not only the state machinery but even the Oriya media has a very strong saffron hue. Even the blood of innocent victims spilled all over cannot hope to change that hue. So nothing much will be heard from the media information coming out of Orissa.

Ms Rama Hansraj, Deputy State Representative of CRS sent this news update over the internet ``According the primary information received, Jan vikas (Catholic Charities office in Phulbani), Pastoral centre and Baliguda church have been set ablaze. Missionaries of charity sisters were attacked and stones were pelted at them and one sister is badly hurt. Sr. Nirmala has already spoken to Government of India (details not known). Two jeeps were burnt in Sambalpur and one church in Raikia.

Tension is high across the state and is expected to worsen tomorrow. Stray incidents of attack on churches and institutions are being reported from some of the districts. Section 144 has been declared in many places including Kandhamal. Security has been tightened and prohibitory orders have been clamped in Kandhamal district ahead of the 12-hour bandh called tomorrow by the VHP and other affiliates of the Sangh Parivar to protest the killing (of the Swami)``

She has sent a second update just now ``situation in Bhubaneswar is getting a bit tense with many institutions and churches being attacked (as of now limited to mob breaking down the doors and windows and stone pelting). XIMB, Loyola school and SVD House in Kalinga Vihar have been attacked with damages to windows and walls - priests from SVD house moved to FORUM office but they are not sure if this will be left untouched. Stones were pelted in Archbishops house and mob was stopped from entering into the house and additional police were called for. Windows and walls of the guest house which can be reached from the road side were broken in the Archbishops house. Phulbani parish (district head quarters) and church has been attacked and burnt. All the fathers in the district had to move and are accommodated by some families. Few boys who were being helped by father for their studies in Phulbani were also attacked their houses were burnt. Sr. Suma and five her companions (MC Sisters) who were conducting health camps in Brahamanigoan (severely affected in the previous violence in December) were stuck for long in the village. Most of the sisters left convents are in different schools now``

And there is even more tragic news streaming in. Fr Ajay Singh, Director of Jan Vikas, Social Action Initiative of the Archdiocese of Bubhaneswar reports that Sr Meena has been allegedly raped at the Pastoral Centre by the arsonists. Pastoral Centre which had some how escaped vandalisation last time around now stands completely destroyed and the Director Fr.Thomas Chellan is hospitalised with serious head injury.

Christian homes, Christian headed NGOs and Community Based Organisations, businesses are all being systematically being attacked and destroyed. I had mentioned that there was a new churning in the hills of Kandhamal. The attacks have come even before our hapless Christians have had the time to gather their wits together. Everyone is wondering ``Where is He Our `Great Big Wonderful God` ``. We need to see His mighty deeds as of old. And Moses to hold up his hands as the battle rages. And all of us can lend the support of out little hands to His mighty arm. Sure we shall fold them in prayer but also raise them in protest, with those hands send our protest letters to the authorities, register our protest at the Indian Embassies (in your countries), the UN, UNCHR, EU and in whatever other ways the Spirit inspires us.

Here are some relevant fax numbers and e-mail ids:
Mr Manmohan Singh - Fax: 011-23019545 / 23016857
E-mail: manmohan@alpha.nic.in
pmosb@pmo.nic.in

Shri. Shivraj Patel
Fax: 011-23092979 / 23094221
E-mail: svpatil@sansad.nic.in

Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patel
Fax: 011-23017290 / 23017824
E-mail: presidentofindia@alpha.nic.in
presidentofindia@sansad.nic.in

Shri Navin Patnaik
Fax: 0674-2400100 / 2590833
E-mail: cmo@ori.nic.in

Shri Muralidhara CB
Fax: 0674-3536582
Phone: 0674-2536581 / 2536583 / 2536584 / 2536587

Phulbani Collector (Mr Manish Verma)
Mob.: (0)9437073200 / (0)9437299101
06842-253601 / 253602
Fax: 06842-253905

RDC Berhampur
(0)9437055455

SP Phulbani
Mobile: (0)9437323346
Phone: 06842-253611

DIG Cuttack
0674-2304451 / 2306501
Mobile: (0)9437310000
Fax: 0674-2304033

DSP Shri Praveen Kumar
Mobile: (0)9437216660
Fax: 0674-2304294

Shir Ajit Kumar Tripathi IAS (Chief Secretary CDO)
Fax: 0674-2536660 / 2532196

Source: Don Bosco India

Nun Brutally Gang Raped in Public

2008-08-25T16:52:00.002+05:30

Vicious extremist elements seem to enjoy a free hand to carry out these most inhuman attrocities against the Christians they passionately hate because the Church shields them from worst exploitation.

An informed source reports that the figures of the killed are far higher than what has been disclosed by the authorithies and that the victim of rape given as a "22-year old womam" was actually a sister working in an orphanage who was most brutally gang raped in public, even as the police present watched on passively.

Here's a story:

Orissa: Hindu Extremists Burn One Nun Alive, Rape Another

EFI Denounces Swami's Killing

2008-08-25T16:00:00.002+05:30

EFI Condemns Killing of Orissa Hindu Nationalist Leader; Prays for Peace

Aug 25, 2008

Monday, August 25, 2008: Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) denounces the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and his four associates by suspected Maoists in Orissa state’s Kandhamal district on August 23.

While deeply saddened by the week-long spate of attacks that hit Kandhamal district during last Christmas , EFI, as a representative of the evangelical church in India, stands against every act of violence and terrorism.

EFI also regrets that vested interests among the various Hindu nationalist groups are trying to blame local Christians for the act, as reflected in the acts of vandalism and arson reported from Kandhamal after the attack on Saraswati’s ashram.

EFI appeals to the central, state and district authorities to take all possible measures to maintain peace and calm in Kandhamal. EFI also calls for the Christian community in India and abroad to pray for protection of the Christians in Kandhamal and other parts of Orissa.

EFI also solicits letters, faxes and phone calls by concerned people to the state and central officials, whose details are given below.

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Room No. 152,
South Block,
New Delhi, 110001

(O) Tel : +91-11-23012312
(O) Fax: +91-11-23016857

Shri Navin Patnaik
Chief Minister of Orissa
Naveen Nivas,
Aerodrome Road,
P.O.-Bhubaneswar,
District-Khurda,
Pin-751001 (Orissa)

(O) Tel: +91-0674-2531100, 2535100, 2531500
(O) Fax: +91-674-2400100
(R) Tel: +91-0674-2590299, 2591099,2590844,2591100,2590833
Email:cmo@ori.nic.in

Superintendent of Police
Kandhamal District

(O) Tel: +91-6842-253610
(R) Tel: +91-6842-253611

Rev. Dr. Richard Howelll
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India
New Delhi, India

Evangelical Fellowship of India (established 1951) is a charter member of World Evangelical Alliance, an accredited NGO with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

"They Don't Even Have a Stick to Protect Us"

2008-08-25T14:56:00.002+05:30

Hindu Nationalism is a Cancer on India, says Orissa Bishop

Msgr Raphael Cheenath, archbishop of Cuttack-Bubaneshwar, talks about the situation of the Church following attacks against churches, cars and people in Orissa. There is a link between Hindu nationalist ideology and Nazism. For him though, Christianity has "deep roots" in the state and the Church is the "light" for many Tribals and outcasts.

<...>

"We Christians refuse violence. We condemn every act of violence and terrorism. But we are also against taking the law into our own hands," said the bishop.

"As soon as we heard about Swami Laxamananda Saraswati's assassination I issued a public statement strongly condemning the dastardly attack and murders. I called on everyone to remain peaceful and in harmony. We want relations of friendship with all communities."

News of more violence are still coming in from around the diocese — a chapel torched in Sundergarh, a van owned by nuns burnt in G. Udayagir, etc.

"We feel totally abandoned. This morning the authorities sent three policemen to watch over the nuns’ convent and the bishop's residence. But they don't even have a stick to protect us from the fury of the mob!"

<...>

Read the full story here.

Mother Teresa Nuns Van Attacked

2008-08-25T13:12:00.002+05:30

Orissa: Violence and Destruction Against Christians Accused of Killing Radical Hindu Leader

Bubaneshwar (AsiaNews) – Shouting "Kill Christians and destroy their institutions," thousands of Hindus from the militant Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) stormed the Pastoral Centre of the diocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, laying it waste. The same fate was visited upon a social centre in K. Nuagam, a church and parish residence in Kandhamal, and a chapel in Sundergarh. A van owned by the Sisters of Mother Teresa was attacked as it made its way to Bhavanipatni whilst another that belonged to the Daughters of the most Precious Blood was burnt in Udayagir.

Read the complete story here.

Prashant Condemns Swami's Killing, Violence

2008-08-25T11:15:00.001+05:30

Prashant. A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace
Post Box No. 4050, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India
Tel. : +91 (079) 66522333, 2745 5913
Fax : +91 (079) 2748 9018
Mobile : 9824034536. e-mail : sjprashant@gmail.com
www.humanrightsindia.in

STATEMENT CONDEMNING

THE

KILLINGS AND VIOLENCE IN ORISSA

We condemn the killing of Swami Saraswati and four of his associates during the attack on the VHP Ashram in the Kandhamal District of Orissa on Saturday 23rd August 2008.

We sympathize with the bereaved members of the families who have lost their loved ones.

We call upon the Orissa and the Central Governments to do all in their power to bring to book immediately, those responsible for this dastardly act; that anti-social elements do not take law and order into their own hands and above all, to ensure that peace and calm prevail in the area, and in other parts of Orissa.

Violence, for whatever the provocation, is non-acceptable, and will definitely not help achieve the goals for which these acts are committed. We therefore call upon all those responsible for these acts and to eschew violence immediately.

No violence can be justified, for whatever the reason. However, for the last several months, the Government of Orissa has allowed some fascist and fundamentalist forces to terrorize the poor, the marginalized and the minorities of the State. These forces have carried on their virulent propaganda and their violent acts with apparent immunity.

There has been a total abdication of responsibility by the Government of Orissa and the concerned authorities, like the police. They should now also be held totally responsible for these deaths and for allowing the situation to go out of control.

Sufficient warning has been given to the Orissa Government, of the deteriorating situation, as early as in September 2006, with the publication of "Communalism in Orissa" - the Report of the Indian People's Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights - headed by Justice K. K. Usha (Retd.) former Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

It may still not be too late to ensure that the Constitutional Rights and Freedoms of the people of Orissa are not merely guaranteed by also protected by the State.

Fr. Cedric Prakash sj
Director

25th August 2008

AICC Condemns Violence, Swami's Killing

2008-08-24T23:04:00.002+05:30

All India Christian Council
A-8, Mahavir Enclave, New Delhi 110045,
Telefax: 011 28042194, Email: aiccdelhi@gmail.com,
www.indianchristians.in

For Immediate Release

Christians Condemn Violence, Killing of VHP leader; Hope Peace Will Be Maintained in Orissa

New Delhi, August 24, 2008 (All India Christian Council)

The All India Christian Council is deeply concerned at the attack on an ashram near Tumudibandh in Kandhamal District of Orissa last night in which the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates were killed.

This is the latest in a series of attacks over recent months by political extremists, often called Naxalites or Maoist guerillas, which have left dozens of policemen and others dead in several districts of Orissa.

Dr. Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs, said, "The Christian community in India abhors violence, condemns all acts of terrorism, and opposes groups of people taking the law into their own hands. We have had major differences with Mr. Saraswati, the deceased VHP leader. It was the hate campaigns of the Sangh Parivar which led to untold misery for Christians -- including the unprecedented violence last Christmas in Orissa. But we wish peace to everyone and urge everyone to follow the rule of law."

According to media reports, the attack killed four people in addition to Saraswati. The attack involved shooting and hand grenade explosions. Saraswati was reportedly warned by the Maoists a few days prior to the incident to leave the area. (See CNN-IBN, Naxals attack ashram, kill 5 key VHP leaders in Orissa, Aug. 24, 2008)

Dr. John Dayal, aicc Secretary General, said, "We are concerned at reports of communal violence in the last few hours against innocent Christians in nearby districts. We've heard that at least one prayer hall in Sudergarh was burnt, the van of some Catholic nuns was destroyed, and the sisters were injured. We urgently appeal to the Chief Minister, the Governor of Orissa, and the Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Shivraj Patil to take whatever steps are required to maintain peace and harmony in all areas of Orissa, to prevent further attacks on Christians, and to arrest those responsible for the deaths of Saraswati and his associates."

Dr. P.R. Parichha, aicc Orissa state president, said, "The situation in the district was slowly returning to normal. People were engaged in rebuilding houses and settling down after a horrifying experience over Christmas 2007. Now we are afraid that the death of Saraswati will further destabilise the situation in the communally-sensitive Kandhamal district. The aicc will continue to work for peace in Orissa, one of the most undeveloped states in the country."

The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations,organizations, and lay leaders.

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Mr. Madhu Chandra
Regional Secretary,
9868184939

CBCI Condemns Swami's Murder

2008-08-24T22:06:00.003+05:30

CBCI condemns the murder of VHP Leader and Appeals for Peace in Orissa

PRESS RELEASE

August 24, 2008

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) expresses its deep regret on the attack of ashram near Tumudibandh in Kandhamal District of Orissa last night in which the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and five others were killed.

Orissa has been witnessing a series of Maoist attacks in the recent past and it is most deplorable that the outlaws targeted a religious leader who was held in high esteem by his followers.

His Eminence Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has denounced the murder of the VHP leader as an act of desperation by the outlaws in the State.

"We condemn the act of violence which claimed the lives of Swami Lakhsmananda Saraswati and some others at his Asharam. We are sad that a respected religious leader has allegedly been a victim of organized violence by the Maoists.

Equally deplorable is the act of vandalism and arson on the Christian institutions in Kandhmal District indulged by some misguided and unruly elements. We appeal to the people of Orissa to maintain calm at this hour of crisis and bring the tense situation to normal at the earliest so that people and institutions are protected and preserved. We also appeal to the State and Central Governments to take adequate measures to contain violence and to restore peace in the disturbed areas of Orissa."

Release to the press for publication

Rev Dr Babu Joseph, SVD
Spokesperson, CBCI

Abp Cheenath Condemns Swami's Killing

2008-08-24T18:30:00.003+05:30

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF CUTTACK - BHUBABNESWAR
ARCHBISHOP'S HOUSE
9/16 SATYANAGAR
BHUBANESWAR – 751007
ORISSA, INDIA
Tel: (0674) 2575225, 2533614 Tel Fax: (0674) 2534097

PRESS RELEASE

24 August, 2008

I, the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, on behalf of the Christians of Orissa, particularly the catholic Christians, strongly condemn the dastardly attack and violent killing of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and five of his associates. We the Christians abhor violence and condemn all acts of violence and terrorism and are against all groups of people taking the law into their own hands. We condole the death of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, a religious leader and his associates. At this critical juncture I appeal to all for peace and communal harmony. We want good relationship with all the communities with whom we live.

We are also concerned at the immediate outbreak of communal violence against innocent Christians in nearby districts. Early reports suggest that least one prayer hall in Sundergarh District has been burnt and vehicle belonging to Daughters of the most Precious Blood has been burnt near G. Udayagir.

We urgently appeal to the Chief Minister and the Governor of Orissa and at the Indian Home Minister Mr. Shivraj Patil to take whatever steps are require to maintain peace and harmony in all areas of states, to prevent further attacks on Christians and to bring to book those responsible for the death of Lakshmanananda Saraswati and his associates.

We, therefore, strongly condemn the death of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati.

Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath, SVD
Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
Released to the Media for publication/ telecast.