[Reader-list] Hindutva terrorism against Christians in Orissa

[Rohit Shetti]

I couldn't agree with you more, Aarthi. When homes and villages are burning,
spitting fire would be the least appropriate response in my opinion.

Regards,

On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 10:35 PM, Aarti Sethi <aarti.sethi at gmail.com> wrote:

> Can someone explain to me why the logic of retribution is so easily
> deployed, as if its common sense. As if it makes perfect sense to attack
> hundreds of people who have had nothing to do with the killing of
> Laxmananda
> Saraswati simply because they happen to belong to the same community of the
> people who shot him? Which incidentally is not even the case. In the new
> reports it says unidentified assailants.
>
> Who said "missionaries" shot him dead radhika? Please show me one news
> reports which conclusively proves it was missionaries. And even if it was
> missionaries, does this mean you justify murder, arson, rape? I'm terribly
> sorry but it is not at all evident to me that individuals can be made to
> bear the burden of expiation for the acts of others simply because they
> happen to belong to the same religious community.
>
> I think you need to think very carefully and seriously about the things you
> say. You sound like a really violent human being.
>
> regards
> A
>
> On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 7:09 PM, <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> wrote:
>
> > Well, if 90 year old man, swamiji or otherwise, and along with this 90
> year
> > old man, another 7 persons, who is revered by citizens, is shot dead by
> > "missionaries" who preach love and compassion, and the citizens are
> expected
> > to tolerate this atrocity even when administation is hesitant to take
> action
> > against these goons. ?
> >
> >  Missionaries who work in tribal areas with money fromabroad should know
> > that love is not taught by guns shots to old men. ?
> >
> >  Regards.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Shivam Vij शिवम् विज् <mail at shivamvij.com>
> > Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 5:51 pm
> > Subject: [Reader-list] Hindutva terrorism against Christians in Orissa
> > To: sarai list <reader-list at sarai.net>
> >
> > > ---------- 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 harmonyin 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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