Orissa aftermath ‘troubling’

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) welcomes the report by The National People’s Tribunal on Kandhamal, ‘Waiting for Justice’, released on 2 December, which provides a “troubling” assessment of the current situation in the aftermath of the 2008 communal violence in Orissa state, India and issues a raft of recommendations to the state government.

The report is the outcome of a series of hearings held in New Delhi from 22-24 August 2011, over the third anniversary of the violence, and is based on evidence from 45 victims and fifteen expert statements. It highlights a wide range of concerns arising from these testimonies, including: attacks on human rights defenders since 2008; sexual violence which has been largely undocumented; the impact of the communal violence on children, including those who have suffered trauma; the long-term socio-economic impact of the violence on survivors; the ongoing inability of the Christian community to manifest their faith openly; the failures of the justice system, including evidence of “institutional bias”; and the absence of comprehensive rehabilitation packages and effective reconciliation mechanisms.

Published just days after two senior state officials in Orissa admitted that the 2008 violence was pre-planned, the report also castigates the police and district officials for their failure to take preventative action. It notes with particular concern that recommendations made by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) after an earlier wave of violence in December 2007 were not implemented, and that the lengthy funeral procession for Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, which sparked much of the violence, was allowed to go ahead.

Shabnam Hashmi, Director of prominent campaign group ANHAD, which co-organised the tribunal and co-published the report, said, “This report records chilling stories of victims of violence from Kandhamal. It is a very important document for understanding the rise of communal ideology in India.”

CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnson said, “The National People’s Tribunal has painted a very troubling picture of the situation in Kandhamal, but it reflects concerns which have been raised consistently over the past three years. India will undergo its Universal Periodic Review at the UN next year, and one area likely to be raised is the long periods of time taken for victims of communal violence to receive justice and reparation. India will also likely be praised for its vibrant civil society, of which this tribunal is another example, but it is important that government takes seriously their views. We strongly encourage the state government of Orissa to engage seriously and constructively with these recommendations, which represent long-term concerns held by many civil society groups.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email [email protected] or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

Notes to editors:

1. The National People’s Tribunal on Kandhamal was organised by the National Solidarity Forum, a coalition comprising 56 organisations or networks.

2. For further information on the 2008 communal violence in Orissa, see section 5.1 of CSW’s briefing, �India: Communalism, anti-conversion and religious freedom’.