Institute NIA inquiry, says Digvijaya Singh on Kandhamal 5th anniversary

NEW DELHI –  The AICC general secretary and senior Congress party leader, Digvijaya Singh has called for an inquiry by NIA (National Investigation Agency) into the widespread anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal while releasing an investigative book on the fifth anniversary of the Kandhamal violence.

“Communalism in the name of any religion should not be tolerated. Kandhamal is a fit case for NIA inquiry,” pointed out Singh at the release of the book titled ‘Kandhamal craves for Justice’ authored by senior journalist Anto Akkara.

Singh congratulated the author of the investigative book for ‘pursuing the case of carnage in Orissa single-handedly’ and said that it has brought out shocking information about what had happened in Kandhamal. “I know, more than all of you, the level of infiltration that fascist forces have made into the military, police, judiciary and legislative bodies,” Singh added.

“What has happened in Kandhamal is travesty of justice. Yet, the NHRC and the government has not even responded to the report the People’s Tribunal,” pointed out Justice Ajit Prakash Shah, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and chairman of National People’s Tribunal on Kandhamal, after releasing the book and handing over the first copy to Digvijaya Singh.

Following the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008, the massive funeral procession across Kandhamal district turned it into an inferno. In weeks of unabated violence, more than 100 Christians perished while 300 churches and 6,000 Christian houses were looted and torched, rendering 56,000 Christians refugees.

“It is shocking to read that an MLA, accused in seven murders, was sitting outside the Fast Track Court with his men – questioning everyone who goes inside,” noted Justice Shah drawing attention to ‘shocking facts’ brought out in the book published by Veritas India Books.

“Kandhamal’s story of five years is a travesty of justice. Of the 3,232 complaints, there has been a mere 75 convictions despite two Fast Track Courts being set up. Among the 27 murder trial verdicts, the Fast Track Court has found the accused guilty only in two cases. Is this justice?” asked the journalist who made 17 trips to Kandhamal ‘to investigate the mountain of injustice’. “The stoic silence of the NHRC on Kandhamal is shocking. It has not even made a press release on Kandhamal so far,” pointed out the author.

Further, Akkara noted that Kandhamal has “exposed the ugly face of Hindutva”. “Apart from hounding the Christians, the self declared protectors of Hinduism, gang-raped and burnt alive even an orphan Hindu college student looking 22 Hindu boys at a Christian centre. Is this Hinduism?” pointed out the author.

“A silent, obliging media also plays a role. Only a handful of fearless journalists like Anto Akkara have doggedly reported on the atrocities in Kandhamal. We need to applaud their work. Because, truth alone will prevail. Truth alone will save us,” remarked Swami Agnivesh, outspoken eminent social activist and reformist Arya Samaj leader.

“Without the connivance of the Chief Minister of a state, communal violence cannot happen. Even if it happens, it cannot drag on for more than 24 hours,” noted Swami Agnivesh. He also decried the silence of the NHRC to the massive injustice in Kandhamal.

Vrinda Grover, senior lawyer and human rights activist said that the injustices after the riots against Sikh in Delhi in 1984, Muslims in Gujarat in 2002 and Christians in Kandhamal calls for a stringent legislation ‘to curb the impunity behind communal violence’.

For more info Contact: antoakkara@gmail.com
+91.9958602840, 9448383350

5,000 Kandhamal Victims Gather To Demand Justice

KANDHAMAL, 31 August, (Dan Wooding)– Around 5,000 victims and survivors of the 2008 communal violence in Kandhamal district, Orissa, attended a public rally yesterday to mark the fourth anniversary of the violence and call for justice, peace and harmony. Local authorities only granted permission on the evening before the rally, and organizers claimed they had deliberately obstructed it for as long as possible.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Bishop Sarat Nayak, Catholic Bishop of Berhampur, addressed the rally, saying, “Peace can come only when there is truth and justice.”

The Christians, some of whom covered their mouths with black ribbons, displayed banners with slogans including, “We want justice, justice, justice,” “Stop politics in the name of religion,” and “We demand brotherhood in Kandhamal.”

The rally also included a song written by Sharada Charan, a survivor of the violence, which captured some of the collective sentiment of the victims. The lyrics are translated as, “We are the people of Kandhamal / We are searching for our lost friends / We lived blinded by unfaith / We forgot love and affection in the shadow of discrimination / There are only sorrowful tears / Smiles of happiness have faded / the sons of the land are leaving / They are thrown away on the road of progress / So let’s forget the past and move forward / Singing songs of love.”

Fr. Ajay Singh, an Orissa-based human rights activist involved in facilitating the Kandhamal rally, said, “This rally was to pay homage to the dead, and to call for justice, security and livelihood for the victims. It was to draw the attention of the government and other stakeholders to these needs, and to encourage the victims and build up solidarity among them.”

“Despite the government giving permission only at the very last moment, the people came from far-flung, remote areas serviced with little public transport, braving the rain and possible threats and intimidation from the Sangh Parivar [extremist Hindu nationalist organisations] and government officials,” said a CSW spokesperson.

“That indicates their thirst for justice, which you could see written on their faces, and when they left, they had a feeling that justice would be done sooner or later. We need to see progress towards that.”

CSW said that also on August 30, the Himachal Pradesh High Court delivered a judgment in a case challenging the anti-conversion law in the state, striking down two provisions but holding the other aspects of the law to be constitutional. The court ruled against section 4 of the law, which makes it mandatory for a person seeking to convert to give prior notice to the district administration (except in the case of those re-converting to their earlier religion, which typically refers to a conversion to Hinduism), and rules 3 and 5, which mandate the state to inquire into every conversion. The Evangelical Fellowship of India, a principal petitioner in the case, welcomed the striking down of two clauses but said it was “regrettable” that the rest of the law was upheld, and noted that this “inadvertently played into the hands of communal forces.”

David Griffiths, South Asia Team Leader for CSW, said, “As Bishop Sarat noted at the Kandhamal rally, justice is a prerequisite for peace. It is important to remember that the 2008 violence in Orissa came only eight months after an earlier wave of violence, for which there was mass impunity. With extremists still perpetuating communal tensions and the victims remaining deeply disenfranchised, the only way to guard against further violence and to promote true peace is to secure justice. That is why the cry of the victims must be heard.

“In Himachal Pradesh, the ruling striking down two aspects of the anti-conversion law was welcome, but it is disappointing that the other provisions of the law were upheld. The very concept of anti-conversion laws has been strongly criticized both by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and during India’s recent Universal Periodic Review at the UN, and we fully concur with the view that these laws are in violation of India’s obligations under international law.”

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

Kolkata archbishop gets first communion coffee table book

L to R: CM Paul, Abp D'Souza & Fr Tony

KOLKATA, (C.M. Paul) – Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Kolkata yesterday (22 April) received a copy of the much talked about book for first communion catechesis at a gathering for Young Christian Students at the archbishops house. Senior-most YCS animator in Kolkata from 1970s Salesian Fr K.K. Antony of Don Bosco School Liluah, presented the book to archbishop.

Brought out by director of Tej Prasarani publications Matunga, Salesian Fr Joaquim Fernandes and his team the book has 120 full colour pages filled with illustrations laced with crisp and racy narration of the life of Jesus for children. The artwork, all original painting for this book has been painted by a Hindu artist Mr Ganesh Sonsurkar while Mr Kevin Jairaj did the intrinsic designing and the layouts.

Entitled JESUS the prince of peace, “the hardcover oversized book is intended to sit on a coffee table or similar surface in an area where the family members sit and guests are entertained,” says Fr. Fernandes.

Though the opening inner page of the book has a dedication to the proud owner of the book (the first communicant), “the book is a sure fire to inspire conversation or alleviating boredom while acting as an occasional catechist,” Fr Fernandes assures.

He added, “any one who loves and cherishes his or her Catholic faith will be proud to own a copy of the book and be inspired by it.”

An Easter 2012 release, the book contains besides the life of Jesus, new revised prayers at Mass, illustration of the parts of the Holy Rosary as well as the four mysteries, with phrase by phrase illustration for the Hail Mary.

Other prayers illustrated in the book include the sign of the cross; Hail, holy Queen; short acts of faith, hope, charity and contrition; as well as a short grace before and after meals.

The daily prayers of angelus or regina caeli follows with detailed question answer description of each of the seven sacraments, with the seven steps to make confession.

Among the section on pious Catholic practices are listed and illustrated all 14 stations of the cross in one single page making it ideal for making a quick way of the cross in your sitting room.

The ten commandments are followed by the five forms of prayer, five precepts of the Church, seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, seven corporal works of mercy, seven spiritual works of mercy and the twelve fruits of the holy Spirit and concludes with the eight beatitudes of Jesus.

The song section features 19 most popular Biblical action songs for kids, followed by an overview of the Church year (liturgical calendar) explaining through graphic illustration the liturgical cycle.

The pictorial book concludes with a two page advertisement for two CDs of action songs for children: Power to the children (20 songs) and Walking with Jesus containing 23 action songs for children to play and pray.

The opening pages of the book carry endorsements by the president of the catholic Bishops Conference of India cardinal Oswald Gracious archbishop of Mumbai, chairman of CBCI Office of Social Communications Bishop Chacko Thottumurickal SVD and director of diocesan Catechetical Centre Mumbai Fr Terence Murray.

Plans for other language editions of the book are under study.

‘Christian persecution an exaggeration’ says Kerala Archbishop

http://www.ucanindia.in/news/%e2%80%98christian-persecution-an-exaggeration%e2%80%99/17559/daily
By Philip Mathew, Bangalore

Major abp Cleemis

NEW DELHI, (Dr. John Dayal) – The Major Archbishop is right, of course, if he is referring to the Kerala experience. In Kerala there is no persecution other than Love Jihad.

The threats in Kerala, as exemplified by the Catholic Media and the heads of the churches in the recent past, are:

1. the communists

2. the Muslims who indulge in love jihad and entice Catholic girls

2. The Muslims who are rapidly increasing in numbers and will overtake, if not overwhelm, the Catholic and Christian population and to counter which the Catholics, specially, have to produce more children.

Muslims are also an issue in theKashmirvalley where the extremist groups are persecuting the Christian micro-minority.

Unfortunately, Christian persecution at the hands of the HIndutva extremists remains a problem in as many as 14 States where the so-called “sporadic violence” continues on a  daily basis. Even Kerala’s neighbor, Karnataka, registers hundreds of cases every year – far from sporadic.

People have to visit Kandhamal to realise what violence is and what terror means to the Faith.

And of course, there is state persecution, of which the Dalit Christians will tell you more. And  the so called Freedom of Religion Bills. A church really involved in evangelization, and in dialogue of life with the people of all faiths, will be able to speak of it more

By the way, the USA and many countries of Europe are deeply concerned at the erosion of Freedom of Faith by governments and fundamentalist groups inIndia. The US has once again put India on the Watch List.

It is no one’s case that every Hindu is a terrorist and persecutor.

And even the Kerala church will not say every Muslim is a love Jehadi.

The vast majority of Hindus, as the vast majority of Muslims, is a peaceful lot. It is the one per cent lunatic fringe, as a prime minister once said, which causes the bloodshed and terror. But the one per cent of a billion Hindus is a very large number. These lunatics have to be exposed, and controlled.

God bless us all.
John Dayal

Deep in Orissa village, thugs enforce economic boycott of Christians

Abp Cheenath SVD

KANDHAMAL,  (Dr John Dayal) – As Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, now on a farewell pastoral tour of Kandhamal, extols the courage, faith and perseverance of the Dalit Panos and Tribal Kondh Christians of the central Orissa district in the face of unceasing Hindutva pressure, deep in the villages, the economic boycott of Christians in enforced by organised gangs of fanatical thugs. The 77 year old Divine Word Society prelate of Orissa retires on 2^nd April 2011.
Like Archbishop Alan De Lastic of Delhi who emerged the face and voice of the community in his unflinching challenge to persecution in the 1990s, Cheenath was the central figure in the legal and civil society challenge to mass arson, serial murders and gang rapes unleashed in 2007 and 2008 by members of the RSS, Adivasi Kalyan Ashram and Bajrang Dal, whose political identity was confirmed by Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik in the State Legislative Assembly.

In the past, stressing that justice and peace had to go together, the Archbishop moved the Supreme Court in 2008 when the arrogant Collector-cum-District Magistrate Dr Krishna Kumar banned the entry of Christian relief organisations to help the traumatised people. The Supreme Court ruled in the Archbishop’s, favour. He has moved the Supreme Court through the Human Rights Law Network on several issues, including a challenge to the Orissa High Court granting bail to a convicted murderer, Manoj Pradhan, on the plea the he was a legislator. The Supreme Court again ruled against the lower court.
Despite these heroic efforts, much remains the same in that heavily forested district as far as justice and state action is concerned. Br Markose, a Gabriel Brother from Ranchi now working at the grassroots, has been systematically reporting issues of economic boyctott an official apathy.
In an email to me yesterday, Br Markose narrated recent cases of vigilante decisions from Bodimunda where houses of Christians were destroyed in August 2008. Twice during 2009, the Christians tried to bring construction material such as sand to rebuild their houses. On both occasions, the sand was reloaded into the tractor and taken to the temple. The owners of tractor were fined before the vehicle was released by the hardcore Sangh cadres of the village.
After six months, due to the untiring efforts of activists, the villagers took courage to hire a tractor and bring sand. On 14th March this year, Pradeep Nayak hired a tractor from village Rudangia and brought two loads of sand. The next day, Joseph Nayak hired the tractor of Tileshwar Digal of village Breka. After making two trips, driver Ishak was stopped by a mob of about 12 persons led by Birendra Pradhan, stopped him and demanded a fine of Rs. 5051. The driver did not have the money. He left the tractor on the road and returned to the village.
Nabin Nayak and Bikram Nayak called Bro Markose on the phone who told them to immediately tell the police. Pastor Sunil Paricha called up the Superintendant of Police who referred him to the Tikabali police station. The Police cane to Bodimunda at night and the tractor was released. But the goons had taken away battery, jack and wrench from the tractor in lieu of fine. They told the driver that these materials would be returned when fine was paid. On 17th March a four-hour long meeting was held at Catholic Church of the village more than 60 Christian men and women participated. Finally they wrote a formal report to the police, saying they would see the matter through, come what may.
————

LEGAL FACT-SHEET AND UPDATE DECEMBER 2010
Complaints lodged before the police station in Kandhamal after the
Violence of 2008 — 3232
Cases registered — 831
Number of cases committed to the Fast track courts 1 & 2 — 277
Number of case Acquitted ( Violence case ) court No – 1 & 2 — 128
Number of case Convicted ( Violence case) court No – 1 & 2 — 59
Number of case pending trial (Violence case) court No – 1 & 2 — 44
Accused convicted so far –183
Accused acquitted so far — 639

Salesian University Rome Launches first On-Line MA Programme in Philosophy

Prof Jose Kuruvachira IND (centre) with Philosophy Faculty Secretary Prof. Joshtrom Kureethadom INH (left) and former dean Prof. Scaria Thututhiyil INN.

ROME,  (C.M. Paul)– The Philosophy Faculty at the Salesian University (UPS) Rome will soon launch its first one year on-line Masters programme in collaboration with Lateran University Rome and Accademia di Scienze Umane e Sociali (ASUS) based in Rome. The degree programme called “Mediazione Culturale e Religiosa (Cultural and Religious Mediation),” starts on 19 March 2011 with 25 candidates.
The 60 credit (European Union requirement) course will prepare Professionals to meet the cultural and religious challenges of today’s globalised society. Several professors of UPS and other Universities of Rome and elsewhere are involved in teaching and preparing the course material.
Besides some basic contact lessons on weekends, the entire course will depend on personal study with course materials supplied on-line. Though the medium of instruction now is in Italian, the course will be available in other major European languages. The not-for-profit course fees cost about Euro 2,500 and is payable in three installments.
While Prof Gaspare Mura of Lateran University is director of the programme Prof. Teresa Doni and Prof Jose Kuruvachira of UPS are coordinators.

Prof. Jose Kuruvachira, SDB
The Grand Chancellor of Salesian University (UPS) Rome, the Rector Major of the Salesians Pascual Chavez, promoted Prof. Jose Kuruvachira of Salesian College Dimapur, India, who joined UPS last year as visiting professor to the “aggiunto” (adjunct professor) status earlier in February 2011.
The Vice-Chancellor of UPS, Dr Carlo Nanni followed up the request of the UPS Philosophy Faculty Dean and UPS Assistant Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mauro Mantovani.
Prof. Kuruvachira (52 years) who started teaching philosophy from October 2010 at the UPS as “invitato” was promoted to “aggiunto,” (adjunct professor) taking into consideration his various publications and outstanding academic background.
Prof. Kuruvachira is specialized in Philosophy of Religion and History of Religions with emphasis on Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.
Author of 14 books (10 authored and 4 edited), Prof Kuruvachira who did his PhD in Philosophy from the Gregorian  Univeisty, Rome (2002) has three books on the right wing Hindutva Philosophy and its political agenda. He has four books on Salesian spirituality and three books on philosophy and cultures, and over 70 researched articles on philosophy, religious issues and cultures.

Hand of Don Bosco Leaves Miracle Trail

Homage to Don Bosco Relics

BANGKOK, (C.M. Paul) – There are unconfirmed reports that Don Bosco Relics Tour of Thailand 18 to 30 November 2010 left a trail of miracles. The life size casket with Don Bosco replica lying in state contains the relic of his right hand bone. Thousands of people who thronged to view the Relics were predominantly Buddhist people.
May I request anyone who has any information on these or other miracle claims connected to DB Relics Tour, to kindly furnish the details like name, place and testimonies, in the comments section below this article.
The first miracle claimed happened to a Buddhist mother who had her baby in coma for several days in the hospital. She prayed fervently touching the casket holding her handkerchief which she later placed under the child’s pillow who later showed signs of regaining consciousness.
Second miracle happened to a girl from Bangkok blind school. She awaited a scholarship for higher studies in the US. For a long time she needed it badly. She kept an entire night vigil alone with the casket praying for the grace which she received in the following days in the post.
Third miracle is far more strange, as well as a fight against superstition. It happened to a compulsive lottery player who was told to use the number of the mini-truck which carried DB Relics to get lucky at the lottery. As he thought the number associated with a dead person would bring him ill luck, he played the number in reverse and found to his utter dismay, the number on mini truck’s plate won the lottery!
The Asian tour of the Relics of Saint John Bosco continues to draw attention from both Christians and those from other religions in ITM province (Indonesia & East Timor) from 19 Feb to 7 March 2011.
The relics, currently on a five-continent tour, started its Asian leg in Seoul on 1 Nov. 2010 and will travel to 19 Salesian provinces in 17 East Asian countries before reaching South Asia, where it will spend one full year until Nov. 30, 2011.

A Jewish Businessman’s Advice to Catholics Under Media Attack*

Catholic youth awaiting the Pope

CLEVELAND, OH – “Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States , namely the Catholic Church?
Do you know – the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion  dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.
The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students.
The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people – not just Catholics – in the United States today.
But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.
Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember.  For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.
Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.
A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the  choice, would choose to be priests again in the face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of  the Church.  You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.
Walk with your shoulders high and hold your head higher.  Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States .
Then remember what prophet Jeremiah said:  ‘Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls’.   Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.
“Be proud that you’re a Catholic.”
* Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller – a prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman.

 

Hindutva Forces Terreroise Tribal Christians in Rural Maharashtra

 

One of the Christian youth recovering in hospital.

MUMBAI – The Christian Secular Forum (CSF), the city-based activist community NGO strongly condemns the attack on tribal Christians in the Thane Rural district, who had scheduled the Christmas religious services in Talwada-Dodepada, Vikramgarh, Maharashtra. The police refused permission to the tribal Christians, who out of fear, wanted to shift the Christmas prayer meeting to Vasai. However, on the intervention of Dr. Abraham Mathai, vice-chairman, Maharashtra Minorities Commission, the police gave permission to have the religious service.
According to CSF, “The Hindutva brigade’s attempt to prevent the tribal Christians from having the religious service being frustrated, they took their anger out on a Christian tribal community leader, Laxman Giu Dumada, near whose house the proposed prayer meeting was to take place. Initially, they threatened the family and when they refused to cancel the religious service, a mob of about 50 miscreants barged into the venue and destroyed the mandap and other arrangements. Even women and children were not spared. Two youth Dhaklia Janya Shedhad and Rajaram Nandu Dhode were brutally beaten up and had to be admitted in the near-by Kasa Hospital with serious injuries,” reports reaching  CSF said.
As a result Dr. Mathai and Christian fellow activist spent Christmas day in Vikramgarh to express solidarity with the tribal Christians there and ensure that the religious service passed off smoothly, with the tribals experiencing the love of the new-born Jesus, nearer at home.
The role of the police is suspect, particularly since there have been repeated complaints from the district of RSS cadres and its affiliated organisations like the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad and other fringe groups have been terrorising the community.
“Great restrictions on the freedom of religion are placed on Christian tribals and even other tribals who have not converted are told that they are Hindus, even though they are animists. The Christian tribals are not given benefits and socially boycotted. The attack on the eve of Christmas is a clear attempt to deter the tribal Christians from practicing the faith of their choice and make them soft target and an example for those who don’t follow the diktats of the Hindutva brigade. No arrests have been made so far”, said Joseph Dias to the media.

 

Govt. Official Threatens Homeless Orissa Christians

 

Official threatens Christian rebuilding home

BELADADI, Orissa — The five Christian families of Beladadi of Koenjhar GP (Tikabali block) have yet another new story to narrate about brute behaviour of state officials.
On 25 Dec 2010, the local BDO visited their village apparently to enquire regarding peace and security of Christians. He abused the five families for rebuilding their houses close to the ruins of their former houses.
He shouted at them “I will kick you out from here; the Hindus will cut you to pieces and throw you and then you will know. Who told you to build your houses here?”
When people explained to that it was he himself who brought them from relief camp and left them there, that no other alternative land was allotted to them, that they have been living there for two generations. That one of the families has been given compensation for partial damage only – that he cannot build a house elsewhere other than rebuild his old house… The BDO further shouted at them to immediately go away from there and abused them and went away.
Brother Advocate Marcus, who has been working in the area for almost one year took the initiative to settle the victims three months back when they were still languishing in relocated camp, abandoned by the government after two and half years of (miss)  management.
Brother Marcus took one of the villagers on 26^th Dec to the BDO at Bodimunda village (where the BDO was to be present for another matter) tried to discusses with the BDO. But the BDO was adamant that the villagers must go away from there and the houses under construction will be pulled down and razed.
(The only mobile phone number of the village is of Mintu, a college student… mobile network does not reach the village. When Mintu is out of village and in range he can be contacted on his cell:9438448569).