Brown's Daily Word 8-31-08

Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Riot is getting out of control in new areas in Orissa. Latest Update
B D College Jepore, Orissa was vandalized today afternoon by Hindu Radicals led by VHP activists. The group also marched towards Jepore Methodist Church, one of the oldest churches in Jepore and damaged part of the church.
The VHP activists are bringing attackers from other places to create destruction and damage to other parts of Orissa.The sub-collector of Jepore was injured while trying to prevent rioters from attacking Christians. The Aim of the Hindu radicals is to create situation like Kandhamal in other parts of Orissa. It is evident that the situation is getting out of controle and the district administration is not able to controle the anti social elements.2 more churches were destroyed today in Baipariguda.
Dr. Sajan George, president of Global Council of Indian Christains submitted a memorandum to the Hon. Governor of Orissa and also updated him about the developing situation in Jepore and Khoraput. The Governor gave a patient hearing and promised immediate action to protect the life and properties of Christians in the state.
We encourage you to please pray for the safety of Christians in India and especially in Orissa and also please petition the Hon. Prime minister, Home minister of India.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Sat, 30/08/2008 - 8:11pm

Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / Orissa: Thousands of refugees and new victims, massacre of Christians continues
by Nirmala CarvalhoAt least 10,000 people are asking for help at the shelters, while justas many are seeking refuge in the forests to escape the violence ofthe Hindu fundamentalists. According to "reliable sources" presentedby a Christian activist, there are "at least 100 dead".
Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) - One week after the beginning of the violencein Orissa, thousands of people, most of them Christian, are stillhiding in the forests or have found refuge in the shelter camps set upby the government.
According to the latest figures, there are at least 6,000 people inthe refugee camps, and 5,000 hiding in the forests around Kandhamal,but the number of refugees could soon reach 10,000. Today, inBhubaneswar, a protest demonstration is planned in front of the stategovernment headquarters in Orissa, organized by the activists of theGlobal Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), following the closing ofCatholic schools yesterday all over India. About 25,000 institutesclosed their doors, while the students and teachers marched peacefullythrough the streets of the country calling for an end to the violenceagainst Christians.
Meanwhile, the number of victims of the violence continues toincrease: "We have received authentic information that the death tollis 100", says Dr Sajan George, national president of the GCIC, "andmore butchered bodies and burnt corpes are being found". The Christianactivist is also calling for the resignation of the entire governmentof Orissa, which is incapable of stopping the massacres against theChristian community. He provides an example: "In Bakingia, twofamilies of seven Christians - Daniel Naik and Michael Naik and theirfamilies - were tortured and killed, their bodies were found withtheir heads pulped and smashed, they were recognised by their clothes.Bakingia is about 8 kilometers from Raikia police station".
The decision to close all of the Catholic schools yesterday and callfor demonstrations - although peaceful - has raised attention, withserious new accusations being issued by the Hindu side. The BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), the leading opposition party in India, heavilyinfluenced by the fundamentalists, has condemned yesterday's schoolstrike and accused the Catholics of "forcing non-Christian students toparticipate in the protest marches". Some institutes used "coercivemeans" - according to the BJP - against the "non-Christians, who wereobliged to march with their classmates".
Meanwhile, raids continue outside of Orissa as well. Yesterday, inMadhya Pradesh, fanatics attacked five schools and a church, inretaliation against the closing of the buildings. The attacks tookplace in the districts of Gwaliar (three schools and a church) andBarwani (two schools), and only the swift intervention of the policewas able to prevent serious damage to the buildings, or new victims.Security forces have, on the other hand, blocked a peacefuldemonstration of the students from the school of St. Francis, forunspecified reasons of "public safety", although they were informedabout the demonstration beforehand.
The Indian bishop of Vasai, Thomas Dabre, a member of the pontificalcouncil for interreligious dialogue, confirms instead the "totalparalysis" in the activity of the schools of his diocese. "Thousandsof young people", the prelate emphasizes, "ended their march in frontof the buildings of the bishop's residence. I told them to promoteinterreligious dialogue, and to and trust themselves completely to theprotection of the Virgin Mary".
Home / blogs / Dr. Sajan's blog / GCIC to present memorandum to Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare at 3.30 PM today
Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) to present memorandum to Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare at 3.30 PM today
The GCIC has staged a day-long dharna in front of the Orissa stateassembly in state capital Bhubaneswar Saturday August 30th.
Fr. Kalathil, Vicar General Ach Diocese Bhuvaneswar Participated andother Christian leaders participated along with several to protest theAnti-Christian Violence
Many prominent Christian leaders have pledged support to GCIC to seekjustice for Kandhmal Christians and are participating in GCICPrayer-Fasting Dharna
Dr Sajan K George, president GCIC stated that the Orissa Assembly isin session and the Government must give an answer for the 145 casesdocumented by GCIC of the attacks on the Christian community.