CSW is gravely concerned at reports of widespread violence against Christians perpetrated by Hindu extremists in Kandhamal district, Orissa, during the past week, and today calls for justice for the victims.
According to the latest fact-finding team report of CSW partners, the All India Christian Council (aicc), several Christians have been murdered, 65 churches have been burnt down, 600 homes of Christians have been destroyed and hundreds of Christians have been displaced since the violence began on Christmas Eve.
The violence originated in a dispute between Christians and Hindus in Bamunigaon village, when Christian shopkeepers were erecting a decorative Christmas arch. In a separate incident on the same day, the car of a Hindu fundamentalist leader, Swami Saraswati, was stopped by a group of unknown men, but later media reports alleged that he was physically attacked by Christians.
Hindu extremists responded violently to the events. On the evening of 24 December, a large mob marched into Baliguda village, where they attacked and burnt the Catholic church building, convent, priest's residence and other church property. They also burnt down a Baptist church and attacked a Pentecostal church. On 25 December, a mob destroyed churches and the houses of Christians in the area of Bamunigaon village. Convents and churches elsewhere in the district were also attacked, and a bomb was thrown at the residence of the Catholic Archbishop of Bhubaneshwar. At least half of the parishes in Kandhamal district were unable to celebrate Mass at Christmas for fear of violence
Although attacks reportedly continued through the week, reports suggest they have now begun to die down. Details of many attacks remain unclear, as roadblocks set up by Hindu extremists or by police have prevented access for fact-finding teams. However, the aicc yesterday released the testimony of three Christian pastors who escaped from one village in Kandhamal district. They professed knowledge of over 100 Christian homes destroyed, two Christians killed and burnt in front of a local church, another Christian killed in a market place and at least fifteen additional Christians missing, presumed dead.
Christians have made representations to the highest levels of government in India, concerned particularly at the failure of adequate protection from the police. In a memorandum submitted on 29 December to the Vice President of India, former National Commission for Minorities chairman, Hamid Ansari, Christian leaders called for central troops to be deployed to bring the situation under decisive control. They also requested an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, punishment for the perpetrators and negligent government officials, police protection for a Christian fact-finding team, an impartial and proper assessment of the damage and proper compensation for the victims.
In addition, Christian leaders have organised protest rallies across India, including in Delhi on 27 December, and have met National Commission for Minorities chairman, Mohamed Shafi Qureshi, Minister of Home Affairs, Shivraj Patil, Orissa Chief Minister, Neevan Patnaik and National Human Rights Commission chairman, Justice S. Rajendra Babu. Indian government leaders have given several assurances that the violence will be brought to an end.
Sam Paul, aicc Secretary of Public Affairs, said "This violence has been unprecedented in Orissa, and we are deeply concerned for the suffering of many innocent people, simply because of their religious beliefs. Despite reports that the violence has died down, the situation on the ground is still far from clear, and access for fact-finding teams is blocked. We call on the Indian government to bring peace to the area, to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and to ensure full and proper rehabilitation and compensation for the victims."
CSW Advocacy Director, Alexa Papadouris, said, "We are gravely concerned to hear these reports of violence in Orissa against vulnerable Christians. We fully support the calls of Christian leaders for the situation to be brought under control, and hope that the promises made by the Indian government will translate into action to protect a vulnerable religious minority against the violent excesses of Hindu extremism."
Notes to editors
The signatories of the memorandum to the Vice President of India were the Catholic Archbishop, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Concessao, the former Church of North India Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Karam Masih, the aicc President, Dr Joseph D'souza and the aicc Delhi Chapter President, the Rev. Dr Abraham Sahu.
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