Gujarat Christians Seek Justice for Orissa Brethren

Gujarat United Christian Forum Seeks Justice for Orissa Brethren

From Ahmedabad, ICNS reports:

Denouncing religion-based violence in Orissa, thousands of Christians demonstrated in Gujarat, the state that has witnessed some of the fierce Hindu-Muslim riots in the country.

Christians of various denominations gathered in Ahmedabad on Tuesday evening in a silent demonstration, wearing black ribbons. They condemned all religion based violence, including the murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati.

The rally organized by the Gujarat United Christian Forum for Human Rights started from Church of North India’s church in Victoria Garden. It terminated at Mount Carmel Cathedral Mirzapur.

Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, Director of Prashant, a centre for human rights in Ahmedabad, led the peace rally. A memorandum was presented to the Governor of Gujarat, addressed to governor of Orissa, President of India, Prime Minister and several other leaders urging them to take action against on going violence in Orissa.

The memorandum condemned attack on the minority community as an attack on India’s secular fabric and urged authorities to take action to stop the violence in Orissa that has claimed several lives.

Father Prakash wanted the authorities to investigate the violence, find culprits behind the attack and take stern legal action against them.

The priest said blaming the Christian community for these murders without evidence and unleashing a reign of terror on the villagers is completely unjustified.

Violence in Orissa started after a Hindu leader Saraswati was gunned down on Aug. 23 night there along with his four associates. Maoists reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings the next day.

But Hindu radicals allege gunmen hired by Christians murdered their spiritual leader, a charge all Christian groups have denied. The 85-year Hindu leader, based in Kandhamal district, had for several decades opposed conversions to Christianity.

Bengal Christians Take Out Protest Rally

In Bengal, a United Christian Forum Holds a Protest Rally

KRISHNAGAR, West Bengal, SEPT. 02, 2008, 16.30 Hrs (CBCI News): The Nadia District Committee of Bangiya Christiya Parisheba, a united forum of Christians of all denominations, held a protest rally here, against the recent violence in Orissa state where around 12 Christians were allegedly killed and churches and Christian institutions torched by Hindu religious fanatics.

Thousands of students studying in Christian schools in Nadia district, their parents and members of the Christian community joined the rally August 29, holding black flags and placards expressing their protest. All Christian schools remained closed.

Later, Bishop Joseph Soren Gomes of Krishnagar conducted a condolence prayer.

Speakers at the rally condemned the barbaric attacks on the life of innocent Christians, their houses, convents, shops and hostels in Orissa.

They also appealed to the Centre and the state government of Orissa to take necessary measures to prevent loss of lives and properties.

The Parisheba forwarded a memorandum to the Chief Minister and Governor of Orissa to take immediate steps in this regard.

The rally started at Krishnagar Cathedral and ended at St. John's C.M.S. High School ground. There are about 40 Christian missionary schools in the district.

50,000 Christians Hiding in the Forest

Citizen's Delegation Meets Indian President Pratibha Patil

Tells President 50,000 Christians Hiding in Forests of Orissa from Maraudng Hindutva mobs, 4,000 Houses Burnt

New Delhi, September 1, 2008

Highlights:

• Citizen's Delegation meets President Pratibha Patil; Demands that Indian Government use Article 355 to force Orissa administration to protect Christians
• Violence continues even now, President is told by delegation led by Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, Maulana Mahmood Madani, MP, and Orissa Archbishop Cheenath.
• 300 villages burnt, 4,014 houses destroyed, 50,000 Christians hiding in Forests in a week

PRESS NOTE

A Citizens Delegation met President Pratibha Patil on Monday morning calling upon her to enforce Article 355 of the Constitution of India on Orissa so that the Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik administration takes adequate measures to protect Christians in the state from Hindutva violence..

The best legal opinion available to the delegation held that while Article 356 calls for imposition of President’s rule when New Delhi takes over reins of power, Article 355 reminds both New Delhi and state governments of their duties to protect States against internal disturbance and should be brought into force now.

The delegation reminded the President that the violence that has continued against Christians in Orissa from 23rd August till today justifies the use of this Article. The violence far exceeds that of Christians 2007, the delegation told the President, reminding her that she had a big role to play at this juncture..

In fact, violence has spilled out of Orissa into neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. In Orissa, It is not confined to Kandhamal but has affected other districts. In Kandhamal, fifty thousand people are hiding in forests or are in a few refugee camps, hiding from murderous gangs seeking to kill them or convert them to Hinduism, Over 4,000 houses have been completely destroyed apart from now close to a hundred small and big churches which have been torched.

The Citizen’s delegation, the first such to meet the President, was led by film maker Mahesh Bhatt and Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani, MP, National Integration Council member Dr John Dayal, Orissa Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, Delhi Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Maharashtra Government State Minorities Commission vice chairman Dr Abraham Mathai, Jamiat leader Mohd Faruqi, Al India Christian Council regional secretary Rev Madhu Chandra, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese Federation President Adv Jenis Francis and Mumbai’s Catholic Social Forum secretary general Joseph Dias were the other members.

The President gave the delegation a patient hearing and said she would have their demand for Article 355 examined. She said the government had briefed her on steps, which had already been taken. Mr. Bhatt told the President that the State government was in a coma; its police totally complicit in the violence and the Sangh Parivar was running havoc.

Maulana Madani said it was a matter of security of India’s minorities. It was India’s concern for its minorities that had brought it respect internationally, and it was the object of deep concern globally.

Archbishop Cheenath, Dr John Dayal and Dr Mathai briefed the President in detail about the Sangh violence in the state which has continued after the murder of the VHP vice President Lakshmanananda Saraswati.

Following are excerpts from the Memorandum Citizen’s Memorandum to the President of India:

September 1, 2008

Shrimati Pratibha Patil
The President of India

Your Excellency,

You are aware of the still continuing carnage against the Christian community, mostly Dalits and Tribals, in the Kandhamal district of Orissa and in several other districts including the state capital of Bhubaneswar since 23rd August 2003 following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, reportedly by Maoist groups who have been operating in the state for some time. The violence has now spread to some other states, especially Madhya Pradesh.

Nine months after attacks in Kandhamal District on Christians of Dalit, Hill peoples and Tribal ethnicity celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we are deeply saddened by a repeat of the violence in the month of India’s Independence. The Christmas 2007 attacks claimed the lives of at least four Christians, and we verified the destruction of at least 105 churches and 730 Christian homes. The current spate of violence will exceed these totals as it continues to spread into other districts. Our estimate from Ground Zero is of close to two dozen people dead, one a Hindu girl burnt to death working for a Christian orphanage, a Nun has been gang raped, religious men and women personnel humiliated, beaten, tortured, some close to death, while policemen have looked on, or have been absent.

We appeal for the restoration of law and order. But the root cause must also be addressed.

We, the secular civil society community, perceive that the great nation of India is at a tipping point. The groups, which favour a “Hindu Rashtra”, have made Orissa their laboratory, as they earlier did Gujarat. The so-called saffronisation of the state has been the subject of well-documented academic and socio-political studies.

We entreat you, as President of the Republic, to enforce the rule of law upon Sangh Parivar organisations which blatantly flaunt their divisive agenda. Specifically, we call upon you to bring the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, and Bajrang Dal under the rule of law.

As Orissa authorities have repeatedly said there was ample circumstantial evidence of Maoist involvement in the killing of VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four others on August 23rd.

Additionally, someone who identified himself as Azad, a leader of Maoist outfit, People's Liberation Guerrilla Army claim responsibility for the killing as Times of India carries the news on August 30 referring to an interview with a leading Oriya daily on August 29.[1] Yet Praveen Togadia, VHP general secretary, told an international journalist on August 27, “It is clear that the church killed the Swami.”[2] Gouri Prasad Rath, Orissa state VHP secretary, said, “This attack is the handiwork of the Christians.”[3] Subhash Chavan, national co-convener of the Bajrang Dal, said, “The police are trying to hide the truth by blaming the Maoists.”[4] An unnamed RSS spokesperson said, “This is an attack by the agents of Christian missionaries, whose attempts at forcible conversions the Swamiji countered.”[5] RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav told CNN IBN on Tuesday night[6] that Christians were behind the murders. Perhaps based on a media report[7], Madhav The final word lay with RSS supreme Kupahalli Sudershan who in a Press Statement faxed to the Media called the late VHP vice President a martyr for “stopping Christians from carrying on coversions.”

These types of irresponsible statements must be met with the full force of the law. They are all culpable for penal action under IPC 295A for the crime of creating enmity between communities and religions. This would benefit not only Orissa, but the nation.

We sincerely wish Swami Saraswati was not murdered and he still might be alive if the state government had followed the recommendations of the National Commission for Minorities. The NCM urged the authorities to examine the speeches of Swami Lakshmanananda to determine whether they amount to incitement to violence.[8][9] We are confident that, if this had been done, the swami would have been jailed and protected from coming to any harm.

Your Excellency, the violence in Orissa continues without adequate police forces to stop mobs which break curfew and harm innocent civilians, chasing our fellow countrymen and women like animals in the forests where they have taken refuge since August 24. Today the irresponsible leaders of hardliner Hindu nationalist groups are damaging our great democracy and secularism of the nation.

We request you to order the Union Government and the State Administration to take legal action against the irresponsible organisations which called the bundh on Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 and have passively watched their members wreak havoc. They must, of course, fully investigate the murder of the VHP vice President.

This is to request you to use your powers as President of India, and the tremendous force of your good offices, to impress on the Central Government to rush adequate Union forces, including contingents of the Armed Forces if required, to restore law and order and governance in the Kandhamal region.

The consequences of any further delay, we the secular civil society fear, may be catastrophic for the small Christian community in the State in particular, for peace in Orissa in general, and for the fair name of India as a secular country.

Footnotes:

1. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Maoists_claim_Orissa_killing/articleshow/3423908.cms

2. “Indian state erupts in violence after Hindu shot”, by Saeed Ahmed, CNN, Aug. 27, 2008.

3. “Orissa on edge, VHP scoffs at Maoist theory”, see above

4. “Orissa tragedy takes a backseat, hunt starts for scapegoat”, by Soumyajit Pattnaik, Hindustan Times, Aug. 25, 2008.

5. “Orissa: Bandh-related violence claims 9,” by Krishnakumar P., Rediff.com, Aug. 26, 2008.

6. “Blind Faith? Fragile Peace Blown to Bits”, CNN-IBN debate, Aug. 26, 2008, 10 p.m. IST.

7. “Widespread anger in Kandhamal”, The Pioneer, Aug. 25, 2008.

8. “This mischievous [VHP & Sangh Parivar anti-conversion] campaign has created an atmosphere of prejudice and suspicion against the Christian community and Christian priests and organizations. The role of the Sangh Parivar activists and the anti-conversion campaign in fomenting organized violence against the Christian Community deserves close scrutiny.” From “Report of the NCM visit to Orissa, 6-8 January 2008”, http://ncm.nic.in/pdf/orissa%20report.pdf.

9. “The recommendation made by the NCM team that visited Orissa in January, 2008 that the State Government must look into the speeches of Swami Lakshmanananda to determine whether they amount to incitement to violence does not appear to have been acted upon.” From “Report on the Visit of the Vice Chairperson, NCM to Orissa, 21-24 April 2008”, http://ncm.nic.in/pdf/VC%20Tour%20Report%20of%20Orissa.pdf

In Karwar, 5000 Catholics Join Silent Protest Rally

5,000 Catholics from the South Indian Diocese of Karwar Take Part in a Silent Protest Rally

Bishop Derek Fernandes Submits a Memorandum

5,000 Catholics led by Bishop Derek Fernandes of Karwar in silent procession.

A protest rally was organized by the Catholics of Karwar on Monday, September 01, 2008 at St. Joseph's school grounds, Kajubag, Karwar. About 5000 Catholics from the parishes in Karwar taluk gathered at the school grounds at 10:30 a.m. and proceeded in silent procession through the main streets of Karwar to the Office premises of the Deputy Commissioner, led by the Most Rev. Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar and the priests and religious of Karwar deanery.

The entire procession was in silence, holding banners and placards with the messages condemning the atrocities on the innocent Christians in Orissa and calling for peace and harmony among people of all religions.

The procession converged into a rally in front of the D.C. office and Bishop Derek Fernandes read out the memorandum endorsed with signatures of more than 3000 Catholics, and then handed over to the Deputy Commissioner, who assured to forward it to the Government for necessary action.

Bishop Derek submitting the memorandum bearing the signature of more than 3000 Catholics.

The following is the text of the Memorandum:

To the Deputy Commissioner, Uttar Kannada, Karwar.

Sir,

You are aware of the ongoing atrocities being perpetrated on the helpless and innocent minority Christian community in Orissa. Certain fundamentalist and communal elements are targeting the Christian community, resorting to vandalism, looting, killing and destroying property.

We condemn the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his associates. But targeting innocent people as vengeance does not stand to reason. Instead of catching and punishing the wrong doers and criminals, innocent minority Christians are attacked and grievously injured destroying their life, limb and property. In any case violence of any kind cannot be justified for any reason whatsoever.

It is evident that the Government of Orissa and the civil administration has failed to provide the protection to the minority Christian community guaranteed in our constitution. Since the violence and terror are still continuing unabated, it appears that these fundamental and communal elements are operating with the connivance and tacit support of the local administration at the place.

We the Christians of Uttar Kannada district express our solidarity and concern with our victimized Christian brothers and sisters in Orissa and condemn the atrocities perpetrated by the communal and fundamentalist elements. Therefore we request your good self to kindly convey our fears and anxieties to the Government of Karnataka to take up the same with the Government of Orissa for suitable remedial action and immediate relief to our oppressed and unfortunate Christian brothers and sisters in Orissa.

Thanking you,

Bishop Derek Fernandes

and the Christians of Uttar Kannada district.

The protest rally was well covered by the press and television media persons.

Bishop Derek Responding to questions from media persons

To their question about the directive of the Karnataka Education Minister to issue notices to the school managements for closing down the Catholic schools on Friday, 29th August, the Bishop replied, "That itself is another form of atrocity on the Christian minority. Instead of sympathizing with us and condemning the atrocities committed on the innocent minority Christians, our very right of protest is being questioned. We are less than 2 per cent minority in our Country, and if we do not sympathize with our suffering brothers and sisters and protest, who else will do it?"

Similar protest rallies and processions were held in Kumta, Honavar, Sirsi, Yellapur, Haliyal and Joida talukas in the diocese by the Catholics of the respective deaneries under the leadership of the clergy-religious and the Catholic Association and memoranda were submitted to the respective tahsildars.

Fr. Thomas Misquith
Karwar

Vijayawada Christians Protest Orissa Violence, Submit Memorandum

In Solidarity with the Orissa Christians...

Sr. Benigna Menezes, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Christians took to the streets in protest against the spiralling violence, demanding protection for Christians in Orissa after closing down all the Church run institutions in Vijayawada, Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh on Friday, August 29, 2008

Over 3000 people marched with banners in their hands, shouting slogans and demanding justice to the Christians in the country as they submitted a memorandum to the sub-collector of the Krishna District who resides in Vijayawada city in the wake of the Orissa violence.

"We condemn in unequivocal terms the incidents of burning people alive and vandalizing the property of Christian community in Orissa by Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists, and armed attacks on Churches in Orissa," Vicar General Monsignor Chinnappa said in his speech on the PWD grounds where the rally assembled after a two hour walk in the main streets of the city.

The priest also stated that these attacks are against the human rights and human freedom and compromises the climate of mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence of the citizens.

A delegation of Christian leaders lead by the local Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu had submitted a memorandum a few days ago to the collector demanding CBI inquiry into the killings of Christians.

The Bishop had also issued an appeal to all the Parishes and Catholic organisms to join the Friday rally in protest of the violence meted to the local Christian community in Orissa.

Fr. John, SJ director of the Kaladarshini unit of the Andhra Loyola College read out the memorandum which listed the atrocities in Orissa against Christians and demanded that immediate efforts be made to rehabilitate the victims of vandalism and that the families of the victims may be compensated adequately.

Sources from Kandhamal district said hundreds of Christians along with their families have fled to the nearby forests to save their lives in the rainy climate and are without shelter, food and clothing

The memorandum sought CBI inquiry in the entire incidents and punishments to the culprits who masterminded the mayhem and terrorized the tribals and poor of the area.

The priest also sought immediate restoration of peace and harmony and law enforcement in the life of the districts.

Hundreds of nuns and priests, teachers and professionals along with the city youth from various colleges and institutions carrying slogans seeking justice, and religious freedom marched out from the two Cathedrals of the city of Vijayawada.

The Parishioners from the 12 city Parishes too joined the march quitting the jobs on this black Friday supporting the cause of the Church and demanding justice to the Christian minority.

"We should have more rallies like this so that we can make our presence felt in this city" said Mr. Prasad, a Catholic who works as a driver.

The peace loving and law abiding Christian citizens are not recognized in this country in–spite of their great contribution to health, education, and social service, lamented Sr. Rosy, MSI a city school counselor.

What crime have we committed to receive so much neglect and persecution? Why there is so much hatred?, asked another speaker of the rally.

CSI Bishop of the Protestant Church and other heads and members of the Christian denominations too closed their institutions and joined the rally and voiced their concerns on the stage.

Fr. Emmanuel,SSP, the President of the Conference of the Religious of the diocese who helped to organiz the rally along with Ecclesiastical diocesan authorities said that he was impressed about the number who participated in the march.

"This is going to make an impression which will last for a long time in the memory of the city", he said.

"A collection would be made towards the victims of the Orissa violence soon after the rally and the money would be sent through the CRI to the affected", said Fr. Emmanuel to the Press persons.

He had called an emergency meeting of the heads of the Catholic institutions, CRI officials and other Church leaders to discuss the CBCI call of solidarity to the Christians in Orissa on August 28.

Sr. Theresa, FMM Principal of Maris Stella College was too willing to co-operate and show solidarity to the cause though it cost the institution heavy losses to close down the college for a day, she stated.

Fr. Emmanuel, SJ participated in the preliminary meeting called by the local CRI had readily agreed to the proposal to down the shutters on the college and offered all possible support and assistance in making the rally a success.

"There were many reports of Christians being pulled from their homes and killed or beaten, with many homes of Christians torched. It makes me feel very much worried", said a CSI Pastor who participated in the rally on Friday.

CBCI Submits Memorandum to Prime Minister

Memorandum Submitted To Hon'ble Prime Minister By The CBCI Delegation

NEW DELHI, AUG. 28, 2008, 18.00 Hrs: CBCI Delegation met Hon’ble Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today at 6.30 pm at New Delhi. The Delegation briefed him with the situation in Kandhamal district of Orissa and requested his for immediate intervention. Most Rev. Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi, Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath, Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswhar, Rev. Thomas D’Aquino Sequeira, Dy. Secretary General, CBCI, Rev. Dr. Babu Joseph, SVD, Spokesperson, CBCI, Bishop Samson Dass, Bishop of Cuttack- CNI, Bishop Sunil Kumar Singh, Bishop of Church of North India, Ms. Sushma Ramaswami, Vice-President, NCCI Submitted the Memorandum to Hon'ble Pime Minister.

Following is the full text of the Memorandum submitted to Hon’ble Prime Minister by the CBCI Delegation :-

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
7, Race Course Road
New Delhi-110001 August 28, 2008

Subject: Earnest request for your immediate intervention in Kandhamal District of Orissa which is again witnessing violence against the Christian community.

Hon'ble Prime Minister Ji,

We are sad to note that Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati and five others were murdered on Saturday, August 23, 2008 allegedly by a Maoist group in Kandhamal Dist of Orissa. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and the Church leaders in Orissa and other parts of the country have condemned the killing of Swami Lakshmananda Sarswati and his associates in the Ashram. We have also appealed for peace and harmony in the State.

However, we are extremely sorry to find that some organizations have pointed finger at the Christian community in Orissa for the alleged murder of the Swami and his associates. Consequently, there have been unprovoked attacks on Christians and their institutions in Kandhamal and surrounding areas.

We are pained and shocked at the merciless killings and unabated violence against the Christians all over the State of Orissa. While the Christian leaders have condemned the heinous crime perpetrated on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his associates in the Ashram at Kandhamal District, Orissa, the killings of and atrocities against Christians are the evil designs of the fanatic fundamentalists. They are still continuing the violence and the State Government has failed to protect the Christians and other innocent people.

The Christians in the State are living in continual tension and great fear. The law and order machinery is not at their rescue and they are living in pathetic conditions for the last four days. The houses, churches and prayer halls have to be rebuilt and a sense of security has to be restored in the hearts of Christians and other affected people. This is the greatest disaster in the history of a Christian community in India and more so in Orissa.

OUR FEAR:

Even though the Government has been assuring us all protection the fundamentalists are moving about with lethal weapons threatening the Christians.
The fundamentalists go on their destructive activities even in the presence of the police men. The police says that they are unable to face such unruly mob. The destruction goes on unabated.

The Christians who are already attacked and those who are in great panic of being attacked, feel with sufficient reason that they are left to the mercy of the fundamentalists.

We do not see anywhere sufficient number of policemen and the senior police officers for maintenance of law and order have expressed their inability to control the situation in absence of adequate force.

The fundamentalists are forcing the Christians to leave their homes and to take refuge in the forests and even to leave the State. As a consequence there are sixty thousand refugees in the State.

The aim of the fundamentalist groups is to drive the Christians away from the region as it is evident from the slogan they are shouting at Christians and the anti-inflammatory statements made by them.

Most of the priests, pastors and religious men and women in Kandhamal are hiding in the forest to save their lives. In fact, the fundamentalists are in search of their hide-outs.

We are in receipt of information from various Churches and institutions that the miscreants are still active and the destruction of property is still going on rampant and Christians are under fierce attack. On the other hand, the innocent Christians are frightened and Christian officials are victimized as an outcome of the constant attacks.

In view of the facts stated above we demand the following:

1. That a CBI enquiry be ordered for proper and impartial investigation for justice.

2. That Central Para-Military Forces/ Army be deployed in adequate strength at all the affected and sensitive places to prevent any further recurrences as the local police has not been able to control the situation.

3. That impartial and proper assessment of the property damage caused to various Churches, Christian institutions, individuals and other establishments be made and given adequate compensation as early as possible in view of proper rehabilitation.

4. That adequate compensation be given to the families of the deceased and inured persons.

5. That the culprits responsible for creating communal disharmony and damage caused to the people and properties should be severely dealt with and those Government officials found wanting or negligent in their duties be taken to task.

6. That a law be enacted after the manner of SC Atrocities (Prevention) Act, in order to restrain such heinous communal crimes which have become so common in India.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-
Most Rev. Vincent Concessao
Archbishop of Delhi

Sd/-
Most Rev. Raphael Cheenath
Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswhar

Sd/-
Rev. Thomas D’Aquino Sequeira
Dy. Secretary General, CBCI

Sd/-
Rev. Dr. Babu Joseph, SVD
Spokesperson, CBCI

Sd/-
Bishop Samson Dass
Bishop of Cuttack- CNI

Sd/-
Bishop Sunil Kumar Singh
Bishop of Church of North India

Sd/-
Ms. Sushma Ramaswami
Vice-President, NCCI

Orissa Violence: Mangalore Submits Memorandum

Mangalore Church Submits Memorandum Against Orissa Violence

A South Indian Diocese in the State of Karnataka has submitted a memorandum against the atrocities on Christians in Orissa. The Memorandum addressed to Sri Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Orissa and Sri Shivraj Patil, Home Minister of the Government of India through the Deputy Commissioner of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka was submitted in the name of the Bishop of Mangalore, Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D'Souza by Rev. Fr. Henry Sequeira, Chancellor and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese as the Bishop is under medical treatment. The full text of the Memorandum follows:

29 August 2008

MEMORANDUM

To:
Hon'ble Sri Naveen Patnaik
Chief Minister, Orissa
Bhuvaneswar,
ORISSA

Hon'ble Sri Shivaraj Patil
Home Minister,
Government of India
NEW DELHI

Through:
The Deputy Commissioner, D.K.,
MANGALORE

Honorable Sir

In the wake of the recent violence unleashed in the Kandhamal District of Orissa and the killing of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswathi and his four associates in the Ashram, which the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) as well as the Christian community of Orissa and in other parts of the country strongly denounced and condemned and appealed for maintaining communal harmony and peace, there have been unwarranted attacks on Christians and their houses and institutions in the same district and neighbouring areas.


Some organizations in Orissa pointed fingers at the Christian community and brutally murdered Fr. Thomas Pandipally, a CMI priest. An orphanage managed by Christian missionares was set ablaze. A woman working for that orphanage and a paralytic man in his own hous, were burned to death. Two priests and a few religous women were seriously injured and several Christian institutions destroyed. Fearing for their life many Christians including women and children, religious men and women have taken shelter in the nearby forests!


We are deeply pained to see our brothers and sisters in Orissa being targeted for no fault of theirs; they are victims of a calibrated malicious campaign by certain unruly organizations that take the law in their own hands. Besides, the calibrated malicious campaign has already spread or is spreading to the other States. In the light of this, we express our helplessness.


We Christians are a peace-loving and law abiding citizens of our great country, India. We are no less patriotic than others. We have manifested our patriotism in many ways in the past and history is clear evidence to this truth. When atrocities take place we are adequately protected and many times justice is denied to the victims.


We solicit your support in the matter mentioned above and from our part we promise that we remain loyal citizens of this great nation of great people. We want to reiterate that as we are loyal to our religion, we are second to none in our allegiance to our country. Therefore we request you to grant us adequate protection.



Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza
Mangalore