--- On Wed, 3/9/08, CK VISHWANATH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
From: CK VISHWANATH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Fwd: [Secular Perspective] Condemn the Orissa Violence
To: "C.K. Vishwanath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Wednesday, 3 September, 2008, 4:31 PM
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Irfan Engineer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sep 3, 2008 4:09 PM
Subject: [Secular Perspective] Condemn the Orissa Violence
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism strongly condemns the orgy
of violence perpetrated by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Sangh
Parivar organizations in the Kandhmal District of Orissa, now
spreading to neighbouring Jeypore in Koraput and other districts,
targeting the Christians and converting them to Hinduism by force. The
violence has incessantly continued from 23rd August till date i.e. for
10 days and is now even spreading to Madhya Pradesh. The number of
affected persons is shocking to say the least. 300 villages were
burnt, 4,014 houses were destroyed and 50,000 Christians are hiding in
Forests fearing forcible conversion or having to face violent attacks,
including the prospect of being killed. Even orphanages and other
institutions run by Christians and serving the poorer and deprived
sections were not spared. About 25 persons have been killed, including
a Hindu girl burnt to death working for a Christian orphanage.
Shamefully, a nun was gang raped, priests and women personnel have
been humiliated, beaten, tortured, some nearly to death.
The State has utterly failed in protecting the vulnerable and innocent
sections. The police were either absent or were acting as hapless just
onlookers. Following the murder of Laxmanananda Saraswati, allegedly
by Naxalites who have claimed the responsibility for killing
Laxmananada, even a naïve layman could have predicted that there would
be retaliatory attacks against Christians as Laxmanananda had earlier
abetted several attacks against Christians in Kandhmal district.
Anybody could have predicted that the footloose and armed followers of
Laxmananada would deem attack on Christians as the best homage for the
abettor of criminal violence against the Christians in the past. The
police did not take any effective action to protect the minorities. No
action was taken against the culprits during the Christmas of 2007 as
the lawless Sangh Parivar enjoyed impunity due to the fact that BJP is
a coalition partner in the Orissa Government. The Orissa Government
even failed and neglected to set up proper relief and rehabilitation
measures for the victims of the attack then. This only encouraged the
footloose criminal elements of Sangh Parivar to continue to unleash
terror for over ten long days amongst the Christians from SC and ST
background starting 23rd August 2008. The utter failure of police is
apparent when the Union Minister of state for Home Affairs was
persuaded not to visit the affected areas.
The Central government has also been twiddling its thumb while the
orgy is being played out and there is total break down of
constitutional machinery and governance cannot be carried on in Orissa
as per the law of the land. The Central Government has failed its
election promise of enacting a law to prevent and control communal
disturbances. The Central Govt. Has also failed to call the meeting of
National Integration Council to discuss and take effective measures
against the growing communal forces in the country, including in
Jammu. The Central Government has abjectly surrendered to the Communal
forces.
The CSSS therefore demands that:
1. Immediate action be taken against all those who have
participated, conspired, aided or abetted in the anti-Christian orgy
in Orissa, including the guilty leaders from Sangh Parivar, however
highly placed they may be. The entire investigation should be handed
over to the CBI and the guilty punished through fast track special
courts. Even those police officials who failed and neglected their
duties to protect should be brought to justice.
2. The Victims of violence should be adequately compensated on
the lines of victims of anti-Sikh violence in Delhi in 1984. Immediate
attention should be paid for their relief and rehabilitation.
Conducive conditions should be created for the victims to return to
their homes and should be paid reparations according to the
international standards. The Churches and institutions demolished
should be rebuilt with the help of the state.
3. Navin Patnaik Govt. does not have any moral right to continue
in governance and should resign.
Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer
Chairman,
Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
Irfan Engineer
Director, Institute of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution,
603, Silver Star, Next to Omkar Building, Near Railway Bridge, Prbhat
Colony, Santacruz (E), Mumbai, India. PIN: 400055.
Tel: (Off) +91-22-26149668;
(Res)+91-22-26630086
(Cell) +91-9869462833
(fax) +91-11-6100712
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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