[Reader-list] CHRISTMAS FOR ORISSA CAMPAIGN

[Anivar Aravind]

CHRISTMAS FOR ORISSA CAMPAIGN
Pray For Peace, Fight For Justice, Save Christmas In Orissa
http://orissaconcerns.net/content/2008/12/christmas-orissa-campaign

Dear Friends,

The Christmas of 2008, traditionally an occasion for joy and hope,
threatens to be a dark and fearful day for the people of Orissa.

In an extremely provocative step, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) –
responsible for horrific violence against the state's Christians over
the past one year - has threatened to call an Orissa bandh on 25
December 2008.

There is great apprehension that the VHP bandh will become another
excuse to unleash more pogroms against the already battered Christian
community and kill both the flesh and spirit of this year's Christmas
in Orissa. In fact it was on Christmas Day last year that the attacks,
organised by the VHP, Bajrang Dal, RSS and other Hindutva extremist
groups, were launched.

In renewed violence since late August this year over 60 people have
been killed, several women including nuns raped, over 4,400 houses and
151 churches destroyed and more than 18,000 people injured. Even as we
write this there are over 50,000 people homeless and living in the
most atrocious conditions unable to return to their homes due to fear
and lack of state protection.

We sincerely appeal to people of all religions in Orissa, the rest of
India and indeed all over the world to join the Christmas for Orissa
Campaign to:

    * Defeat the politics of hate indulged in by extremist organisations;
    * Prevent the recurrence of further violence in the state;
    * Preserve the spirit of Christmas; and
    * Prevail upon the Indian and Orissa governments to protect the
lives and livelihood of innocent citizens.

This Christmas for Orissa Campaign is part of already ongoing efforts
in Orissa and elsewhere with similar objectives and involves the
following suggested activities:

    * Make peace and justice in Orissa the theme of this year's
Christmas all over the world;
    * Organise special Christmas for Orissa vigils/prayers outside
Indian embassies and VHP/RSS offices all over the world;
    * Organise peaceful vigils/prayers outside VHP/RSS offices all over India;
    * Send letters/Christmas greeting cards to Indian government
officials and VHP/RSS/BJP leaders appealing for peace and justice in
Orissa

More suggested activities will be posted on the Christmas for Orissa
Campaign website http://orissaconcerns.net and
http://blog.orissaconcerns.net soon and all those interested in
joining or contributing to the campaign are requested to contact:
christmasfororissa at gmail.com and www.orissaconcerns.net



Anivar Aravind
http://anivar.movingrepublic.org