The tremendous suffering of the displaced Christians in Orissa, victims of anti-Christian violence which occurred in August 2008, continues. As Agenzia Fides learns from the Church in Orissa, the refugees have been attacked twice: first when they were expelled from their villages by the fury of Hindu extremist groups who burned their homes and stole their property, and the second incident: in recent days, as the local government of Orissa - after a long tug - has finally authorized the visit of a delegation representing the European Union (EU) in the well-known Kandhamal district, the site of anti-Christian violence.

The presence of refugees camped out in the streets as best they could, their apparent conditions of marginality and poverty, the absolute lack of any social assistance, the state of abandonment in which they live, would have been obvious signs of the irresponsibility and indifference of the local government in the face of this distressing situation. The civilian officials have decided to "clean up" the area to be visited by the delegation of the EU, arriving on February 4 and 5.

So, about 100 people from 21 poor families of 11 Christian villages - now housed in makeshift tents, where they are struggling to survive – have been forced to rapidly evacuate of the town of Gudaigiri, where they had established themselves in the aftermath of the violence.

Violence spreads in Orissa - 4 more churches burnt and destroyed
Fr. Thomas Chellen share his horrifying experience

Violence spreads in Orissa

According to the information received from Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Archdiocese, 12 people have been killed, 41 churches and chapels have been attacked and nearly 400 houses of Christians destroyed since last Monday in spiraling religious violence.

Authorities imposed a curfew in nine towns of Orissa's rural Kandhamal district in an effort to end two days of violence in which a Christian orphanage was also torched by suspected Hindu mobs angry over the murder of their leader.

Orissa officials said at least four people, including a woman, were killed in Kandhamal's Barakhama village when Hindus and Christians clashed. Lay woman was caught in the fire in the orphanage, who was previously recognized as a nun.
"Police broke up the two groups and brought the situation under control," said Satyabrata Sahoo, a top administrative official said.

Local TV stations showed an angry mob vandalising a church, throwing away furniture and setting it on fire. Villagers blocked roads with logs and boulders to stop police from entering the trouble spots.

Police said Hindus attacked Christians and set their homes on fire in Kandhamal's Patingia and Matingia villages. A church was also damaged in the same district."A mob tried to torch a school bus but police chased them away," Pradeep Kapoor, police inspector general, told Reuters.

HOLY SEE CALLS FOR END OF VIOLENCE

“In regard to the tragic news of violence against faithful and institutions of the Catholic Church coming from India, the Holy See, while expressing solidarity with the local Churches and religious Congregations affected, condemns these actions that deny the dignity and freedom of people and compromise peaceful civil cohabitation”, reads a statement released today by the Holy See press office, referring to the violence underway for days in the north-eastern Indian State of Orissa. “At the same time, it appeals to all to ensure, with a sense of responsibility, an end to all dominance and restore an atmosphere of dialogue and mutual respect”.
 
There have been attacks on Christians in Orissa and other parts of India in previous years. In 1999, a Hindu mob killed Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two children by burning them in their car in Orissa.

Christians in eastern India have condemned this week's killing of the Hindu leader.

When contacted, Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Archdiocese said: “In December, the attack on the Christian community was confined to Kandhamal district, but it has now spread to all districts. The attackers are systematically targeting the Christians. As compared to the December attacks of last year when they targeted the Church property and buildings, they are targeting our priests, nuns and others working in the churches. Most of the priests and nuns have gone in hiding in fear of their lives. ”

“Had the government apprehended the criminals, who carried out the attacks in December, it would have deterred them from carrying out similar attacks this time. I’m dejected about the inaction of the government,” he added.

CBCI CONDEMNS ATTACK ON CHRISTIANS IN ORISSA,
APPEALS FOR SOCIAL HARMONY IN THE STATE

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) condemns the unwarranted attacks on Christian institutions in Orissa on July 8, 2008. Even before the wounds caused by the unprecedented communal disturbances and vandalizing of Christian institutions in December, 2007 got healed, fresh attacks on Christian community and its institutions have been unleashed recently by the extremist elements in Kandhamal, Orissa.

The fanatic criminals attacked the Jesuit residence in Tumudibandh Block of Kandhamal District. They devastated the institution and its belongings such as sacred statues, household articles and other valuables. They also attacked the Bhagvan Ashram, an orphanage run by a Christian, Mr. Satpati.

The CBCI deeply regrets that during the past few decades, Orissa’s history has been marred by periodic communal violence and that no effective and lasting steps have been taken till date by the State Government to restrain communal elements. Consequently, the communal forces are emboldened to commit further crimes on Christian community.

The CBCI appeals to the State and the Central Governments to curb the anti-social activities of fundamentalists and their associates. The Christian community in the State has been repeatedly made victim of hatred and violence but the Administration has not strongly intervened in defense of the people who are targeted. It gives a strong impression that the attacks on the Christian community have been well planned and systematically executed.

The Orissa State Government is a constitutionally elected Government and therefore it has the obligation to treat all its people irrespective of their religion equally and protect their legitimate rights. We believe strongly that maintaining law and order should become a top priority for the State Government and it should create an atmosphere where people can live without fear. In a State where communal polarization has been on the increase, social harmony is very much the need of the hour and the Government along with the enlightened citizens and people of goodwill should endeavor to create a just, fair and democratic society.

Most Rev. Stanislaus Fernandes
Secretary General, CBCI & Archbishop of Gandhinagar.
 

NUN BURNT TO DEATH IN ORISSA

According to firsthand accounts the archdiocese’s social centre was attacked and torched. Before that the attackers raped Sister Meena, a nun working at the centre.

The local pastoral centre, which has escaped destruction in last December’s violence, is now a total wreck. Father Thomas, who ran the facility, is in hospital with serious head injuries.

Mobs attacked churches, torched vehicles and stopped rail and road traffic across the state to protest the killing Saturday of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, a member of VHP’s central advisory committee, and four others at his Jalespata ashram in Kandhamal district.

“Two people have died in two separate incidents. This is most unfortunate,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters.
“The situation is under control and we are closely monitoring it,” he said, adding that he had asked the central government for more security forces.

Though the administration imposed curfew in Baliguda and Phulbani towns in the district, people defied the order when the body of the leader was brought in a procession to his ashram. Those in the procession damaged several churches and prayer houses and vehicles, eyewitnesses said.

“There is violence in about two dozen villages in the district,” district collector Kishan Kumar told IANS over phone.
More than 1,000 security personnel were deployed in the region. Officials said the curfew would continue in both towns till Tuesday.

The protesters attacked more than 10 churches in different parts of the state and clashed with police in some places. “Some churches have been attacked and there were reports of sporadic violence,” state Inspector General of Police Pradeep Kapoor told IANS.

Most government and private offices witnessed thin attendance as thousands staged demonstrations and burnt tyres in several villages, towns and on national highways. Almost all shops and petrol pumps remained closed and many were stranded at bus stops.

Train services were affected across the state, J.P. Mishra, spokesperson of the east coast railway, told IANS. “Passenger and goods trains were not allowed to move from stations.”

Road traffic was also badly hit and many vehicles were attacked.

According to local television channels, protesters damaged dozens of vehicles in several areas but officials confirmed damage to only two vehicles in Rourkela and three in the coastal district of Balasore saying they were yet to compile other details.
‘It was a spontaneous response of the people to the shutdown,’ said national coordinator of the Bajrang Dal Subhash Chauhan.

The unrest was reflected in the Orissa assembly as well with ruling and opposition legislators clashed over the killing.
The opposition Congress demanded suspension of the question hour and an immediate discussion on the law and order problems in the state; and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - ally of the ruling Biju Janata Dal - demanded suspension of proceedings for the day in view of the shutdown.

Saraswati was leading a campaign against cow slaughter and religious conversion in the communally sensitive district. Kandhamal, with a population of around 600,000, including 150,000 Christians, has witnessed numerous clashes between Hindus and Christians in the past.

Saraswati’s supporters had been holding protests since Saturday night, blocking trains and vehicles.

The state government Sunday ordered a judicial probe into the killings and announced compensation for the victims. Authorities also constituted a special police team to investigate the crime.

Meanwhile, the All India Christian Council demanded that the central government send the army or central forces to “protect Christians in Orissa”.

In a statement, the council said following the killing of the VHP leader in a “suspected Maoist attack” “carnage broke out against the Christians of Kandhamal district, who are mostly Dalits and tribals” forcing hundreds to flee their homes. It alleged that a nun was raped in the presence of the state police forces.

John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council and secretary general of the council, appealed to President Pratibha Patil seeking deployment of the army and central forces in the state.