[Reader-list] Hindutva terrorism against Christians in Orissa

[Pawan Durani]

Hi Shivam,
It is unfortunate of what happened in Orissa , I would be grateful if as a
journalist you may share what prompted this violence in the state.

Peace to all.

Pawan

On Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 5:50 PM, Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्
<mail at shivamvij.com>wrote:

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: John Dayal <johndayal at yahoo.com>
> Date: Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 12:15 AM
>
>
> Dr. John Dayal
>
> Member: National Integration Council
> Government of India
>
> Secretary General: All India Christian Council (Founded 1999)
> President: United Christian Action, Delhi (Founded 1992)
> Imm. Past National President: All India Catholic Union (Founded 1919)
>
> 505 Link, 18 IP Extension, Delhi 110092 India
> Email: johndayal at vsnl.com
> http://groups.google.com/group/JohnDayal
> Phone: 91-11-22722262 Mobile 09811021072
>
> 25 August 2008
>
> URGENT FAX
>
> TO PRESIDENT OF INDIA
>
> SEEKING ARMY / CENTRAL FORCES INTERVENTION TO PROTECT CHRISTIANS IN
> ORISSA AS NUN IS RAPED, PRIESTS INJURED, CHURCHES AND OFFICES BURNT IN
> PRESENCE OF POLICE
>
> Hon'ble Mrs., Pratibha Patil
> President of India
>
> Dear President
>
> Greetings from a grieving community.
>
> 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 Christian leadership in the country has unequivocally condemned
> the killing of the VHP leader and his four associates.
>
> The Christians of Kandhamal are still nursing their wounds from the
> Christmas 2007 violence, with hundreds of them still living in a
> refugee camp in Barakhama. Most of the more than One hundred churches
> then destroyed remain in ruins, and the burnt houses are still to be
> fully rebuilt.
>
> And yet local Sangh leaders have targeted the community in a second
> wave of macabre violence.
>
> A nun has been raped in Kandhamal, a Catholic father grievously
> injured, scores of houses in villages destroyed, apart from Churches
> and institutions. I attach herewith a partial list of the damage in
> the violence in the past two days. We in Delhi are overwhelmed with
> panic messages from Priests, pastors, nuns and common people who look
> to New Delhi for help as the State machinery ahs collapsed once again.
>
> Changing of superintendents of police as a knee jerk reaction does not
> provide security to Christians. In fact, much of the violence is
> taking place with the insufficient police force looking on. This had
> been the case in 2007 December, as has come out in the on going
> hearings of the Justice Basudeo Panigrahi Commission. Christian
> delegations have informed the State Governor, the State Chief Minister
> and the Home Minister of India of the dire situation of our community
> in Orissa.
>
> Dear Madame 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, I fear, may be catastrophic for
> our Christian community in the State in particular, for peace in
> Orissa in general, and for the fair name of India as a secular
> country.
>
> God Bless you
>
> John Dayal
>
> Attachments:
> 1. Incomplete list of death and damage in violence of 23rd-25th August 2008
> 2. Christian condemnation of killing of Sw. Lakshmanananda Saraswati
>
> ORISSA ANTI CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE UPDATE 25th August 2008
>
> :
> 1. CHRISTIAN WOMAN TEACHER REPORTED BURNT ALIVE: A Christian woman
> teacher, possibly a nun [BUT NOT CONFIRMED], 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]
>
> - ---------------------------------
> URGENT
> >From John Dayal
> 25 August 2008
>
> INDIAN CHURCH CONDEMNS KILLING OF ORISSA VHP LEADER
>
> The Church in India has unequivocally condemned the killing of Vishwa
> Hindu Parishad [VHP] Orissa leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and his
> four colleagues in the Tumiliband region of Kandhamal district by Left
> wing extremists. Still recovering from the worst ever anti Christian
> violence in Indian history in December 2007, Christian organisations
> have appealed for peace as the community braces for another round of
> violence in the state from Hindutva groups who have sworn to avenge
> Saraswati death by attacking Churches, institutions, clergy and nuns.
>
> The following is the text of major statements issued by Church groups
> condemning the VHP leaders' death:
>
> ARCHBISHOP RAPHAEL CHEENATH, SVD
> Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
>
> 24 August 2008
>
> I, on behalf of the Christians of Orissa, particularly the catholic
> Christians, strongly condemn the dastardly attack and violent killing
> of Swami Lakshmanananda 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 Lakshmanananda
> 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. Udayagiri.
>
> 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.
>
> - ---------
>
> ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL:
>
> Press Statement by Dr John Dayal, Secretary General, and Dr Sampaul,
> National Secretary for Public Affairs
>
> The All India Christian Council is deeply concerned at the attack on
> an ashram near Tumiliband in Kandhamal District of Orissa last night
> in which the Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and
> four of his associates were killed. This is the latest of a series of
> attacks in recent months by political extremists which have left
> dozens of policemen and others dead in several districts of Orissa.
>
> We are also concerned at the immediate outbreak of communal violence
> against innocent Christians in nearby districts. Early reports suggest
> at least one prayer hall in Sundergarh ahs been burnt, the van of some
> Catholic Nuns destroyed and the sisters themselves injured.
>
> 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.
>
> The Christian community abhors violence, condemns all acts of
> terrorism and is against groups of people taking the law into their
> own hands. We have had major differences with the dead VHP leader. It
> has been the hate campaigns of the VHP and Sangh Parivar which led to
> untold misery to Christians in the violence last Christmas. Refugees
> from that violence are still living in government camps in Barakhama
> under miserable conditions. But we wish peace to everyone.
> We pray for peace in Orissa, one of the most undeveloped states in the
> country,
> - ------------------
>
> CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE OF INDIA:
>
> The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) is sad to note that
> Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and five
> others were murdered on Saturday August 23 allegedly by Maoist group
> in Kandhamal Dist of Orissa. The Church leaders in Orissa and other
> parts of the country have condemned the killing of Swami
> Lakshmanananda Saraswati 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. School at Bhadrak Town, Convent and the
> computer centre at Baliguda in Kandhamal Dist, Pastoral Centre at
> Baliguda in Kandhamal Dist., Social Development Centre (Jan Vikas
> Kendra) at Baliguda in Kandhamal Dist., Catholic Church in Phulbani
> and a Convent of the religious women at Phulbani have suffered in the
> attacks which took place after the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda
> Saraswati.
>
> We are sad to note that the extremists are attacking and vandalizing
> our institutions without any reason. Incidents of arson and burning of
> vehicles belonging to the Church have also been reported at Udaygiri.
> Some of our religious nuns, girls and boys in the hostels have fled
> from their places and taken shelter in the forest, particularly in
> Kandhamal Dist. We are seriously concerned about the safety and
> security of our frightened people who are innocent and yet find
> themselves in a very precarious situation. The State Government has
> deployed police forces in some of the areas and yet the violence has
> not been contained. We request the Central Government to urgently
> intervene in the matter and send additional forces to bring situation
> to normalcy.
> - -- Rev. Dr. Babu Joseph, SVD, Spokesperson, CBCI
> - ------------
> EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF INDIA:
>
> Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) denounces the killing of Vishwa
> Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and his
> four associates by suspected Maoists in Orissa state's Kandhamal
> district on August 23. While deeply saddened by the weeklong 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 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.
> - -- Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, General Secretary
> Evangelical Fellowship of India
> - --------------------
> Prashant. A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace, Ahmedabad,
> Gujarat, India
>
> 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
>
> - --
>
> Please visit these sites:
> http://groups.google.com/group/JohnDayal
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