Christian Leaders Urge Orissa Chief Minister to Speed Up Rehabilitation and Restore Peace

NEW DELHI , May 28, 2009, 17.00 Hrs (CBCI News):

Leaders of Catholic and other Churches and denominations have appealed to the Orissa Chief Minister Shri Navin Patnaik to speed up the rehabilitation of the victims of violence in Kandahmal and restore peace and secutiry to the affected. In a letter dated May 27, the church leaders congratulated the newly elected Chief Minister for his victory in the elections.

The text m of the letter signed by the follows:

Respected Sir,

At the very outset we, the Christian leaders of Orissa, are very happy to convey to you our hearty congratulations and good wishes on your historic election victory for a third time successively. We pray for God’s abundance of blessings upon you and wish you every success for a good governance of the state of Orissa for the next five years. We also appreciate your clean image as a person and leader of Orissa and the great efforts you are making for the development of Orissa State and People. The election results amply demonstrate that it is a comprehensive victory for democracy and secularism. The election results have clearly shown that communalism and hatred have no place among the peace loving people of Orissa.

We also want to place before you the following concerns of ours for your kind information and necessary action.

1. Around 3000 victims of Kandhamal violence are still in the Govt. sponsored relief camps and another 900 families are in the village relief camps and unable to return to their villages and homes due to the continuing threats from fundamentalists and criminals. They need to be provided with security and rehabilitated as soon as possible.

2. Most of the criminals who have committed the heinous crimes of killing, arson, rioting, looting, burning down houses etc are still moving around freely in the villages and continue to threaten people with dire consequence if they do not become Hindus, withdraw criminal cases filed against them etc. To restore peace and normalcy
such criminals need to be arrested and brought to justice.

3. Ensuring justice and peace to all the affected and traumatized people and restoring confidence across communities by rebuilding the houses of the affected people and guaranteeing their livelihood rights are pressing needs of the affected people.

4. Many of the affected people are unable to get compensation for the houses destroyed or damaged as they do not have the title holding of the land (R.O.R) though they had settled and had the houses for years and for decades. So we request you sir, to direct the district authorities to speed up the settlement of lands in favor of the affected people on urgent basis.

5. Certain Laxmi Baba staying in Mahindragiri in Ganjam district is organizing an outfit on communal lines and has already trained 300 youth as per information available. He and his outfit could be a potential threat to communal harmony and peace in the State of Orissa. Hence steps need to be taken in time to avoid future violence and disharmony.

It is our hope and belief that you as Chief Minister and Home Minister will look into these serious concerns of ours and take appropriate steps.


Thanking you & with best wishes
Yours sincerely

Archbishop R. Cheenath S.V.D		Bishop Samson Das
Archdiocese of Cuttack- BBSR		CNI Church, Cuttack
Bishop R. Vardhan		Bishop Hrudaya D.B.
Believers Church		Evangelical Church
Bishop Sarat Ch. Nayak		Fr. Joseph Kalathil
Berhampur Cath. Diocese		Vicar General, BBSR
Dr. S. N. Patra		Rev. P.R. Mishra
President, OMF		Director, Soth Asia
Rev. Asit Mahanty
GCIC, Bhubaneswar