Granting Immunity for Hate Attacks – Orissa State, India

December 2008
In October we issued an action regarding a wave of attacks committed by Hindu extremists in the north part of India against the local Christian community. This followed an appeal from the Church of North India, a partner church of the Uniting Church in Australia, for support from the Uniting Church and other churches in the face of the attacks.

It is reported that at least 67 Christians were murdered in the violence. These victims included:
•    Rasananda Pradhan who was murdered in Rupagaon, near Chakapada on 24 August. He was a paraplegic and could not escape to the forest with the other villagers.
•    Rajni Majh, a worker at Pamdampur Orphanage in Khuntapali village, Padampur and several children were burnt to death on Monday 25 August. Rajni was dragged outside, her hands were tied together and she was thrown onto a fire.
•    Gopana Naik of Badimunda village.
•    Kamalini Naik (seven months pregnant) and her one year old son.
•    Pastor Samuel Nayak (45 years old) a Seventh Day Pastor at Bakingia village of Raikia block was murdered on the 26 August. The attackers also set his mother on fire, murdering her. His wife went to Raikia police station, but the police failed to register the case.
•    Jaka Digal (aged 35) of Petangia
•    Gopa Naik (aged 40) of Mandakia
•    Abhimanyu Nayak burnt alive on 29 August in Kandhmal
•    Pastor Akbar Digal who was beheaded for refusing to become a Hindu
•    Pastor Matthew Naik from Kanbagiri

There continues to be worrying reports that the government of Orissa State, where most of the violence has occurred, is failing to take appropriate action to bring those responsible for the violence to justice. There are also allegations that the Orissa Government is hindering investigations that the Federal Government of India is attempting to carry out into the case in which a nun was raped and also into the burning of orphanages. The Orissa Government has stated that there will not be any compensation for churches that were attacked and destroyed by the violence.

There have been allegations from the All-India Christian Council that “People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties. They are being offered foreign liquor, chicken, mutton and weapons. They are given petrol and kerosene.”

There are media reports (The Australian 20 Nov 2008) that Hindu extremists are threatening to launch a fresh wave of violence starting on Christmas day.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Write polite and respectful letters to (a letter to India will cost $1.40 using a stamp with ‘International Post’ on it):

Dr Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
Room No 152
South Block
New Delhi, 110001
India
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

Smt Pratibha Patil
Honorable President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi, 1100001
India
E-mail: presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
Salutation : Madam President

Shri P. Chidambaram
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
North Block
Central Secretariat
New Dehli 110 001
India
Salutation: Dear Minister

Her Excellency Mrs. Sujatha Singh
High Commissioner of India
The High Commission of India
3/5 Moonah Place
Yarralumla, ACT, 2600
Email: hc@hcindia-au.org
Salutation: Your Excellency

Points to make in your letter:

•    Express concern at the attacks that were made against the Christian community in Orissa state from the end of August and through September that resulted in at least 67 murders and tens of thousands of people being forced to flee their homes.
•    Welcome the announcements by the Indian Federal Government to put an end to such attacks and to provide assistance to those who have been forced to flee their homes.
•    Express deep concerns at reports that the government of Orissa State is hindering investigation into identifying those responsible for the attacks.
•    Request to know how many people have been arrested in relation to the violence, how many have been brought to trial and how many have been convicted.
•    Ask that the Federal authorities investigate the murder of Swami Laxmananda through an independent Supreme Court judge, noting that the murder of Swami Laxmananda was used as the excuse for the attacks on the Christian community despite the fact that Maoist guerillas claimed responsibility for the murder.
•    Express concern at reports that extremists have threatened to launch a fresh wave of attacks starting on 25 December and ask what steps are being taken to prevent the carrying out of such criminal activity.
•    Ask that the Indian authorities take immediate and effective action to provide all necessary support to people who have been forced to flee their homes to ensure their health and well-being and to provide them with adequate compensation to rebuild their homes.
•    Ask that relief agencies and Indian churches be allowed free access to provide humanitarian relief to those who have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the persecution they have been subjected to.
•    Ask that Indian authorities provide adequate protection to allow people to return to their homes in safety and to protect these people from further attacks.

Also write to:

The Hon Stephen Smith
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT, 2600
Salutation: Dear Minister
Points to make in your letter:

•    Welcome the approaches the Minister and the Australian Government have made in response to the wave of violent attacks against the Christian community in Orissa State and other parts of northern India in the period from late August through September.
•    Express concern at reports that extremists have threatened to launch a fresh wave of attacks starting on 25 December. Ask that the Australian Government urge the Government of India to take all necessary measures to prevent such attacks.
•    Request to know if Australia has raised any specific cases of Christians murdered in the violence in Orissa and if it has been able to identify if anyone has been arrested and brought to trial over any of the murders that occurred.
•    Express concern at reports that the State Government of Orissa is hindering investigations into identifying those responsible for the wave of criminal violence against the Christian community in that state.

Also – see easy online action

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