A repitition of tactics well practiced in Gujarat. Kundan Christians hide in forests as Hindu mobs ransack villages As death toll rises, Prime Minister denounces 'national shame' in state of Orissa where 60 churches were burned down
- Gethin Chamberlain - The Observer <http://observer.guardian.co.uk/>, - Sunday August 31 2008 - Article history Thousands of terrified Indian Christians are hiding in the forests of the volatile Indian state of Orissa after a wave of religious 'cleansing' forced them from their burnt-out homes with no immediate prospect of return. A mob of Hindu fundamentalists rampaged through villages last week, killing those too slow to get out of their way, burning churches and an orphanage, and targeting the homes of Christians. Up to 20 people were reported dead, with at least two deliberately set alight, after the murder of a Hindu leader last Saturday provoked the violence. In some districts, entire villages lay deserted, abandoned by Christian populations who would rather shelter in the forests than return to face the risk of death. Some villagers attempted to return to their homes yesterday despite threats of further violence. But Christian leaders who had spoken to those who have fled said that even among the trees they were not safe. Some of their tormenters have pursued them, trying to finish the job. One of those hiding in the forest, Abalkora Diggal, described how a group arrived at Balkidadi village on Monday morning chanting anti-Christian slogans. 'In the evening, a much bigger group of over 1,000 people fired in the air and warned us to leave if we wanted to stay alive,' he told a local journalist. They fled into the forest, emerging only when they saw an aid convoy arrive under heavy police protection. Afterwards, they returned to the forest, without food or fresh water. 'I had a home and a tractor. I reared goats and hens. Now I have nothing,' said Mr Diggal. Babu Joseph, spokesman for the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India, told The Observer that many people were too frightened to return to their homes. After speaking by mobile phone to some of those in hiding, he said: 'They are living without food or drink and even there they are being hunted down by these people. I have spoken to nuns and priests who are hiding in the forests. 'They said that it was a horrifying experience. Groups arrived at their villages carrying guns, swords and homemade weapons and even small bombs, which they used to blast the places. The groups targeted every Christian house in their villages. The people had a list of the Christian houses and institutions and none were spared.' The Church said nearly 3,000 houses had been destroyed, most of them owned by Christians. More than 60 churches were burned down and at least half a dozen convents. 'It is the result of a sustained hate campaign against Christians in Orissa,' Rev Joseph said. Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister, described the violence as a 'national shame', while Raphael Cheenath, the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, called for an end to the 'ethnic cleansing of Christians'. The violence erupted after the murder of Hindu leader Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati at an ashram last Saturday night, along with four other activists from the hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) party. It was claims by the VHP that Christians were to blame for the deaths that acted as a trigger for the killing spree, although Maoist guerillas have since claimed responsibility for the murders. Reports said that about 30 Maoists opened fire on the ashram. A spokesman for the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army said it had targeted Saraswati, who had campaigned against conversions and the killing of cows, for 'fascist activities'. The revenge killings have been indiscriminate: a 19-year-old Hindu Rajni Majhi was burned to death by a mob who attacked the Christian-run Missionary Orphan Centre in the Bargarh district. Some of the 150,000 Christians in the Kandhamal area have been sheltered by Hindu neighbours, but about 5,000 are believed to have sought refuge in the forests, with up to 10,000 under guard in camps set up by the government. Underlying the violence is a long-simmering dispute between Hindus and Christians in the state over the conversion of low-caste Hindus to Catholicism. The success of the Christian churches has fuelled resentment among hardline Hindus. The Vatican has condemned the violence. Most of India's billion-plus citizens are Hindu, while just 2.5 per cent of them are Christians. Shoot-on-sight orders were issued to security forces in eight districts and a curfew remained in place yesterday in nine districts. About 3,000 Christians demonstrated outside the Orissa state building in New Delhi yesterday, holding placards calling for peace and condemning the state government. On Friday about 25,000 Catholic schools were closed in a symbolic protest against the killings. On Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 4:43 AM, janardan pati <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > > > > Jharkhand Forum <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/> > <http://egroups.com/list/Jharkhand> > * * > > > from- janardan pati , > secy. c.p.i.(m).orissa state committee . > > > everyone should condemned the killings of people in orissa or elsewhere > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > i am seeing every day in the net that some educated people are discussing > about the cause of riot in orissa. there are causes,no doubt. but simple > because there are causes,the riot and killing can not be justified . > The murder of swami laxmananda is a plan one and subsquent > killings,rape and arson are also planned one. Every one who has minimum > concerned for the society can not support any barbaric activities in the > name of religion. After all man has made religion. Religion came after man. > It is man, and only man has built up civilisation. > My appeal to you all to isolate the criminals and for that kindly use your > energy. > thanking you, > janardan pati . > > --- On *Sat, 8/30/08, Francis Minj <min [EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: > > From: Francis Minj <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Conversions at the root of carnage in Orissa > To: [email protected] > Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 2:36 PM > > > > > > Jharkhand Forum <http://www.jharkhand.org.in%20/> > <http://egroups.com/list/Jharkhand> > * * > > > Hello Ventakat Subramaniam, > > I appreciate your candid observations. Every Indian would be careful lest > someone might pull his dhoti from behind, the front part always unfurls, > beauty, cadence, and history of a celebrated civilization. Vankat is no > different in Eulogizing Hindus abroad. I am living outside India and > disagree with your claim, I do not like to elaborate. It is of course better > than what we see in India but casteism has its deep roots. Aryasamajis were > originally inspired by Christians and Christians, especially in Tamilnadu, > need to be inspired by the Aryasamajis. Venkat forgets to reveal the fact > that in that region sometimes caste takes precedence over religion. > > There are rogue elements in all organizations and religions. It is equally > wrong to blame the whole religion or organisation for a few wayward, there > might be some fanatics in there. World Vision might be part of that. > Similarly, anyone blaming Hinduism outright would totally mistaken. My sense > is that people are blaming only a section of Hindus, i.e. some > organizations. All these organizations "adapt" themselves to local contexts. > The philosophy of some organizations are deplorably divisive and Venkat > should also remember that like him, Christians also fund Hindu > fundamentalist organizations. There is enough information on the internet. > > Rather than sniffing the complicity of Christians in the North East or any > other part of India it would be wise to ask some soul searching questions > about the genuine reasons for such tendencies. It would be quite > enlightening to get some answers from the North Easterners about their links > to extremists. Who nurtured them - government, politicians, business > community or the Church? When women get raped by the armymen, where else > will they seek protection? One can put up fence to protect the crop but if > the fence itself eats the crop where do you go? This your Tamil proverb > explains the situation well. Naxalbari is a Hindu village and extremism > originated there.To my knowledge no Christian missionary, alien or Indian, > was ever involved in incubating and nurturing that movement. Each region of > the country has its specific issues and we need to tackle locally rather > than blame the whole organization. > > I am convinced Cyprian will seldom be accepted by the Aryasamajis in the > place. I have also visited the Aryasamjis and haven't been welcomed, also in > Tamil Nadu. If one place is Similarly one cannot contest Rajani's personal > experience. > > Francis Minj > > On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 8:35 AM, venkata subramanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > com<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > wrote: > >> >> >> >> Jharkhand Forum <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/> >> <http://egroups.com/list/Jharkhand> >> * * >> >> >> Well , well, Cyprian and Anjali >> >> It needs only a pedestrian intellect to know or guess where the mischief >> came from. Well, if you want to know of World Vision and its notorities >> follow this link to know what they did in Sri Lanka- >> >> >> >> ************ ***link is removed by moderator*** **** >> >> I was a contributor to this organisation through my credit card company >> ten years ago but when I knew of their activities, I stopped funding them. >> >> And I request Cyprian to visit Tamilnadu, and suit himself with the >> 'adivasi' type of church for him. No other higher caste church will offer >> him seats! But I promise Arya Samaj like organisations will initiate him >> into Sandhya and give him the sacred thread, and will introduce him to All >> the four Vedas. You will be really be made into the purohit that you want to >> be. So get your applications typed rightaway. It was your promise. Anjali >> will also find to her utter dismay that no castes are there in Arya samaji >> world. But for amusement she will find many Nadar Christians, Chetty >> christians, Naidu Christians, Reddy(YSR Reddy) christians and so on. >> >> Anyone listening, do not go by those imposters who assume high moral >> grounds in denouncing Hinduism. >> >> For all of you, I have this information. It is not Hinduism that is >> clinging to caste system. It is the secular state of India that is. In one >> stroke , they could have disbanded it in 1947. They did not. Look at the >> overseas Hindu community that has been so successful in spreading Hinduism >> far and wide. They did not carry the casteist tag. Iskcon had , by 2006, >> purchased 500 odd churches in Europe alone and converted them into Iskcon >> Temples. Villages after Villages are followers of Iskcon. The core point is >> that no force, no allopathic medicine in the name of Hallelujah, no >> harvesting of souls, no inquistion, no crusade wars and no aggression did >> it. Simply the power of Hinduistic ideals of Yoga ,and Dhyana did it. >> (which these churches are desperately trying to ape) >> >> If Cyprian was curious enough to have called up world vision and even the >> Police, why did he not have the same urge to clarify that with Pioneer ? I >> have come across many net articles to show the complicity of the Church and >> comrades and maoists. They replace one another in many places. The maoistsin >> Nepal are principally a christian force. He can get enough material from the >> net. >> >> The christists have only one agenda in India. That of grabbing the nation. >> They already have pocketed Northeast where a religious separatist struggle >> is on with the full backing of the Church. Ask any army man who has served >> in the north east and he will tell you with anger the complicity of the >> Church in the separatist insurgency. See this >> http://www.stephen- knapp.com/ baptist_church_ backs_terrorism. >> htm<http://www.stephen-knapp.com/baptist_church_backs_terrorism.htm> >> >> I was also a simple , so called apologetic Hindu fed day in and day out by >> the pseudo secular media about these ' innocent Christian' acts. But thanks >> to internet and the growing awareness among Hindus about their unique >> identity, ************ ********* ******* I am no longer apologetic about my >> Identity and if someone wishes to call me Right winger, or Hindutva man , I >> would rather welcome it. But let the comments come from right minded people >> , not from pseudos and christists. >> >> >> >> Venkat >> >> On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 11:01 AM, anjali deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> com<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> >>> Jharkhand Forum <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/> >>> <http://egroups.com/list/Jharkhand> >>> * * >>> >>> >>> this comes straight from the heart! it was the best i have read yet in >>> this 'academic' discussion. hindus don't convert because they don't which >>> caste to prescribe to the convert. many years ago, in 1981 i think, a hand >>> full of us activists, mostly women, had published a leaflet with a series of >>> questions including one to the effect, 'if all hindus are one, will any >>> dalit be allowed to become a shankaracharya?' we were distributing it at a >>> rally of hindus at india gate in delhi when we were attacked, the clothes of >>> one of our friends were torn off, the other was beaten up badly and they >>> could escape only because a male activist friend joined the 'mob' and said >>> 'hinduism prevents us from doing worse things to women so get away,' and an >>> autorickshaw luckily came our way. these people are dangerous! >>> >>> in the northeast too the 'parivar' is trying hard to coopt 'tribal' gods, >>> build temples where there are none (and why should there be if the people >>> till now lived without needing them?) and christians are building churches >>> (why is there any need for them if people managed without them for so >>> long?). >>> >>> why should identity depend on some buildings devoted to some gods and >>> some rituals? that is what we need to ask and we need to understand how the >>> promotion of identity politics at the international level is being reflected >>> and is stirring up the already murky waters of religious politics in our >>> country. but that becomes academic too! >>> >>> i had begun this only to tell you how your response touched my heart. got >>> carried away. >>> >>> anjali deshpande >>> >>> On 8/29/08, Cyprian Ekka <[EMAIL PROTECTED] co.in <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Jharkhand Forum <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/> >>>> <http://egroups.com/list/Jharkhand> >>>> * * >>>> >>>> >>>> Please stop the 'academic' discussion. I am a born Christian, as you >>>> may guess from my name. And, hold your fanatic breath, I am a tribal too. >>>> Who should know better if my ancestors were Hindus or not? They never were. >>>> And I am proud they weren't (even if I weren't a Christian). I still follow >>>> my ancestral religion, customs and traditions. I pray to the 'tribal' God >>>> (sic) and Christian God too. Todate they have not quarelled with one >>>> another. Neither has the Church told me not to pray to a 'tribal' God. >>>> Why should anyone else have a problem with that? Incidently, I feel doubly >>>> fortunate not to have fallen prey to the Vanwasi Kalyan Ashramites, who >>>> seem >>>> to develp ulcer calling me an Adivasi. The Saffrons want me to 'return' to >>>> Hinduism, right? Watch out! Return, you said? What return? Where return? >>>> Who >>>> is the oldest dweller of the soil, the blood curdling fanatics or Adivasis? >>>> Is that not why my 'Adivasiyat' has been recycled into 'Vanvasiyat'? If I >>>> wish, I may embrace Hinduism right now (online, if Vedas certify it as >>>> valid). >>>> >>>> May I ask the Saffron brigage if they will grant me a Brahmin's status >>>> and make me the chief pujari at Puri temple or Akshardham temple or what >>>> have you? If yes, I may start typing an application letter right away. But >>>> don't tell me to hate other religions and their followers. That's not the >>>> Hinduism I may love to convert to. I studied Hinduism and several other >>>> Indian religions. None taught me to hate others. I can recite and comment >>>> on >>>> some shlokas of Bhagwadgeeta off the bat. I even meditate on them. I loved >>>> watching 'Ramayan' tele-serial and have already read the Hindu epics with >>>> relish. I love to participate in spiritual discourses of some Hindu sects >>>> (certainly not those sponsored by the Brigade). Which edition of Hinduism >>>> are you talking about? >>>> >>>> Cyprian Ekka >>>> >>>> --- >>>> >>>> >>> __._,_ >>> >> >> > > > > > Jharkhand Forum <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/forum> > Jharkhand Forum <http://www.jharkhand.org.in/forum> | Jharkhand > Blog<http://www.jharkhand.org.in/blog> > | Jharkhand Video <http://www.jharkhandi.org/video> | Jharkhand > Network<http://www.jharkhand.org.in/network> > > * * > > > > >
