Christian Council cautions against mischief-makers

Christmas in Orissa under close scrutiny

 

Christian Council cautions against mischief-makers

 

 NEW DELHI – Dec. 22, 2008: Despite the cancelation of a state-wide bandh (strike) by ultra-nationalist Hindu groups, Christians in Orissa state are worried about possible anti-Christian violence over Christmas. 

Indian media reports on Dec. 20, 2008 said the rightwing Hindu group, the Swami Lakhmanananda Saraswati Shraddhanjali Samiti, met with Orissa’s Chief Minister and agreed to call off a state-wide shut-down planned for Dec. 25. However, aicc Orissa state leaders said the group was planning prayers from 5:10-5:40pm on Dec. 25th in temples across the state. There are fears the people gathered at each temple could be incited to attack Christians. The Samiti, which has called temples campaign, has been set up by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, the two groups responsible for the December 2007 and August-October 2008 violence in the state

The 12 hour bandh was announced in mid-November if authorities failed to arrest the killers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakhmanananda Saraswati by December 15, 2008. The murder of the religio-political leader on Aug. 23, 2008 triggered widespread anti-Christian violence despite claims of responsibility from Maoist militants.

 John Dayal, aicc Secretary General, said, “We appreciate Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik for doing the right thing and successfully urging Hindutva groups to call off their planned bandh. However, the government in Orissa – for that matter, in all states across India – must now ensure mischief makers do not sabotage the peace of the Christmas holidays.”

 Aicc is making plans to have teams of observers in Orissa to alert authorities should any violence begin. Plans called for teams to include both Christians and non-Christians – especially non-sectarian minded Hindus.

 Dayal said, “We encourage Indian Christians to celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth in a peaceful and harmonious manner. Christians across our great land must pray for the approximately 50,000 Dalit and Tribal Christians who will spend Christmas away from their damaged and destroyed homes. For many, this will be their second Christmas as refugees inside their own country.”

Christmas in Orissa under close scrutiny

 

Christian Council cautions against mischief-makers

 

 NEW DELHI – Dec. 22, 2008: Despite the cancelation of a state-wide bandh (strike) by ultra-nationalist Hindu groups, Christians in Orissa state are worried about possible anti-Christian violence over Christmas. 

Indian media reports on Dec. 20, 2008 said the rightwing Hindu group, the Swami Lakhmanananda Saraswati Shraddhanjali Samiti, met with Orissa’s Chief Minister and agreed to call off a state-wide shut-down planned for Dec. 25. However, aicc Orissa state leaders said the group was planning prayers from 5:10-5:40pm on Dec. 25th in temples across the state. There are fears the people gathered at each temple could be incited to attack Christians. The Samiti, which has called temples campaign, has been set up by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, the two groups responsible for the December 2007 and August-October 2008 violence in the state

The 12 hour bandh was announced in mid-November if authorities failed to arrest the killers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakhmanananda Saraswati by December 15, 2008. The murder of the religio-political leader on Aug. 23, 2008 triggered widespread anti-Christian violence despite claims of responsibility from Maoist militants.

 John Dayal, aicc Secretary General, said, “We appreciate Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik for doing the right thing and successfully urging Hindutva groups to call off their planned bandh. However, the government in Orissa – for that matter, in all states across India – must now ensure mischief makers do not sabotage the peace of the Christmas holidays.”

 Aicc is making plans to have teams of observers in Orissa to alert authorities should any violence begin. Plans called for teams to include both Christians and non-Christians – especially non-sectarian minded Hindus.

 Dayal said, “We encourage Indian Christians to celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth in a peaceful and harmonious manner. Christians across our great land must pray for the approximately 50,000 Dalit and Tribal Christians who will spend Christmas away from their damaged and destroyed homes. For many, this will be their second Christmas as refugees inside their own country.”

In Orissa, fears of more anti-Christian violence over Christmas

 

 

PRESS STATEMENT BY ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL

 

 

Extremist Hindutva  groups plan a bandh on Christmas Day

International community closely watching Orissa situation

 

NEW DELHI – December 19, 2008 – Rightwing Hindutva organisations in Orissa confirmed they will hold a bandh (strike) on Christmas Day triggering fears of further anti-Christian violence. Separately, politicians held hearings in Washington, D.C. and London about extremism and violence in India. And a European Union delegation conducted a fact finding trip to Orissa from Dec. 9-12, 2008

On Dec. 17, 2008, ultra-nationalist Hindutva groups said they will observe a state-wide shut-down for 12 hours on Christmas Day, reported The Hindu newspaper. The protest is due to the failure of authorities to arrest the killers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati who was assassinated on Aug. 23, 2008. The Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, opposes the bandh, and the newly appointed Minister of Home Affairs in New Delhi, P. Chidambaram, publicly assured Christians they’ll be safe. Aicc leaders remain concerned it will have the same results as an August 25^th bandh which saw anti-Christian violence spread across the eastern state of Orissa. Last Christmas, a bandh called by a tribal organisation, Kui Samaj, resulted in unprecedented anti-Christian attacks throughout one district.

“The bandh is provocative. Combined with a continuing hate campaign against Christians, there is potential for violence over Christmas. We appeal to police, politicians, local language media, and civil society in Orissa – and across India – to seek peace instead of hostility,” said John Dayal, aicc Secretary General. “Specific actions like positioning adequate Central Reserve Police Forces and banning the entry of VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders from the sensitive Kandhamal District are essential.”

Dr. Joseph D’souza, aicc President, said, “The climate of intimidation and fear among Christians continues in Orissa. Although we hope the state and central authorities act to protect thousands of innocent victims and prevent future mob violence, we’re deeply worried. We are appealing for preventative action through all legal avenues.”

 Yesterday, Dec. 18, 2008, the British House of Lords held a two and a half hour debate about recent developments in India. Baroness Caroline Cox, whom aicc hosted during a fact finding trip in early November, initiated the debate and several peers spoke. John Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, said, “Patnaik, is a personal friend of mine from Delhi in the 1960s…But I have to tell Naveen that, from what I have read, neither his Government nor the Union Government in Delhi have taken sufficient action to find the perpetrators of this massacre or to protect its victims still in camps.” Excerpts of the debate are available at: http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2660/47/.

On Dec. 10, 2008, the United States Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom held a briefing titled, "The Threat Religious Extremism Poses to Democracy and Security in India: Focus on Orissa." Witnesses included Vishal Arora, an independent Indian journalist; Dr. Angana Chatterji, Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at California Institute of Integral Studies; Angela Wu, International Director at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; Sophie Richardson, Advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch's Asia Division; and Joannella Morales with the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom. The aicc briefed two of the panelists during their recent visits to India.

From Dec. 9-12, 2008, aicc coordinated briefings for a delegation of European Union representatives by Orissa’s non-governmental organisations, advocates, and both Christian and non-Christian community leaders. The delegation included officers from the embassies of Finland, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom.  Despite public assurances by Indian authorities that the rule of law has returned to Orissa, both the central and state government advised the delegation not to visit the two most affected districts: Kandhamal and Gajapati. The reason given was "the prevailing law and order situation". This meant the delegation was effectively prevented from observing the current condition of government-run relief camps and victims.

D’souza said, “We are hopeful that our great democracy can resolve these issues by itself, but at the same time we welcome the interest of nations friendly to India and citizens of goodwill from across the world who believe in human rights and religious freedom.”

According to aicc leaders and Indian media reports, there are still 8,000+ in government-run relief camps and victims don’t have adequate food and medical care. On Dec. 1, Chief Minister Patnaik told the Orissa state assembly that 4,215 houses and 252 churches or prayer halls were destroyed. The state government issued compensation checks to a few of the families who lost loved ones or houses. Fast track courts have not been started. The aicc has reliable reports that 118 people died in the violence. In October, India’s Supreme Court ordered the state government to compensate for burned churches, but no progress is reported yet. Two state-appointed investigations are ongoing. Justice (retired) Basudev Panigrahi continues to investigate the Dec. 2007 violence, and Justice (retired) Sarat Chandra Mohapatra started an inquiry into the killing of swami Saraswati and subsequent communal violence.

The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.

 

For more information, contact:

Dr. John Dayal, aicc Secretary General

catholicunion@gmail.com

+91-9811021072

 

Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs

sam@christiancouncil.in

+91-9989697778

+91-40-2786-8908

Prof Guptara Human Rights Award for John Dayal

GENEVA, SECEMBER 12, 2008
Dr John Dayal has won the Maanav Adhikaar Paaritaushik (Human Dignity Award) of Rupees One Lakh in memory of Professor M. M. Guptara.

Dr Dayal has spent his life in investigating, and then helping individual cases of human rights abuse, as well as struggling against structural human rights abuse aimed at whole groups (such as Dalits, Muslims and Christians), and fighting organised human rights abuse - for example in Vadodara and in Orissa.

At a time in our nation's history when we have been struck down from the heights by the current global crisis as well as by the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, it is important not only to celebrate the strengths and beauties of the various cultures in our country, but also to recognise individual efforts to cleanse our country of its evils.

"Over several decades, and at the cost of his own health and finances, Dr Dayal has helped people regardless of ethnicity, gender, economic status, religion or any other criterion. That is something surely worth celebrating," said Professor Prabhu Guptara.Recognising that the award is only a token, the Guptara family deeply appreciates Dr. Dayal's lifetime of exceptional efforts and service to our country.

For further information contact: Professor Guptara on prabhusguptara@gmail.com OR UK Mobile: 07799.638.785

Dr John Dayal is available for interview on (Indian) mobile: +91 11 9811021072

Christian Council tribute to Vishwanath Pratap Singh, 10th Prime Minister of India

NEW DELHI – December 4, 2008 – The leadership of the All India Christian Council (aicc) mourns the death of Mr. Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the Tenth Prime Minister of India, a friend who stood by the invisible Indian, the nation's religious minorities, and politically marginalised Dalit and lower caste communities.

Dr. Joseph D’souza, aicc President, said, “V.P. Singh ended thousands of years of disempowerment for the Other Backward Classes who constitute almost half of India's population and were deliberately kept out of the economic and political power structures. In one of the seminal political actions since India's independence in 1947, Prime Minister V.P. Singh implemented the report of the Mandal Commission in 1990. Preceding governments ignored these reforms -- which brought affirmative action to lower castes -- for fear of losing power. His bold actions unleashed the power of social justice on India's complex pluralist society.” The Commission recommended reserving 27% of jobs in the central government for Other Backward Classes who comprised 52% of the population.

Singh was too ill to speak out when the Christian community – mostly Dalits – suffered unprecedented attacks in Orissa state in December 2007 and again in August 2008, but he privately expressed his deep anguish at the ethnic and religious cleansing. Dr. John Dayal, aicc Secretary General, said, “The All India Christian Council will remember Mr. V.P. Singh as a friend of integrity whom it could call upon for support and advice in its hour of need. We will miss him.”

Singh died on Nov. 27, 2008, after battling a kidney ailment for about twelve years, according to press reports. He was 77 years old. On Nov. 29, 2008, he was cremated at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers as per Hindu tradition. Terrorist attacks in Mumbai overshadowed the death of Singh in the press, but Indian media reports called him an “anti-corruption crusader” and a “messiah of social justice” and pointed out that he headed one of the country’s first coalition governments.

Dr. Dayal, who knew Mr Singh personally over thirty years, recalled a man who marched the streets of New Delhi in January 1999. “He bravely led a massive civil society protest when a Bajrang Dal mob burnt alive Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his sons in Orissa. Since that day, Singh was often the key speaker at rallies and seminars on the protection of minority rights and freedom of faith organised by the aicc. He followed in the noble tradition of Mahatma Phule, a famous Dalit leader, and B.R. Ambedkar, the Dalit author of India’s Constitution – both whom he deeply respected and admired and who defended human rights for all.”Dayal remembered Singh as one of India’s most honest and transparent politicians in recent history, almost ascetic and spartan in public and private life. “He lived in the midst of the often murky political processes, yet Singh maintained a humane persona of an artist and a poet,” said Dayal.

Singh's lasting contribution to secular and non-sectarian democracy in India is the empowerment of an entire generation of political leaders. It is notable that, during the Mandal political reforms which Singh enacted, a backward community leader named Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav became Chief Minister of Bihar state. Mr. Yadav stopped Mr. Lal Krishna Advani's bloodstained march in 1990 to tear down a famous mosque by arresting him. It showed India that, given the political will and police cooperation, it was possible to stem the seemingly unstoppable movement of Hindutva. In the decade after he held office as Prime Minister, the politicians Singh inspired acted repeatedly to halt destructive campaigns of ultra-nationalist Hindu groups.

The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.# # #

All India Christian Council Statement on Mumbai Terrorism

HYDERABAD – December 2, 2008 – The leadership and members of the All India Christian Council (aicc) stand in solidarity with their fellow Indian citizens and the people of the many nations affected by the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Dr. John Dayal, aicc Secretary General, said, “No cause, however urgent or great, can explain or excuse such wanton bloodshed of innocents. We pray for peace to the families of the dead and for healing of the injured. The common trauma during three days of unfolding tragedy brought various nationalities, communities, and faiths closer together in a shared pain. Among the victims were Hindus and Muslims, Jews and Christians, Parsees and Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains --- not that people of compassion ever needed evidence that thoughtless violence impacts each one of our lives.”
The aicc also joins in the salute to the brave soldiers, firemen, and many unsung civilians who risked their lives so that others could live and the siege of a metropolis could end.
Terrorism of this magnitude perhaps cannot be foreseen or prevented, even though political will, administrative alacrity, adequately equipped military forces, and an informed citizenry can help minimize the death toll. The repeated bomb explosions and other manifestations of terrorism in India in recent months unfortunately expose a nation unprepared.
Dr. Joseph D’souza said, “This is an opportunity to take an incisive look at organizations and groups -- religious, political or ideological -- which target innocent people. This is especially true for common targets: religious minorities. Bomb blasts in Malegaon city and other places targeted Muslims. In Assam state, other groups were victims. Many bomb blasts targeted the general population. India, of course, cannot forget that in Orissa more than a hundred people died, thousands were injured, and tens of thousands rendered homeless. These victims were Christians, most of them Dalits or Tribals, targeted in a senseless but well-orchestrated ethnic cleansing.”
Dr. Dayal said, “The aicc expresses the gratitude of the Christian community to Indian civil society, which stood by it even as the civil administration of Orissa and the Center failed entirely in August and allowed the violence to continue for three months.”
The aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack offers a rare opportunity to express our common human identity and heritage – of peace and love. The aicc commits itself towards working for this task and invites the collaboration and cooperation of all religious and social groups to heal the wounds of the nation.
Dr. D’souza said, “Especially for India, this is also an opportunity for introspection as we respond. A people’s group or faith must not be profiled or singled out for harassment, nor should knee-jerk reactions lead to draconian laws that will erode the democratic foundations which make India stand morally higher than dictatorships and failed democracies in other continents. India needs a considered political unity, modern equipment, and training for the security forces but – more than anything – a united people.”
The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders