Inside India, Christians allege media bias in coverage of Orissa riots.
What are they talking about? It has to do with the question of Hindu-on-Christian or Hindu-Christian attacks. Look at this report on the Voice of America:
Authorities issued shoot-at-sight orders and police staged marches Wednesday in Orissa's Kandhamal District, the region worst-hit by violence between Hindus and Christians.
Or, the BBC:
Four people have been killed in armed clashes that broke out between Hindus and Christians in the Indian state of Orissa at the weekend.
Inside India, Christians strongly disagree, saying innocent Christians are being targeted and singled out for attacks. In a statement released yesterday, All India Christian Council said:
“Some people have called the violence ‘Hindu-Christian clashes’. But this is not accurate. Innocent Christians – mostly of Dalit origin – continue to be attacked by communal organizations which are mocking the rule of law. Governance in Orissa state appears to have disintegrated,” said Dr. Joseph D’souza, President of the All India Christian Council (aicc).
Christians are calling on Christian schools nationwide to close tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 29, to protest the riots and the lack of police protection. Keep reading for the full press release:
For immediate release
Massive violence against Christians continues unabated in Orissa
Christian organizations call for national shut-down of educational institutions on Friday
HYDERABAD – August 27, 2008
Violent attacks against Christians in the eastern state of Orissa continued 5th day. The Christian leaders across denominations are calling for Christian educational institutions to peacefully protest by closing schools on Friday. In positive news, a key appeal was won in the Orissa High Court this afternoon to protect victims and restore order.
“Some people have called the violence ‘Hindu-Christian clashes’. But this is not accurate. Innocent Christians – mostly of Dalit origin – continue to be attacked by communal organizations which are mocking the rule of law. Governance in Orissa state appears to have disintegrated,” said Dr. Joseph D’souza, President of the All India Christian Council (AICC).
“We call for all church and Christian educational institutions of Catholic, Protestant, Independent, and unaffiliated Christian denominations in the service of society to close for one day,” said Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs. The aicc is supporting the call from church networks -- including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, the Evangelical Fellowship of India, and the National Council of Churches in India -- to close Christian schools on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008.
A letter sent by these groups said in part:
“Communal organizations have taken the law into their hands in 12 districts of Orissa and are going about targeting not only institutions but also persons. What is at stake is not only the freedom of conscience of a minority community but India’s secular democracy, its commitment to human rights and constitutional guarantees. The destructive and divisive communal forces have to be stopped. We want this message to go across to our fellow countrymen and that is why we are closing our educational institutions on Friday, 29th August 2008 in deep sorrow and anguish. We hope parents become aware of the implications of the incidents in Orissa. We also request all our people to pray for the victims of violence in Orissa and other places and their near and dear ones. We also pray for the misguided perpetrators of violence that they may mend their ways and become responsible citizens.”
A non-sectarian group of lawyers won an important appeal in the Orissa High Court this morning. Lawyers from the Human Rights Law Network filed “Sangram Mallick vs. Union of India”, Writ Petition Civil, No. 12318 of 2008. The petitioner and his organization, Ambedkar Lohia Vichar Manch, sought rehabilitation of all victims, provision of relief, and increased protection -- including deployment of more security forces such as Central Reserve Police Forces. A division bench of the High Court in Cuttack, Orissa, including Chief Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice B.N. Mahapatra, specifically directed the state’s District Collectors to help victims return safely from hiding in the forests to their homes.
In the aftermath of the murder of a Hindu swami by unknown assailants on Aug. 23, 2008, mobs attacked the Christian community across the eastern state of Orissa. On Monday, a 12 hour strike called by hardliner Hindu nationalist organizations resulted in spreading violence. Media reports and eye witness accounts indicate about a dozen Christians were killed and thousands of Christian properties burnt. See dedicated webpage at:
http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2332/45/
From Dec. 24, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008, attacks in Kandhamal district killed at least four Christians and destroyed over 100 churches and 730 Christian homes. Several dozen women were sexually harassed and assaulted, and more than 40 shops belonging to Christians were looted and destroyed. Most of the victims were Dalits, formerly known as untouchables.
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.
Released by
Madhu Chandra
Regional Secretary, New Delhi
Posted by Tim Morgan on August 28, 2008 10:16AM
Comments
It is not the Hindus who want any interaction but it is the Christians who force their way into the majority Hindu population. Conversion has always been an unwanted behavior and the missionaries should not cry out about being helpless after provoking the majority population As is evident, the christian population has spokesmen in Vatican. If they are innocent then why these divisive voices are being heard from another country. Provocation is always followed by violence and there is no smoke without fire. If givibg Dalits a better life is the mission then it is ok but the motive to convert by helping is not selfless but selfish. We dont want such nuisance within the country.
Posted by: K.P.Bhattacharyys at August 29, 2008
I think the violence is really sad. I hope missionaries stop their work and hindu thugs stop the violence. Both activities are harmful to the country
Posted by: Chandra at August 30, 2008
Regarding closure of Christian schools: This will further weaken the Christians. Christian schools are not reporting to church. They are funded by Indian government because of the secular Indian democracy. By closing down the schools at the whims of church, secular education is being undermined. Can we ask missionaries to stop politicizing the issues please!!!
Posted by: Narayana at August 30, 2008
No genuine Christian missionary will ever try to force a conversion. And in a location where other religions are predominant, it is difficult for a person to DECIDE to become a Christian. That person has much more support for them staying in their first religion, rather than converting to a new one.
If Christianity is attractive for the Dalit caste, it is because Hindus have not followed the teachings of their own "Great Soul", Mohandes Ghandi, who named the untouchables "Dalit" in the first place, and soiled his own hands with their traditional duties.
The same Ghandi that fasted, protested and was eventually assassinated for his commitment to NON-VIOLENT resistance to foreign oppression.
And Christians should turn to their own great teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, who warned: "Those that live by the sword will die by the sword."
Ghandi admired Jesus. Although he chose not to follow Christianity, he had great respect for its founder. And many Christians have been inspired and humbled by the compassion and non-violence of Ghandi - Martin Luther King Jr comes to mind here.
Both Christians and Hindus should be joining together in Orissa in sorrow and confession and in rejecting the violence that is smearing the name of God and causing people to reject religion altogether as a superstitious enterprise that merely causes blind fanaticism.
Spirituality is the life of the soul, and God will judge those who stand in the way of people who are sincerely seeking to know Him better.
Posted by: Kent Kingston at August 30, 2008
This comment is addressed to K.P.Bhattacharyys . Stop being a bigot. Christian missionaries have as much right to preach in India as Hindu missionaries have the right here in the West. Freedom of religion involves choice. Just as some people in the West choose to become Hindu's, so too have many Indians chosen to become Christians. We need a world without sectarian violence where religious freedom is respected.
The hard line Hindu organizations fomenting violence against Christians are facist. They are behaving like Moslem jihadi groups and like the medieval monks who fomented riots against Jews. God will judge all such actions in the World to Come. Sadly, such sectarian violence based on nationality, religion and social class is increasing in the world and might be a sign of the End Times, but even so, we should strive to turn away from such hatred as shown against the Christians of Orissa by radical Hindus. No one in my town is attacking local Hindus or torching their temple, they are welcome here, so should Christians be welcomed in India; especially when they are converts who were rejected by Indian society under that horrible and satanic caste system.
Posted by: Daniel Good at August 31, 2008
I am a Hindu yet I am confused about my religion, is it religion of hate or love, I am sorry that I was born Hindu. Hinduism has never been this in the past. Our Hindu fanatic groups should be banned. As far as I know Many Hindus are in other countries preaching about Hinduism, and no one bothers them. My question will be aren't they converting the Christians in the west into Hinduism. I am all eager to know Christianity and I will accpet it now, even though for many years I hated it. But by what my Hindu brothers are doing, I feel that I don't have to fear them.
Posted by: Parmesh Nautiyal at August 31, 2008
To Mr. Parmesh Nautiyal. We are all saddened by these violent actions. Jesus himself was persecuted and killed.He predicted all who follow him will suffer persecution. However he said "rejoice for great is your reward in heaven". Please read the bible especially the New testament. There you will find the truth about Christ and believing in Him you will find God's plan for your life and salvation in Jesus Christ. If you need help talk to Christian or a Christian minister. God bless you.
Posted by: Emmanuel at September 1, 2008
India is a country of peace, unity and love. Everyone has the freedom of choice here. God cannot be mocked. One day he will avenge the death of his beloved ones. And then you will realize the truth but it may be too late for it. So repent when you are in the grace period.
Posted by: jeath at September 1, 2008
As many commentators have noted, the violence is almost certainly being propelled by the Dalit empowerment, and the Christian Church is the instrument of this change. (See comments by Father Thomas Palliphanem in the Deccan Herald on Saturday). Joseph D'souza's blog says much the same as does the Dalit Freedom Network.
Along with many others, I will be praying for everyone in this situation.
Posted by: LD at September 5, 2008
Isn't it odd that the two Goliath of religions Christianity and Islam are the ones constantly suffering from Persecution complex.
The Christian Missionaries went about mass conversion..and this Hindu swami did the same and reconverted them back to Hinduism. He was killed. Guess who killed him and why? Then there is the backlash.
Reep what you sow!.
Posted by: Manny at September 5, 2008
To Manny: how ill informed you are. The Maoist rebels have repeatedly stated that they were responsible for the murder of the Hindu Swami.
As has previously been pointed out, if there was true freedom of choice in religion there would be no issue here. As Father Palliphanem noted in the Deccan Herald last Saturday, the issue is Dalit empowerment, and the Christian church is being seen as the vehicle for that.
The Christian community is persecuted (whether or not you choose to recognise it as such) because in Christ the Dalit's are treated as equals. If there are some who find that so distasteful that they feel they must resort to the kind of appalling targeted violence that is resulting in up 20,000 Indian christians hiding out in refugee camps and elsewhere, that is an issue that the Hindu leadership need to address honestly.
Posted by: LD at September 6, 2008
The conversion phenomenon needs to be seen in a larger context.Why there should be conversion of religious faith if the missionaries are selfless??.I have seen a fellow Indian commenting in Times of India that the Hinduism is a dying religion and it is a Myth.These kind of crooked mentality certain section of our society maintain and then they preach peace and co-existance!!!.IT IS VERY MUCH EVIDENT THE WHOLE PURPOSE BEHIND THIS CONVERSION PHENOMENA IS TO GAIN MORE AND MORE POLITICAL CULT AND THEREBY INCREASE THE BARGAINING POWER IN THE POLITICS IN INDIA.ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE. I would also like to say, the person who opined about Hinduism as a Myth should disown his forefathers if they are Indians!.
PEOPLE INCLUDING ME ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE FACTS AND FIGURES OF THIS RELIGIOUS GAME PLAN HAPPENING IN MY COUNTRY AND WHAT IS THE REASON BEHIND IT.INDIA BECAME A COUNTRY RUN BY SELFISH,CROOKED PSEUDO SECULARISTS...AND I AM VERY MUCH SURE THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED.IF THERE IS A POINT WHEN THEY SUCCEED, THERE WILL BE AN UPRISING IN THIS COUNTRY.
I ALSO CALL UP ON THE NATIONALISTS TO STRIVE FOR A BETTER FURTURE OF OUR COUNTRY...HAVE A UNIFIED APPROACH TO UPLIFT THE POORER SECTION OF OUR CITIZENS SO THAT THEY CAN'T BE EXPLOITED BY THE FORIEGNERS AND PSEUDO SECUALRISTS IN OUR COUNTRY.IMPLEMENT THE UNIFORM CIVIL CODE, SHED THE BULLSHIT CASTE AND CREED, MAKE THE POOR LITERATE, DEMOLISH BLOODY QUOTA SYSTEM, ROOT OUT THE CORRUPTION SO THAT OUR SYSTEM TREAT EVERYONE EQUALLY, ALL RELIGION.
IF THE MISSIONERIES LOVE PEACE , HARMONY & CO-EXISTANCE THEY SHOULD NOT TRY TO CHANGE THE BALANCE IN EXISTING NATURAL RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS.OTHERWISE THEY WILL FACE BACKLASH.TRADITIONALY INDIA WELCOMED ALL RELIGIONS AND TODAY WE AS A NATION PAYS THE PRICE FOR IT.
IN INDIA SECULARISM MEAN – ANYBODY CAN COME IN AND RAPE OUR NATION….IT STARTED WITH MUGHALS, ARABS, PERSIANS, PORTUGESE, FRENCH, BRITISH…THEN THE LATEST BY CHINESE (1962 & ANYTIME SOON AGAIN!)…. AND THE LIST CONTINUES TO GROW!!!!….
THANKS TO PSEUDO-SECULARISTS IN INDIA.
THANKS TO SUCCEFULL VOTE BANK POLITICS OF GANDHI DYNASTY, TODAY INDIA IS MORE DIVIDED THAN ANYTIME BEFORE.
Posted by: Renjith Nair at September 6, 2008
I absolutely agree that poorer sections of society should recieve more help and support than they do, and not just in India.
But (and there is no need to shout) faith is a personal matter and should not be confused with political agenda - from any side. But it is not the western christians who are 'paying the price' for this personal faith choice - it is the poor (who are making this choice) who are 'paying the price'. They do not deserve to be hounded and terrorised, blackmailed and threatened and killed, and no amount of anger about the personal choices of those who have no freedom in the faith of their birth, will not change the fact that they seek freedom both in faith and in their earthly lives.
blessings
Posted by: LD at September 8, 2008
Christians can do social work without conversion. What is the need to convert? Everybody knows christainity spread in Europe bcoz of Christaian crusade... miilions died in those. Those who didn't believe in Jesus were tortured and killed.. India has always welcomed every religion and we are paying the price for it now... The modern form is christian conversion... If christains know to respect local religion and dont try to change the demographics there won't be any violence. Hindus have every right to complain about conversion... None of the muslim coutries allow conversion or even allow missionaries to work. I would also like to add that I am not an upper caste hindu.
Posted by: contactall at September 10, 2008
India is a secular country. All religions have a place in it. All religions cannot be equally good. If a Hindu has the right to spread his way of life, the Christian has the right to spread his Faith. A Christian can have his criteria and way of life. Tribals in india are not Hindus. They are animists. They have the right to embrace Christianity when they find there a vision of life and of love. Christianity will proclaim its vision of life anywhere in the world. Christians have changed the face of our country. No Religion should preach hatred and destruction. Christianity does not aim at political hegemony but at revolution of love through Love. A civilization of love is to be created in our country. There is dehumanizing, oppressing in India. Empowerment of women and of dalits is a must. It is the programme of Christianity. If people embrace Christianity, then it is their right. Christians work not as philanthropists, but as people of God, with Faith in Jesus who revealed God to humanity. It belongs to all countries and cultures.
Let us live in peace and continue to do good... Let the missionaries continue to do their work with their vision of faith and love...
Posted by: Ivo da C.Souza at September 10, 2008
I'm a converted Christan, privileged to know about Christ and being made worthy for His Kingdom , by His precious blood.
To every one who posted the comments, let me remind that Christianity spread from a group of cowardice disciples who desetred Christ when he was crucified and later on the day of Pentecost was empowered by the Holy Spirit, who the took the Gospel to thje ends of the earth, No power of hell could ever stop tjhe Gospel, In fact History is testimony to the fact that great harvest of souls in any land was preceeded by martyrdom. So what's happening in India and Orissa are just a precedence to the the satanic worship being wiped out in Orissa and people coming to the Cross of Salvation in Mass numbers,
Wake up Orissa!! It;s your time!! Blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church !! Expect a great Harvest in Orissa and many parts of India !
Posted by: Mohandas at October 28, 2008
Post a comment