Good morning,
Praise the Lord for winter season which has officially began. One good thing about this is that the days will getting longer from today on. It was a blustery weekend here in New York. The performance of Messiah was canceled on Friday, but we were able to have our Living Nativity on Saturday. It was brilliant and beautiful. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful day of worship yesterday in His House. Our Choir presented the Christmas Cantata during both morning worship services. The Cantata was anointed and powerful. Our Choir director, Aric Phinney, worked wonderfully with the choir. The choir consisted of many gifted and talented singers. Praise the Lord for the songs of the season that honor the Savior whose birth we celebrate.
One of the readings for yesterday was the Magnificat found in Luke 1. This is the song of Mary about her Savior and Lord. Mary truly was a special person. She loved the Lord for he had done great things for her. She understood that she did not deserve this special privilege of being the mother of the Messiah, for she said, “he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” (Luke 1:48). She was a special person, who had been faithful in her obedience and love for God, but still she needed a Savior. Shortly before her death in 1988, Marghanita Laski, a well-known writer, was amazingly candid in a television interview. She was a secular humanist, which means that she denied the need for, and the existence of, God. However, in this moving moment of truth before the world, she said, “What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness, I have nobody to forgive me.” How wonderful that we have someone to forgive us — that our hearts can be washed clean. We have forgiveness because we have a God who came to the world to save us. Somebody once said “Mary was the first person in the world to carry the Gospel.” What an enormous privilege was hers. She understood this privilege and worshiped God because of it. She said, “From now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). Here is the irony: she who needed a savior gave birth to the Savior. Mary gave birth to the One who created her. The Bible says of Christ, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3). This was more than enough reason for her to worship, but the second thing Mary sang was, "He has performed mighty deeds." The key word here is victory. The mighty deeds that God was doing would overcome the world and turn the world right-side-up. She sang about God scattering the proud. She said that he brought down rulers from their thrones and lifted up the humble. He filled the hungry, but sent the rich away with empty stomachs. In other words, God turned the tables on the world. Those who were proud and arrogant, having power in this world to oppress others, would be scattered by God. Those who ruled with injustice would be pulled down from their thrones, and the humble servants would be put in their place. Those who used their wealth to oppress the poor would live in spiritual hunger, while those who were the poor of this world would be filled with all the good things of God. All of this would take place because of what Jesus would do. During his ministry he said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” (Luke 6:20-21). He would reverse the fortunes of the proud and humble, the rich and poor, the strong and weak. He was the Savior who would right the wrongs of the world and would give those who were downtrodden great reason to rejoice. What this means is that Jesus came for everyone, regardless of their status in the world. The humble are valued by God, and even the arrogant can humble themselves and become right with God. The oppressed find mercy and help. The oppressors can stop their oppression, and find grace. Those who are weak can be strong in God. The strong can admit their weakness apart from God, and find true strength. The first thing we must do, however is to come to God on his terms rather than ours. We must humble ourselves. We must admit our weakness. We must turn from our sin. Then we must turn to God for his strength, his wealth, and his wholeness. Dallas Willard tells about the military fighter pilot who was performing high-speed maneuvers. The pilot thrust the controls for a steep upward climb, only to crash into the ground. Somehow the pilot had lost his horizon, and was unaware that the plane had been flying upside down. It is a parable of the world today. While we live at breakneck speed, we don’t even realize that we are living upside down. People are crashing and can’t seem to figure out why. Many are not sure if there is even such a thing as right-side-up. They believe that all roads lead to the same place, and that as long as you believe in God and practice some form of religion, we all get to heaven eventually. Can’t I love God and still live in any way that I want? The answer is no. We cannot live outside of God’s will and expect to receive God’s blessing. We will be flying upside down and eventually crash.
Jesus Christ said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He came to turn us right-side-up and enable us to overcome this world if only we are willing to let him have control of our lives. He is victorious over life, for he has said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Someone recently told me that a college had contest to see who could get the most food for the poor with a set amount of money. Several went to Aldi’s, Sam’s club, or an Amish bulk food store. There were green beans and squash galore; dried food and bulk staples. But one person took the money and bought Starbuck’s coffee, brownies and other delicacies. That person loaded up on good things that people love to eat. This is how God gives: extravagantly and lavishly. He fills the hungry with good things. The Bible says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our response should be patterned after Mary’s response. “Lord, here is my life. I will do whatever you want me to do. I will go wherever you want me to go. Make me your servant.”
Go and do likewise.
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAyplzXmjVE
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Brown's Daily Word & India update12-19-08
Good Morning,
Praise the Lord for this Friday before Christmas. They are forecasting a mega- snowstorm, with predicted snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour for part of this afternoon. Most of the schools have closed in this region. We are going through some Bleak Midwinter, though the winter season has not actually started yet. Where is the global warming that everyone has been buzzing about? Our Lord God controls the whole universe. He has the whole world in His Hands. He infuses us with His own everlasting peace in the face chaos and confusion. He gives His joy to His own.
Our grand daughter Micah called yesterday and said, "Where are you, Grandpa? What are you doing? Where in Grandmom? Have good time in church. Though it was Thursday, Micah always associates me as being over at the church.
"The Peaceable Kingdom" is the title that early 19th-century painter Edward Hicks gave to this benign menagerie of animals - wild and domesticated. He based his work on the Isaiah 11 passage that speaks of such animals as the wolf, lamb, leopard, lion, kid and calf - all sharing the same pasture, grazing and resting together. Hicks’ vision, like that of Isaiah, is of a world of peace, love, and tranquility. In 11:1 Isaiah calls the lineage of the Davidic dynasty the “stump of Jesse”. This is the only time in the Old Testament that David’s line is called by His father’s name. Isaiah predicts that the Davidic dynasty will be completely cut off, so that all that remains is the stump of its family tree. This made more sense after a trip to the Holy Land, and being informed that olive trees, though cut to the ground, will send out little shoots that eventually grow into huge olive trees. They, quite literally, are shoots out of the stump. However, in chapter 11 the prophet also predicts the future restoration of the Kingdom through the re-establishment of a Davidic Messiah. Isaiah states that out of the stump of Jesse’s family tree a “shoot” or a fresh stem will sprout and that the sprout will grow into full bloom until it becomes the Branch of the Lord. Isaiah is saying that, regardless of the destruction of David’s family tree, Messiah will come as a small shoot that will grow into a mighty Branch - the planting of the Lord. In your Bibles the word “Branch” is capitalized because it refers to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Our world longs for peace. We live in a society where injustice, unfaithfulness, and unrighteousness abound. Each of us has been victimized by it in one form or another. Also, whether we admit it or not, we are sinners; not only have we been sinned against, but we have also sinned against others. We need to repent so that we may find peace. This is why we pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Peace - all of us long for it, yet for some reason we stubbornly refuse to yield to Him “whom the Spirit of the Lord Rests upon.” He is the Prince of Peace. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6-10 A wonderful illustration of how our lives can be transformed by God’s peace is found in the life of Archbishop of the Chicago diocese, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. In his little book, "The Gift of Peace", which he was working hard to complete just a year ago, there is a gripping and moving account of his meeting with Steven Cook, the young man who had accused Cardinal Bernardin of sexual abuse. It is an event best forgotten except for the extraordinary way in which it concluded. In 1993, the accusation became public, and Cardinal Bernardin had to live in the blare of public curiosity, constant media attention and the deep pain of experiencing his credibility and integrity questioned by many people who simply assumed that an accusation is the equivalent of guilt. Then, over time, Mr. Cook acknowledged that the charges were false and the case was dropped. The Cardinal plunged back into his busy schedule but he kept thinking about Steven Cook, his accuser, now critically ill with AIDS, living alone. Then Cardinal Bernardin did a most remarkable thing. He located Mr. Cook and invited him to meet at a seminary outside Philadelphia. Cardinal Bernardin explained that his only reason for wanting to see Mr. Cook was to tell him that he, Cardinal Bernardin, harbored no ill feelings. He wanted to pray with Mr. Cook.Steven Cook accepted that invitation and said that he wanted to apologize for the hurt and embarrassment he had caused. When the meeting happened, Mr. Cook told his story, including his alienation from the church. They talked for awhile. The cardinal said what he had come to say, and he gave Mr. Cook an inscribed Bible and offered to celebrate Mass with Mr. Cook.
Mr. Cook hesitated at first. Cardinal Bernardin took a 100-year-old chalice out of his case. "Steven, this is a gift from a man I don’t even know. He asked me to use it to say Mass for you some day."
"Please", Steven responded tearfully, "let’s celebrate Mass now." Afterward, Steven Cook said, "A big burden has been lifted from me today. I feel healed and very much at peace." Big burdens can be lifted from our shoulders by Jesus, our Savior, who carries our burdens. They are the burdens of unforgiveness, despair, anxiety, and guilt. Let us come to Christ, and lay all of our burdens at His feet. Allow the Prince of Peace to give us the peace we long for.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior, let us remember to pray for Jerusalem and for Israel. Let us continue to pray for the Church around the corner, around the nation, and around the world, so that the Lord of the Church may ignite her with holy fervor and zeal. May the Light of Christmas shine brightly and beautifully in the dark and bleak places, so that the peoples and the nations might come to Christ - journey to Jesus - where they will find life and light. As we prepare to celebrate in our homes and in our churches, may our hearts be gladdened with the wonderful good news of Christmas.
Please continue to pray for the Church in Orissa, India and in other parts of the world where the Church is being persecuted. The persecution of Christians began one year ago, on Christmas Eve, in Orissa, and thousands of Christians will be spending this Christmas in refugee camps. My brother, Potel, is still in jail. Please pray for the Lord's intervention on his behalf, that he may be released.
We praise the Lord for those of you who have sent monetary gifts to help bless the suffering Christians of Orissa. We are sending funds to purchase blankets, new clothing, and food for these precious people. Thank you again for giving with generosity and much sacrifice. May the Lord of Christmas, who became poor that we might be rich, who became homeless that we might find a home, who suffered rejection that we might be accepted grant you rich blessings - a hundred-fold, sixty-fold, thirty-fold.
We are planning, weather-permitting, to attend the presentation of Handel's Messiah tonight at 8 PM at the Forum in Binghamton. Our church is planning for a living nativity tomorrow at Nanticoke Gardens (on 26N) from 5 to 7 PM.
Our choir is planning to present our annual Christmas cantata on Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 AM.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion services are planned for next Wednesday at 7 and 10:30 PM.
Merry Christmas to one and to all. Let us rejoice and celebrate.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vf6zgxle-g
Praise the Lord for this Friday before Christmas. They are forecasting a mega- snowstorm, with predicted snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour for part of this afternoon. Most of the schools have closed in this region. We are going through some Bleak Midwinter, though the winter season has not actually started yet. Where is the global warming that everyone has been buzzing about? Our Lord God controls the whole universe. He has the whole world in His Hands. He infuses us with His own everlasting peace in the face chaos and confusion. He gives His joy to His own.
Our grand daughter Micah called yesterday and said, "Where are you, Grandpa? What are you doing? Where in Grandmom? Have good time in church. Though it was Thursday, Micah always associates me as being over at the church.
"The Peaceable Kingdom" is the title that early 19th-century painter Edward Hicks gave to this benign menagerie of animals - wild and domesticated. He based his work on the Isaiah 11 passage that speaks of such animals as the wolf, lamb, leopard, lion, kid and calf - all sharing the same pasture, grazing and resting together. Hicks’ vision, like that of Isaiah, is of a world of peace, love, and tranquility. In 11:1 Isaiah calls the lineage of the Davidic dynasty the “stump of Jesse”. This is the only time in the Old Testament that David’s line is called by His father’s name. Isaiah predicts that the Davidic dynasty will be completely cut off, so that all that remains is the stump of its family tree. This made more sense after a trip to the Holy Land, and being informed that olive trees, though cut to the ground, will send out little shoots that eventually grow into huge olive trees. They, quite literally, are shoots out of the stump. However, in chapter 11 the prophet also predicts the future restoration of the Kingdom through the re-establishment of a Davidic Messiah. Isaiah states that out of the stump of Jesse’s family tree a “shoot” or a fresh stem will sprout and that the sprout will grow into full bloom until it becomes the Branch of the Lord. Isaiah is saying that, regardless of the destruction of David’s family tree, Messiah will come as a small shoot that will grow into a mighty Branch - the planting of the Lord. In your Bibles the word “Branch” is capitalized because it refers to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 Our world longs for peace. We live in a society where injustice, unfaithfulness, and unrighteousness abound. Each of us has been victimized by it in one form or another. Also, whether we admit it or not, we are sinners; not only have we been sinned against, but we have also sinned against others. We need to repent so that we may find peace. This is why we pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Peace - all of us long for it, yet for some reason we stubbornly refuse to yield to Him “whom the Spirit of the Lord Rests upon.” He is the Prince of Peace. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6-10 A wonderful illustration of how our lives can be transformed by God’s peace is found in the life of Archbishop of the Chicago diocese, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. In his little book, "The Gift of Peace", which he was working hard to complete just a year ago, there is a gripping and moving account of his meeting with Steven Cook, the young man who had accused Cardinal Bernardin of sexual abuse. It is an event best forgotten except for the extraordinary way in which it concluded. In 1993, the accusation became public, and Cardinal Bernardin had to live in the blare of public curiosity, constant media attention and the deep pain of experiencing his credibility and integrity questioned by many people who simply assumed that an accusation is the equivalent of guilt. Then, over time, Mr. Cook acknowledged that the charges were false and the case was dropped. The Cardinal plunged back into his busy schedule but he kept thinking about Steven Cook, his accuser, now critically ill with AIDS, living alone. Then Cardinal Bernardin did a most remarkable thing. He located Mr. Cook and invited him to meet at a seminary outside Philadelphia. Cardinal Bernardin explained that his only reason for wanting to see Mr. Cook was to tell him that he, Cardinal Bernardin, harbored no ill feelings. He wanted to pray with Mr. Cook.Steven Cook accepted that invitation and said that he wanted to apologize for the hurt and embarrassment he had caused. When the meeting happened, Mr. Cook told his story, including his alienation from the church. They talked for awhile. The cardinal said what he had come to say, and he gave Mr. Cook an inscribed Bible and offered to celebrate Mass with Mr. Cook.
Mr. Cook hesitated at first. Cardinal Bernardin took a 100-year-old chalice out of his case. "Steven, this is a gift from a man I don’t even know. He asked me to use it to say Mass for you some day."
"Please", Steven responded tearfully, "let’s celebrate Mass now." Afterward, Steven Cook said, "A big burden has been lifted from me today. I feel healed and very much at peace." Big burdens can be lifted from our shoulders by Jesus, our Savior, who carries our burdens. They are the burdens of unforgiveness, despair, anxiety, and guilt. Let us come to Christ, and lay all of our burdens at His feet. Allow the Prince of Peace to give us the peace we long for.
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior, let us remember to pray for Jerusalem and for Israel. Let us continue to pray for the Church around the corner, around the nation, and around the world, so that the Lord of the Church may ignite her with holy fervor and zeal. May the Light of Christmas shine brightly and beautifully in the dark and bleak places, so that the peoples and the nations might come to Christ - journey to Jesus - where they will find life and light. As we prepare to celebrate in our homes and in our churches, may our hearts be gladdened with the wonderful good news of Christmas.
Please continue to pray for the Church in Orissa, India and in other parts of the world where the Church is being persecuted. The persecution of Christians began one year ago, on Christmas Eve, in Orissa, and thousands of Christians will be spending this Christmas in refugee camps. My brother, Potel, is still in jail. Please pray for the Lord's intervention on his behalf, that he may be released.
We praise the Lord for those of you who have sent monetary gifts to help bless the suffering Christians of Orissa. We are sending funds to purchase blankets, new clothing, and food for these precious people. Thank you again for giving with generosity and much sacrifice. May the Lord of Christmas, who became poor that we might be rich, who became homeless that we might find a home, who suffered rejection that we might be accepted grant you rich blessings - a hundred-fold, sixty-fold, thirty-fold.
We are planning, weather-permitting, to attend the presentation of Handel's Messiah tonight at 8 PM at the Forum in Binghamton. Our church is planning for a living nativity tomorrow at Nanticoke Gardens (on 26N) from 5 to 7 PM.
Our choir is planning to present our annual Christmas cantata on Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 AM.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion services are planned for next Wednesday at 7 and 10:30 PM.
Merry Christmas to one and to all. Let us rejoice and celebrate.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vf6zgxle-g
India update 12-19-08
Fri, 19/12/2008 - 7:56am Petition on line to Shri Advaniji, Opposition leader of India
http://www.petitiononline.com/advaniji/petition.html
ToMr.L.K.AdvaniOpposition LeaderLok Sabha, New Delhi
Dear Mr LK Advani,A 12 hour Bandh [shutdown] have been called in the State of Orissa by Swami Laxmananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti supported by the Viswa Hindu Parishad[VHP] on December 25 2008,the day of Christmas.
We the people of India request you to please use your influence on the organisers to postpone this Bandh which is planned for the Christmas Day, since a Bandh on a day of festivities for Christians may lead to further division of people on religious lines. The country has just suffered terrible Terrorists Attacks in Mumbai and we all need peace and unity at a time like this. This gesture of yours will go a long way towards bringing harmony and Unity amongst the people of Orissa.Thanking You,
The Citizens of India.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 9:13pm NHRC calls for protection of Christians in Orissa
Dec 18th, 2008 New Delhi, Dec 18 : Apprehending a fresh wave of clashes following radical Hindu groups’ call for an Orissa shutdown on Christmas day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to top officials asking what measures have been taken to provide security to Christians.
‘The commission has given the chief secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) Orissa three days to submit a report on the measures taken for protection of Christians during the Christmas season,
Radical Hindu organisations, which had given the state government a Dec 15 deadline to arrest all those involved in planning and executing the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides Aug 23, have said the administration has failed to act on their demand and they would go ahead with a statewide shutdown on Dec 25, Christmas day.Acting on Congress leader Margaret Alva’s complaint, the commission issued the notice.
‘Alva expressed apprehension that violence may erupt in Orissa in the wake of bandh call given by Hindu organization on Dec 25 and many lives may be lost during the Christmas season,’ the official added.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 7:44pm Breaking news-Jubaraj Digal christian leader killed in Orissa
Phulbhani;18th Dec08Mr. Jubaraj Digal, a Christian leader of Kanjamendi village under K. Nuagaon Block was confirmed dead.
Hindu extremists on Dec 16th, assaulted Mr. Jubaraj Digal, a Christian leader of Kanjamendi village under K. Nuagaon Block.
Digal, was returning home along with his son Muna, from Congress MLA Mrs. Ajayanti Pradhan , where he is employed as her PS.
Around 6.30 PM, extremists stopped his motor bike on the road between Telengia to Sitapanga.
The extremist started hitting them mercilessly, luckily his son escaped on the motorbike and reached G. Udaygiri PS around 9.45 pm and informed the police.
Police immediately went for spot inquiry but found nothing.
Police have registered a MISSING case under FIR NO.400, dtd17.12.08 and investigating further on the said matter.
According to GCIC regional co.ordinator, this may be communal attack by Sangh Parivar as a prelude to Orissa Bandh on 25th December, 2008, they have rulled out that aspect.
His family relatives have told us that he has been kidnapped by the RSS and BJP activists
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 4:17pm Central intervention in Orissa to check VHP -Parliamentarians
New Delhi : 18th Dec-08 Member of parliament from Kerala, Suresh Kurup, in Lok Sabha, on Thursday, charged Sangh Parivar outfits like VHP with making a systematic attempt to create "terror" among Christian minorities in Orissa by calling a 'bandh' on Christmas Day.
As BJP MPs stood up in protest, Suresh Kurup, went on to demand that the Centre immediately intervene to ensure protection of the lives and properties of the Christians in Orissa.
"A systematic attempt is being made by the Sangh Parivar outfits like VHP to attack and terrorise the Christians. The attacks began on the eve of Christmas last year and these were followed by systematic attacks against the minorities in Kandhamal," Kurup said, while strongly condemning the moves.
When the BJP members continued their vociferous protest, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the House for lunch.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 7:13am Sealed prayer halls in Karnataka open till January 1
DAVANGERE:18th Dec- The B.K. Somashekara Commission of Inquiry has, in an interim arrangement, directed the Davangere district administration to allow the two Christian prayer halls sealed by it recently to function from Thursday till January 1, on account of Christmas celebrations.
Justice B.K. Somashekara, Chairman of the Commission, who heard arguments by both parties here on Wednesday, allowed for an interim arrangement on four conditions. They are that those who run the prayer halls should not indulge in illegal activities and should not carry out any other activities except prayer sessions. They will be subject to scrutiny or inspection by the district administration. The other two conditions are that those who run the prayer halls should not demean the deities of other religions and not hurt the religious sentiments of people belonging to other faiths. The Commission also said that this step was just an “interim arrangement” and that the district administration could revoke the order or extend it depending on the circumstances and based on the law and order situation.
It further said the Davangere City Corporation or the district administration could take appropriate action against the two prayer halls based on certain legal factors, after January 1, if need be.
Earlier, the Commissioner of the Davangere City Corporation, Gurulingappa, told the Commission that as the two prayer halls had failed to produce the relevant documents to the Corporation, the latter was forced to seize them.
Justice Somashekara also visited the church at Bada village in the district, which was attacked a few months ago.
Justice Somashekara also asked all those people who had written petitions to the Commission to come to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday to have their statements recorded. He told them that the Commission would give them transport allowance and dearness allowance as well as legal guidance if required.
Later, at around 8 p.m., Justice Somashekara was gheraoed by a huge mob at the Inspection Bungalow.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, South India
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Wed, 17/12/2008 - 9:57pm Christians have a bleak christmas in Orissa-Orissa round up
1-Witnesses fail to turn up despite notices
PHULBANI, Dec 16: Five people who were expected to depose before the Justice (retired) Basudev Panigrahi Commission of enquiry to the Kandhmal violence of December 2007, at Balliguda yesterday did not turn up."Notices had been sent to the five but not one of them appeared yesterday," said a official attached to the commission. Today five others deposed as against the notices issued to 22 people of Balliguda area. In fact four of those who are to depose before the commission are present in jail for riot-related cases. The commission will also conduct its hearing at Phulbani for second time on 18 and 19 December and notices have been issued to eight people.Earlier 30 deponents, all from minority community, were ordered to appear before the commission in its camp court at Cuttack, but some of them had prayed that they be heard in Kandhamal district.As many as 362 affidavits were received by the commission in connection to the communal violence of Kandhmal in 2007 said reliable sources. It may be noted that the Justice Panigrahi Commission is probing into the violence of December 2007.
2-Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 - A court in Orissa Wednesday granted bail to a journalist who was arrested by the police Dec 7 for writing an allegedly inflammatory book on the recent communal violence in Kandhamal district.Lenin Kumar, editor of the quarterly magazine Nishan, was arrested for his book “Dharma Nare Kandhamalare Raktara Banya” (Flood of blood in Kandhamal in the name of religion) that blames Hindu groups for the violence.Police had termed Kumar’s book as provocative and aimed at disturbing communal harmony. Two others were also arrested for helping him print and circulate the book.“J.P. Das the district and session judge at Bhubaneswar granted Lenin and other two bail on a surety bond of Rs.20,000 with some conditions,” one of Lenin’s lawyers Biswapriya Kanungo told .Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread communal violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23While police blamed Maoists for the killings, some Hindu organisations held Christians responsible for the crime and launched attacks on the community.At least 100 people were killed in the state and thousands of Christians forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs. About 18,000 people are still living in government-run relief camps in the district.Rights activists, journalists and writers have been demanding Kumar’s release. Last week, about 100 protesters staged a sit-in outside the official residence of the Orissa governor here.The Orissa Human Rights Commission Tuesday sought a report within two weeks from the state government on the arrest of Lenin after his wife Rumita Kundu submitted a petition describing the arrest as illegal and an instance of blatant human rights violation.
3-ORISSA: Tensions are running high in Orissa's strife-torn Kandhamal district with radical Hindu groups preparing for a showdown and Christians fearing a fresh wave of attacks on Christmas.The Hindu organisations, which had given the state government a Dec 15 deadline to arrest all those involved in planning and executing the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides Aug 23, have said the administration had failed to act on their demand and they would go ahead with a statewide shutdown on Dec 25, Christmas day. Though police have arrested seven people for their alleged involvement in the murder that sparked widespread sectarian violence in the district, Hindu leaders have said police action was not enough. The Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti (SLSSS), a body affiliated to the VHP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that has called the shutdown, described the arrests as an eyewash. "The state government has failed to perform its statutory responsibility in bringing to book the killers and the conspirators," SLSSS president Ratnakar Chaini said. While Maoist extremists have claimed responsibility for the murder of the Hindu leader, the Hindu groups have maintained that Christians were unhappy with the swami's campaign against religious conversions. Christians have denied they were in the business of conversions. Christians fled their homes and hundreds took shelter as radical Hindu groups attacked them. In the violence that went on for more than a month in this eastern Indian coastal state, at least 36 people were killed.Hindu Jagaran Samukhya president Ashok Sahu said his organisation was not happy that only seven of the 18 people who had conspired and perpetrated the killings were arrested. "I will not say the arrests were just eyewash. But there are some big fish involved in the murder and are yet to be caught," Sahu told IANS, adding that the administration was not making attempts to nab them.He, however, stressed that the shutdown would be peaceful and all steps were being taken to ensure that there would be no violence. "We have told all our people not to resort to any kind of violence. But we are apprehensive that 'Christian militants' may create trouble during the shutdown," he said in a veiled reference to Maoists who have threatened to kill more Hindu leaders. Asked if he was referring to Maoists, Sahu said: "Naxals have no religion. I am referring to those militants who killed swamiji. They are Christians and have taken up arms against Hindus." Notwithstanding the assurances of the peaceful shutdown, the minority Christians in the district, about 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, are worried - more so, as the chosen day is Christmas. Rajib Prasad Naik, who stays in a relief camp in Rudangia - a riot-hit village some 40 km away from district headquarters Phulbani, said they had information about some local Hindus planning fresh attacks on their camp. "We have information that some Hindu activists are collecting money to buy weapons to be used against us during Christmas bandh (shutdown)," Naik, who lost two of his relatives during the riots, told . "We have informed police and the district collector about this and hope the administration will take some steps. "Though paramilitary forces are guarding our camp, we are not sleeping at night in order to keep a vigil against any sudden attack," he said, hoping that more forces would be deployed in his village soon. Christian leaders also feared fresh violence during Christmas but hoped that the state government would take measures to protect the traumatised Christian community in the district. "We don't know what will happen this Christmas. The government has promised that they will take all measures to prevent any untoward incident this time around and I believe the administration will live up to its promise,""We will not say that I fear a fresh wave of violence against our community, I just hope this Christmas should go peacefully,"Forty-five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies are currently deployed in the district and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has pledged that his government would not allow the shutdown on Chritsmas.
http://www.petitiononline.com/advaniji/petition.html
ToMr.L.K.AdvaniOpposition LeaderLok Sabha, New Delhi
Dear Mr LK Advani,A 12 hour Bandh [shutdown] have been called in the State of Orissa by Swami Laxmananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti supported by the Viswa Hindu Parishad[VHP] on December 25 2008,the day of Christmas.
We the people of India request you to please use your influence on the organisers to postpone this Bandh which is planned for the Christmas Day, since a Bandh on a day of festivities for Christians may lead to further division of people on religious lines. The country has just suffered terrible Terrorists Attacks in Mumbai and we all need peace and unity at a time like this. This gesture of yours will go a long way towards bringing harmony and Unity amongst the people of Orissa.Thanking You,
The Citizens of India.
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 9:13pm NHRC calls for protection of Christians in Orissa
Dec 18th, 2008 New Delhi, Dec 18 : Apprehending a fresh wave of clashes following radical Hindu groups’ call for an Orissa shutdown on Christmas day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to top officials asking what measures have been taken to provide security to Christians.
‘The commission has given the chief secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) Orissa three days to submit a report on the measures taken for protection of Christians during the Christmas season,
Radical Hindu organisations, which had given the state government a Dec 15 deadline to arrest all those involved in planning and executing the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides Aug 23, have said the administration has failed to act on their demand and they would go ahead with a statewide shutdown on Dec 25, Christmas day.Acting on Congress leader Margaret Alva’s complaint, the commission issued the notice.
‘Alva expressed apprehension that violence may erupt in Orissa in the wake of bandh call given by Hindu organization on Dec 25 and many lives may be lost during the Christmas season,’ the official added.
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 7:44pm Breaking news-Jubaraj Digal christian leader killed in Orissa
Phulbhani;18th Dec08Mr. Jubaraj Digal, a Christian leader of Kanjamendi village under K. Nuagaon Block was confirmed dead.
Hindu extremists on Dec 16th, assaulted Mr. Jubaraj Digal, a Christian leader of Kanjamendi village under K. Nuagaon Block.
Digal, was returning home along with his son Muna, from Congress MLA Mrs. Ajayanti Pradhan , where he is employed as her PS.
Around 6.30 PM, extremists stopped his motor bike on the road between Telengia to Sitapanga.
The extremist started hitting them mercilessly, luckily his son escaped on the motorbike and reached G. Udaygiri PS around 9.45 pm and informed the police.
Police immediately went for spot inquiry but found nothing.
Police have registered a MISSING case under FIR NO.400, dtd17.12.08 and investigating further on the said matter.
According to GCIC regional co.ordinator, this may be communal attack by Sangh Parivar as a prelude to Orissa Bandh on 25th December, 2008, they have rulled out that aspect.
His family relatives have told us that he has been kidnapped by the RSS and BJP activists
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 4:17pm Central intervention in Orissa to check VHP -Parliamentarians
New Delhi : 18th Dec-08 Member of parliament from Kerala, Suresh Kurup, in Lok Sabha, on Thursday, charged Sangh Parivar outfits like VHP with making a systematic attempt to create "terror" among Christian minorities in Orissa by calling a 'bandh' on Christmas Day.
As BJP MPs stood up in protest, Suresh Kurup, went on to demand that the Centre immediately intervene to ensure protection of the lives and properties of the Christians in Orissa.
"A systematic attempt is being made by the Sangh Parivar outfits like VHP to attack and terrorise the Christians. The attacks began on the eve of Christmas last year and these were followed by systematic attacks against the minorities in Kandhamal," Kurup said, while strongly condemning the moves.
When the BJP members continued their vociferous protest, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the House for lunch.
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Thu, 18/12/2008 - 7:13am Sealed prayer halls in Karnataka open till January 1
DAVANGERE:18th Dec- The B.K. Somashekara Commission of Inquiry has, in an interim arrangement, directed the Davangere district administration to allow the two Christian prayer halls sealed by it recently to function from Thursday till January 1, on account of Christmas celebrations.
Justice B.K. Somashekara, Chairman of the Commission, who heard arguments by both parties here on Wednesday, allowed for an interim arrangement on four conditions. They are that those who run the prayer halls should not indulge in illegal activities and should not carry out any other activities except prayer sessions. They will be subject to scrutiny or inspection by the district administration. The other two conditions are that those who run the prayer halls should not demean the deities of other religions and not hurt the religious sentiments of people belonging to other faiths. The Commission also said that this step was just an “interim arrangement” and that the district administration could revoke the order or extend it depending on the circumstances and based on the law and order situation.
It further said the Davangere City Corporation or the district administration could take appropriate action against the two prayer halls based on certain legal factors, after January 1, if need be.
Earlier, the Commissioner of the Davangere City Corporation, Gurulingappa, told the Commission that as the two prayer halls had failed to produce the relevant documents to the Corporation, the latter was forced to seize them.
Justice Somashekara also visited the church at Bada village in the district, which was attacked a few months ago.
Justice Somashekara also asked all those people who had written petitions to the Commission to come to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday to have their statements recorded. He told them that the Commission would give them transport allowance and dearness allowance as well as legal guidance if required.
Later, at around 8 p.m., Justice Somashekara was gheraoed by a huge mob at the Inspection Bungalow.
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Wed, 17/12/2008 - 9:57pm Christians have a bleak christmas in Orissa-Orissa round up
1-Witnesses fail to turn up despite notices
PHULBANI, Dec 16: Five people who were expected to depose before the Justice (retired) Basudev Panigrahi Commission of enquiry to the Kandhmal violence of December 2007, at Balliguda yesterday did not turn up."Notices had been sent to the five but not one of them appeared yesterday," said a official attached to the commission. Today five others deposed as against the notices issued to 22 people of Balliguda area. In fact four of those who are to depose before the commission are present in jail for riot-related cases. The commission will also conduct its hearing at Phulbani for second time on 18 and 19 December and notices have been issued to eight people.Earlier 30 deponents, all from minority community, were ordered to appear before the commission in its camp court at Cuttack, but some of them had prayed that they be heard in Kandhamal district.As many as 362 affidavits were received by the commission in connection to the communal violence of Kandhmal in 2007 said reliable sources. It may be noted that the Justice Panigrahi Commission is probing into the violence of December 2007.
2-Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 - A court in Orissa Wednesday granted bail to a journalist who was arrested by the police Dec 7 for writing an allegedly inflammatory book on the recent communal violence in Kandhamal district.Lenin Kumar, editor of the quarterly magazine Nishan, was arrested for his book “Dharma Nare Kandhamalare Raktara Banya” (Flood of blood in Kandhamal in the name of religion) that blames Hindu groups for the violence.Police had termed Kumar’s book as provocative and aimed at disturbing communal harmony. Two others were also arrested for helping him print and circulate the book.“J.P. Das the district and session judge at Bhubaneswar granted Lenin and other two bail on a surety bond of Rs.20,000 with some conditions,” one of Lenin’s lawyers Biswapriya Kanungo told .Kandhamal district, about 200 km from here, witnessed widespread communal violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram Aug 23While police blamed Maoists for the killings, some Hindu organisations held Christians responsible for the crime and launched attacks on the community.At least 100 people were killed in the state and thousands of Christians forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs. About 18,000 people are still living in government-run relief camps in the district.Rights activists, journalists and writers have been demanding Kumar’s release. Last week, about 100 protesters staged a sit-in outside the official residence of the Orissa governor here.The Orissa Human Rights Commission Tuesday sought a report within two weeks from the state government on the arrest of Lenin after his wife Rumita Kundu submitted a petition describing the arrest as illegal and an instance of blatant human rights violation.
3-ORISSA: Tensions are running high in Orissa's strife-torn Kandhamal district with radical Hindu groups preparing for a showdown and Christians fearing a fresh wave of attacks on Christmas.The Hindu organisations, which had given the state government a Dec 15 deadline to arrest all those involved in planning and executing the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides Aug 23, have said the administration had failed to act on their demand and they would go ahead with a statewide shutdown on Dec 25, Christmas day. Though police have arrested seven people for their alleged involvement in the murder that sparked widespread sectarian violence in the district, Hindu leaders have said police action was not enough. The Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti (SLSSS), a body affiliated to the VHP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that has called the shutdown, described the arrests as an eyewash. "The state government has failed to perform its statutory responsibility in bringing to book the killers and the conspirators," SLSSS president Ratnakar Chaini said. While Maoist extremists have claimed responsibility for the murder of the Hindu leader, the Hindu groups have maintained that Christians were unhappy with the swami's campaign against religious conversions. Christians have denied they were in the business of conversions. Christians fled their homes and hundreds took shelter as radical Hindu groups attacked them. In the violence that went on for more than a month in this eastern Indian coastal state, at least 36 people were killed.Hindu Jagaran Samukhya president Ashok Sahu said his organisation was not happy that only seven of the 18 people who had conspired and perpetrated the killings were arrested. "I will not say the arrests were just eyewash. But there are some big fish involved in the murder and are yet to be caught," Sahu told IANS, adding that the administration was not making attempts to nab them.He, however, stressed that the shutdown would be peaceful and all steps were being taken to ensure that there would be no violence. "We have told all our people not to resort to any kind of violence. But we are apprehensive that 'Christian militants' may create trouble during the shutdown," he said in a veiled reference to Maoists who have threatened to kill more Hindu leaders. Asked if he was referring to Maoists, Sahu said: "Naxals have no religion. I am referring to those militants who killed swamiji. They are Christians and have taken up arms against Hindus." Notwithstanding the assurances of the peaceful shutdown, the minority Christians in the district, about 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, are worried - more so, as the chosen day is Christmas. Rajib Prasad Naik, who stays in a relief camp in Rudangia - a riot-hit village some 40 km away from district headquarters Phulbani, said they had information about some local Hindus planning fresh attacks on their camp. "We have information that some Hindu activists are collecting money to buy weapons to be used against us during Christmas bandh (shutdown)," Naik, who lost two of his relatives during the riots, told . "We have informed police and the district collector about this and hope the administration will take some steps. "Though paramilitary forces are guarding our camp, we are not sleeping at night in order to keep a vigil against any sudden attack," he said, hoping that more forces would be deployed in his village soon. Christian leaders also feared fresh violence during Christmas but hoped that the state government would take measures to protect the traumatised Christian community in the district. "We don't know what will happen this Christmas. The government has promised that they will take all measures to prevent any untoward incident this time around and I believe the administration will live up to its promise,""We will not say that I fear a fresh wave of violence against our community, I just hope this Christmas should go peacefully,"Forty-five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) companies are currently deployed in the district and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has pledged that his government would not allow the shutdown on Chritsmas.
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