Update by Nirmala Carvalho on Orissa Christians

14 September, 2008 A A A |  |  |
Help AsiaNews | About us | P.I.M.E. | Contact us
go to front page Geographic areas Middle East East Asia > South Asia Bangladesh Bhutan Afghanistan India Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Central Asia South East Asia North Asia South West Asia	China | Islam | Economy | Freedom of religion | Vatican
	e-mail this to a friend  printable version  » 09/13/2008 14:16 INDIA Orissa, the drama of the refugees: forced conversion to Hinduism or more violence by Nirmala Carvalho According to the government, the situation is "under control", but it has delayed the elections, and has barred entry to the district of Kandhamal. A Christian activist denounces new violence against the refugees, while Hindu fundamentalists have drawn up a list of 140 Christians "guilty" of the murder of the Swami. New Delhi (AsiaNews) - Despite the reassurances issued by the government of Orissa, which in a document submitted to the Indian supreme court calls the situation "under control", Hindu fundamentalist violence continues against Christians. According to Sajan K George, head of the Bangalore-based Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), there is a climate of "tension" in the area, so much so that the local government has prohibited any "entry into the district of Kandhamal", and has "delayed the administrative elections". The Christian activist denounces the drama of the refugees, who are caught between a rock and a hard place: "Many Christians", says Sajan George, "are leaving the relief camps and returning to their villages because of terror of the Hinduvata extremists at the camps; intimidation to reconvert to Hinduism is just one of the many fears of the Christians. However, residents of Rupa village in Raikia area of Kandhamal where one Rasananda Pradhan had been burnt to death during the riots are reluctant to go back, fearing further attack". According to the leader of the GCIC, the heads of Sangh Parivar - an association of nationalist Hindu groups, including paramilitaries connected to the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and to the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) - have prepared "a list of at least 140 Christians guilty of the assassination of Swami Laxamananda Saraswat and five of his followers", but without providing "any proof of their involvement". The list has been distributed among the Hindu fundamentalists, who have been asked to "punish the Christians" in case the government "does not provide justice". The threat has contributed to increasing the "panic" within the Christian community, already crushed by the violence in recent weeks and now facing the concrete possibility of new violence. On Thursday, September 11, during a meeting at which some of the leaders of the main fundamentalist Hindu organizations, including the VHP, took part, there was a discussion of the future strategies to adopt after the assassination of the Swami and the spiral of violence that this led to. One of the groups present at the meeting is proposing a "social boycott" of those who work for peaceful coexistence among minorities. Meanwhile, the list of violence against Christians in Orissa is growing longer. According to the Global Council of Indian Christians, four more corpses have been found, and Hindu fundamentalists are believed to have attacked six more villages in the area of Kurtamgarh, near Balliguda. The situation of tension is thought to have induced the government of Orissa to delay the elections. Ashok Singhal, president of the VHP, is also demanding, under threat, an end to the activity of proselytism on the part of Christians in India, and a return to the practice of Hinduism on the part of those who have embraced Christianity. On the night of September 11, some Christian families were attacked by groups of fanatics: they were able to save themselves, but their homes and possessions were destroyed. e-mail this to a friend  printable version  See also 09/09/2008 INDIA Orissa: no peace for Christians even in refugee camps by Nirmala Carvalho 09/08/2008 INDIA Day of prayer and fasting for Christians in Orissa, together with Hindus and Muslims by Nirmala Carvalho 09/04/2008 INDIA Fr Edward, survivor of arson in Orissa: the Hindu radicals are terrorists by Nirmala Carvalho 09/10/2004 INDIA Archbishop of Trichur wants truth about Father Job's murder 08/30/2004 INDIA New attack against Catholics in Orissa by Nirmala Carvalho Dossier Orissa: the Hindu pogrom against Christians Sydney WYD 2008 The New Pentecost of the Youth [Show all dossier] Editor's choices INDIA – ITALY Shame on India, Europe and the world by Bernardo Cervellera It is shameful that India’s Christians, an important element for the country’s social and economic development, are being massacred whilst the world’s governments and humanitarian associations remain silent in what is another example of “Christianophobia.” Italian bishops call on the faithful to take part tomorrow in a day of prayer and fasting in remembrance of the Blessed Teresa of Kolkata. SAUDI ARABIA - ISLAM Islam and Saudi Arabia, champions of dialogue? by Samir Khalil Samir The Saudi king takes more steps to show openness towards Christians, Jews and other religions. The most urgent reason is to rectify Islam’s violent image but also stems from a new attitude towards inter-faith dialogue towards the People of the Book (Jews, Muslims and Christians), but also atheists, Hindus and Buddhists. VATICAN - ISLAM Magdi Christian Allam, a contested conversion by Samir Khalil Samir, sj The Catholic baptism of the well known journalist, Magdi Allam, Egyptian and non practising Muslim, has been criticised and despised by the Islamic world. Added to this, is the embarrassment in Christian quarters, of those fearful of seeing a new crusade being launched by Benedict XVI and the Church. Instead, just as with the Regensburg address, this baptism is a message in defence of religious freedom, of evangelisation and of co-existence between religions.
Copyright © 2003 AsiaNews C.F. 00889190153 All rights reserved. Content on this site is made available for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, republish, sell or otherwise distribute the content or any modified or altered versions of it without the express written permission of the editor. Photos on AsiaNews.it are largely taken from the internet and thus considered to be in the public domain. Anyone contrary to their publication need only contact the editorial office which will immediately proceed to remove the photos.

Seek Forgiveness - Prayer for slain VHP leader at Missionaries of Charity

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: Sister Nirmala
Posted online: Friday , September 05, 2008

Kolkata, September 5: Superior-General of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, Sister Nirmala said that religion should not be used to divide people.
"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," she said decrying the communal riots in Orissa.

Quoting Mother Teresa, on her death anniversary this Friday, Nirmala said "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."

Sister Nirmala also called for prayers for slain VHP leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, his four associates and those who died in the violence in Orissa's Kandhamal district.

"Let us put down the weapon of hatred and violence and put on the armour of love." Read more

Orissa violence and the Church

One of the injured priests, Fr Thomas Chellen, director of the Pastoral Centre at Konjamendi, was assaulted by a mob on 25 August. "They 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," he said from his hospital bed.

The priest said he witnessed his assistant nun being raped in front of him. The pastoral centre, which could accommodate 200 people, had been torched the previous day.

On Monday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh broke his silence over the violence, calling it a "national disgrace" and asked the Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik to stamp out the anti-Christian rioting and punish those responsible for murder and arson. "The central Government has taken a very serious notice of the happenings in Orissa," an official statement said.

The Prime Minister also offered a package of assistance to the families of people who have lost their lives and those rendered destitute. The package, drawing on the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, included support for the homeless and funds for repair of houses damaged, including orphanages. Mr Singh said Mr Patnaik had given an assurance of "firm action" to deal with the situation.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India wrote to the president and Government of India, appealing for the protection for victims of the violence, and demanding a full inquiry. A fifth of Kandhamal's population of around 500,000 are Christians and half the Christian population is Catholic. Read it all

45,000 Church institutions catering to Five million students remain closed to bring spotlight on Orissa violence

Christian denominations like the Church of South India (CSI) and Marthoma Syrian Church joined the protest against the violence. “All those attending our institutions will attend work wearing black badges," said an official of Mar Thoma Church at its headquarters in Thiruvalla. In Kerala, around 5,900 educational institutions remained closed. The institutions that were closed in Kerala include four medical colleges and 11 engineering colleges run by the Catholic Church.

In Delhi scores of Christians marched to Orissa Bhawan, the office of the state resident commissioner, to protest the violence in Orissa against Christians. “Christians from at least 30 churches across the country participated in the rally in Delhi.

Several social activists like Udit Raj and Teesta Setelvad also participated in the protest march to Orissa Bhawan and addressed the gathering there.

Several schools and colleges in Delhi, including St. Stephens College, St Columba's School and Somerville School, were closed for the day.

In Orissa, over 100 educational institutes observed the shut down to express solidarity.
“There is almost an ethnic cleansing in the state,” Father babu Joseph Catholic spokes person said.

Read it all