Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - INDIA: Compassion for Christians in Orissa

20th November 2009

Moved by the continuing plight of Christians in the Indian State of Orissa, The CLIO TRUST is highlighting the need for pressure to be brought on the Indian authorities to take steps to protect, and give practical help to these persecuted and neglected people.

In December 2007, Hindu fundamentalists physically attacked Christians in the Kandhamal District of the Indian State of Orissa. The crowd, carrying sticks, swords, arrows and javelins, and armed with crude bombs, rampaged through village after village leaving a trail of devastation and heartbreak.

Churches, clinics, schools, homes and orphanages were wrecked and burned, and individual men, women and children were attacked, assaulted and in some cases murdered. The attacks were carried out by fundamentalist Hindus who objected to Christians celebrating the birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

During the following months, tension between Hindus and Christians in the area subsided. However, in August 2008, a Maoist terrorist group attacked and murdered radical Hindu leader Lakshmananda Saraswati, and several of his followers. Although Christians had nothing to do with these murders (indeed, they condemn them), Hindu extremists contrived to lay the blame at their feet and to make them suffer for it.

A government of Orissa statement said: "Christians were not behind the killing of Lakshmananda Saraswati."

While the Prime Minister of India stated: "Orissa violence is a national shame."

But the bloodshed and violence continued. Christians, whose homes and churches were destroyed, fled to the hills and the forests for shelter and safety. They are now reduced to living in make-shift tents and to cooking in the outdoors with inadequate medical and sanitary facilities.

The mountainous region of Kandhamal is by no means hospitable, with its sub-tropical climate and temperatures ranging from blistering heat in the summer to almost freezing in winter.

Little is being done for the thousands of Christians still suffering persecution, even in refugee camps. To add to their suffering, the Orissa government now wants to close these camps and the occupants are being told to go home.

They can only go home on pain of death, unless they are prepared to renounce Christianity and re-convert to Hinduism. This entails the revolting practice of eating cow dung and drinking cow urine. The whole purpose of this persecution is to stamp out Christianity, in every form, in this predominately Hindu region.

Suffering Christians are often afraid to be seen with relief workers because that makes them easily identifiable to their persecutors. And because the government is disinterested in this problem, there is virtually no protection for relief workers either, making their task all the more difficult.

There is an urgent need for something to be done to bring succour to these beleaguered people.

The latest information confirms that 120 believers have been murdered - many in brutal circumstances; while hundreds of homes have been destroyed, and many schools, orphanages and churches have been burned down.

Politically:
The CLIO TRUST has made representations to both the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Government at Westminster. Christians in Orissa deserve an immediate restoration of law and order; improved conditions in Government camps; and implementation of the recommendations in the India Government's National Commission for Minorities Report 2008. It is hoped that both Parliaments will bring pressure on the Indian Government to ensure Christians in the State of Orissa are treated justly, and that their civil rights and religious freedom are both guaranteed and protected.

Practically:
THE CLIO TRUST, with help from Christians in the UK and Ireland, and through its contacts in India, is seeking to organise a relief plan to bring the basic essentials of food, water, clothing and medical supplies to helpless and neglected believers in Orissa as winter is now fast approaching.

Prayerfully:
If you cherish civil and religious liberties, then the CLIO TRUST urges you join with them at the throne of Grace and ask the Lord to overrule and bring peace to Orissa and other parts of India where there is inter-communal discord and Christians are suffering.

• PRAY for a spirit of forgiveness towards the evildoers.
• PRAY for the success of these endeavours.
• PRAY for those who are working to bring help.
• PRAY for the persecuted people of Kandhamal in Orissa.
• PRAY especially that the Lord will comfort His children in their sorrow.

With these facts in mind, The CLIO TRUST is sponsoring a 'Petition' to be presented to the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Gordon Brown, MP, urging him to enter into dialogue with the Indian Government and seek to find a way of ending this tragic suffering.

The CLIO TRUST hopes that as many as possible will lend support to their efforts by signing this 'Petition' and giving gifts to provide much-needed aid, thereby showing Compassion for Christians in Orissa.

PDF Download: 'Compassion for Christians in Orissa' (324Kb)

Related Links: CLIO TRUST | Videos | Petition | News 06-Nov-09 | News 03-Sep-09